Nevaeh’s POV
After whatever Grandma presented to Dad which I never got to see, he clenched his fist and growled. He almost smashed Grandma’s phone on the floor if she hadn’t snatched it from his hand.“You have to calm down, son. I know how you feel,” Grandma said.Without a word, Dad dashed off, running back upstairs. What the heck did Grandma show him?“Grandma? What did you show my dad?” I asked, staring curiously at her.“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Your dad will be fine. Run along now, you don’t want to go late to school, do you?” she said with a smile, stroked my cheek, and went off.I stood in the living room, looking confused.“Nevaeh? You are running late,” my driver said, entering the room.“Yeah,” I nodded and went off.Throughout the entire time in class, I was bothered. Why did Dad get angry after whatever Grandma showed him? Was that evidence that Ximena truly pushed Harper off the staircaseXimena’s POVI was broken into pieces. My world has finally crumbled. It felt like my heart was pulled out of me and I was stabbed endlessly. The pang in my heart kept shooting like an arrow. How could Hudson do this to me? I don’t deserve this.I dropped to the cold floor of the cell, whimpering and praying for death to locate me. All I ever did was try to protect the ones I love. Why don’t I get the same love in return?“I hate you!”Hudson’s words rumbled in my head, making my head pound heavily. I grabbed my head with both hands, hoping it wouldn’t explode.“Aaaaagh!”I let out an agonized wail which shook the walls of my cell.***“Someone is here to see you,” one of the cops came to my cell.I sprang up from the bed, hope glittering in my eyes. “Really? Is it Hudson? Is it Nevaeh?” I asked eagerly and excitedly.“If it’s any of them, we shouldn’t be going to the visiting room, but the bai
Ximena’s POVIt has been three weeks since I found myself in this godforsaken cell. I kept count of each passing day. It was a tedious but long duty for me.Oh, and yes, I didn’t die after attempting to commit suicide. Isn’t that horrible? I can’t have peace on Earth, yet I wasn’t allowed to die. What punishment could be worse than that?I wonder how Nevaeh was doing. She wasn’t in her best version when she visited me a few days ago.***“What happened, sweetheart? Why are you wearing a long face?” I asked, cupping her cheek with my hand.“I missed you, Ximena,” she placed her hand on mine.“I want to help you. I Want to get you out of this horrible place, but I have no one to help me. Dad hasn’t been himself for a while now. He isn’t listening to me. I don’t know what to do, Ximena,” she poured out.I squeezed her hand, assuring her indirectly that I understood.“It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to over
Ximena’s POVI still can’t believe what Lady Audrey told me earlier. Pregnant? Am I truly pregnant? Is that even possible?I was currently being led back to my cell by Lady Audrey.Different thoughts rumbled in my head. Being pregnant is one thing while being pregnant in jail is another thing. How do I cope? What if something bad happens to my baby? What if it becomes a stillbirth? What if I lose my baby?The thoughts evoked tears that ran down my face.“Ximena? Why are you crying?” Lady Audrey asked, stopping to face me.“You are in no condition to cry, you know that? From now onward, whatever happens, just remember your little bundle of joy, okay?” she advised.I placed my hand on my tummy, hoping to feel my baby—my soon-to-be-only family.“What if something bad happens to my baby?” I sobbed.“Don’t say that. Nothing bad is going to happen to your baby,” she assured me. “The more reason we have to see
Nevaeh’s POV“What business?” I asked, walking into the visiting room. After my madness displays, the cops dare not stop me. Ximena and the man stopped. While the man was looking for a hole to bury himself, Ximena was looking confused.“What are you two talking about? Ximena?” I said, stepping between Ximena and the man. “Who is he?” I asked.Ximena narrowed her eyes. “You mean…you mean you don’t know him?” Ximena asked, sounding surprised.I glanced at the man and back at Ximena. “What do you…”“Look, she doesn’t know me,” the man chipped in, drawing mine and Ximena’s gaze at him.“But Lady Audrey said…” Ximena tried to say.“She lied,” the man said.“What? But why?” Ximena sounded confused.“It’s all my fault, but that was the only way I could help you out. Come on, we need to discuss about you, at least, that’s the most important thing right now,” the man defended.“Hey, guys, I’m
Nevaeh’s POVI went back to the police station the following day. I went straight to Lady Audrey’s desk.“Hi, Lady Audrey,” I greeted.She looked up from the files she was sorting out and smiled at me. “Hey, Nevaeh. How are you?” she asked.“I’m good. Can I…”She stood up. “Yeah, I will take you to her.”“No, I want to talk with you,” I said.“Oh,” her lips formed an “O” in surprise before sitting down. “I thought you came to see Ximena. Please have a seat,” she said.I sat opposite her. “I don’t want to face her yet. She must still be mad at me,” I said. “I want to ask you a favor.”“Go on, I’m all ears.”“Can I get the attorney’s contact details? You don’t have to tell Ximena about it, please,” I asked.“Uh…” she scratched the side of her neck. “I can’t involve you in this, Nevaeh. You don’t have to worry about Ximena too much. I will try my best to get her out of here as soon as pos
Nevaeh’s POV“What are you doing here?”Someone asked and my spirit jumped out of me. I spun around to face the lady with the voice while hiding the diary behind my back. It turned out to be the stranger I met yesterday.“Your dad told me you weren’t feeling well and here you are, looking perfect,” she said and chuckled awkwardly.“Who are you? I thought you were gone already,” I said.“Gone? Come on, baby girl. That’s not likely going to happen, trust me,” she moved closer. I looked straight into her eyes.“What do you mean?”“You will find out soon. But why are you here raiding your uncle’s room?” she asked and sat on the edge of the bed, overlapping her legs.“It’s none of your business. As you said, my uncle and not yours. Now get your ass off that bed and get lost,” I sneered. And again, she chuckled.“You seem not to get the logic, do you?” she stood up, walking around me. I brought my hand forwar
Nevaeh’s POVI went to visit Ximena the following day. And about my Grandma, my dad took care of it. He didn’t want anyone blaming me for what he knew I did. Isn’t that ridiculous?“Ximena?” I called. She had refused to come see me in the visiting room, so I decided to come see her in her cell. She was seated on the small bed, staring blankly at the wall.“Ximena?” I called again.“What are you doing here? I have told you to stop coming to see me,” she said, looking at me. “And you think I would listen to that?” I asked. She ignored me.“Come on, Ximena. I am sorry if I offended you in any way. I am still trying my best to get you out of here. Now that Uncle Alberto is suspecting me, it’s going to be more complicated except Harper wakes up soon,” I said and sighed.“The more reason you should leave me alone!” she snapped, jerking up to her feet. She moved closer to the gate.“Stop risking your life to
Nevaeh’s POVI stood at the entrance to the house, arms akimbo while staring at the living room. No one seems to be at home. What should I do now? Should I start crying or laughing?Earlier at the hospital…“Doctor, what’s happening?” I asked as the doctor rushed in with a nurse and Attorney Davey. The doctor, without responding to my question, rushed to examine Harper. After his examination, he sighed.“What happened to my niece?” Uncle Fabio asked.“You don’t have to worry, she will be fine. She was just reacting to medications,” the doctor responded.I puffed. “But can you tell us when she is going to wake up?” I asked.Tomorrow was Ximena’s first trial. What if she was sentenced to some years imprisonment? What if I never get to see her again? The thought made my heart pound, reverberating in my head.“We can’t tell,” the doctor declared. “Excuse me,” he added and went off with the nurse.“What are
Ximena/Angela’s POVIt’s been a year since all the incidents. Life has become more peaceful ever since. To Hudson, Morris and Alexa were our last enemies. They had masterminded Hudson’s confiscated goods and his arrest.I lost my supposed father to liver cancer a few months ago. I thought I was going to hate him forever for what he did to my mom and aunt, but as he battled with his own life, I had to let it go. I showed him how much I cared about him being my father; I wanted him to die a peaceful and happy death.My siblings, Remi and Ryan, have been wonderfully sweet. They loved me like we had known each other since childhood. I bet their mother must be one of a kind. I know some stepmothers can be a pain in the ass; I’m glad she wasn’t, even though I never met her. As for Nevaeh, she went for her master's alongside Remi and Ryan. They have been moving on well ever since.I have never been so fulfilled in my life.“Be careful,” I told Tristan, who was supportin
Nevaeh’s POVI knocked on the door, and Alexa opened it, her eyes flashing with evil as usual. I was holding a baby. They had wanted me to bring Raven to them. They intended to use her as bait to get whatever they wanted from my dad. I believed everything they said, so I obeyed them.“Welcome, sweetheart,” she grinned, leading me inside. “I thought you weren’t going to do it,” she said.“She has the Miles Lucas blood flowing through her veins; she couldn’t have gone against what would benefit her,” Morris said, standing up and walking toward me.“You said I was adopted,” I said, stepping back from him. “How do I suddenly have the blood of Miles Lucas running through my veins?”“You were raised by Hudson, so you must have inherited something from him,” he smiled, reaching out to take the baby from me.I stepped back. “What do you want to do with her?” I asked, my chest heaving.“Give him the baby, Nevaeh!” Alexa demanded, her voice tightening.“Not unt
Ximena/Angela’s POVI paced back and forth in the living room, my heart pounding in my chest. Rita’s number wasn’t going through, and Raven was missing from the house. I strongly believed Rita didn’t go out with her; she had never done that, but others said she might have, so we’ve been waiting for her.“Just calm down, Ma’am. She’ll be back soon,” Penelope said.“For how long? She’s been out for almost an hour, and her line isn’t reachable. I hope it’s not what I’m thinking,” I said, both anger and fear exploding within me.“Mommy?” Tristan called, entering the living room. “What’s wrong?” he wrote on his tablet.“Nothing, baby. Just go freshen up and change,” I told him, and he nodded, running upstairs.“What’s the matter, Angela? You sounded so urgent,” Hudson said as he rushed into the house. I was so scared I had to call him.“My baby is missing, Hudson. Someone took my child.”“How is that possible? We have security men in the house. Who took he
Nevaeh’s POVI was driving to their place when a car swerved into my path. I pressed down on the brake abruptly, lunging forward. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath. I was ready to go scream the person’s head off when I saw Ryan stepping out of the car. He walked up to me, knocking on the window. I slid down the window, glaring at him.“Hey, psycho. What’s up?”“Have you lost your mind, scum?” I groaned.“I was looking forward to that,” he smiled, leaning on the window. “I was bored at home, so I decided to come have some fun with you. Can we go out?”“Get your bloody hands off my car!” I yelled.“Should we go in my car or yours?” he winked at me. “I promise it will be fun.”I clenched my fists, my chest heaving with anger. Zoe’s call came in at the same time. “He likes you, Nev, give him a chance,” Zoe said.“You set this up?”“If he betrays you, I will be the first to kill him. Have fun,” she said, hanging up.“Bar or park?” Ryan asked, maki
Nevaeh’s POV I stormed into my room, slamming the door. I grunted, swiping my makeup box off the vanity table. Everything he said was true. All they want to do is hurt me. How can she mingle with my enemy? How dare she? “I hate you all!” I yelled, kicking the bed. I was seated on the bed, my head in my palms when someone knocked on the door. “Can I come in, please?” Angela said. I didn’t answer, but she entered. “Can we talk, please?” she asked. “Get out of my room!” I snapped, lifting my bloodshot eyes to her. “Just listen to me, Nevaeh. I won’t take much of your time,” she said, moving closer. She came to sit beside me. “Uh, I know you don’t want to see me and my kids in your dad’s house; we have made plans to leave. You don’t even have to accept me as Ximena. Forget I ever told you that; you can see me as Angela only, nothing more. I just want you to return to being the loving Nevaeh I used to know. Remember that we all love you,
Ximena/Angela’s POVThe revelation of me being Ximena didn’t settle well with Nevaeh. Instead of being happy that she finally had me back, she chose to be scared of the possibility. It has been over a month now, but the more she looked at Ximena’s picture, the more she doubted the possibility of me being her.“Hey, girl. How was your night?” I asked, setting the table. “I prepared your favorite.”“Ximena never cooked,” she declared, heading out.“Nevaeh, please,” I hurried to block her path. “I didn’t tell you the story to distance yourself from me. I thought it was necessary for me to be transparent. Besides, my intention was for you to learn from my story; to know that you can forgive Fred and be happy again. If you don’t want us to stay, we will go. Just stop making it awkward,” I said.“Then leave,” she said coldly, brushing past me.I stood frozen, unable to believe my ears. I knew she had been acting weird for a while, and I thought it was because of he
Nevaeh’s POVI headed out of my room with Angela. I was going to see Zoe for our little discussion. “Don’t do anything you will regret, Nevaeh, please,” Angela said.“I’m already regretting a lot,” I replied.“Where are you headed?” my dad asked as he approached.“I’ll see you later, Angela,” I ignored my dad and walked out.“I’m talking to you, young lady. Why are you ignoring me?” he grabbed my hand, pulling me back.“Let go of me!” I groaned, pulling my hand away from him. “Everything is your fault. If you had allowed me to go with Fred to Australia, this wouldn’t have happened. You’re always ruining my happiness,” I confronted him angrily.“Don’t talk to your dad like that, Nevaeh,” Angela interjected.“The sooner you stop taking his side, the better for us,” I declared and stormed out of the house.***I met Zoe at her house. Her parents were out, and she was in the living room, watching TV and eating popcorn. I went straight to the bar, poured myself a glass of liquor, and retur
Nevaeh’s POV The moment Fred opened the door, my heart skipped a beat. It had been a while, and I still felt this way. Without thinking, I embraced him. “I missed you,” I said, my voice low and uncertain. He pulled away. “We need to talk,” he said coldly, walking back into the living room. I followed suit, my heart still beating faster. “I didn’t know you got a new house,” I said, sitting on the couch as he sat down too. “Without wasting much of your time, Nevaeh,” he began, my throat knotted. This wasn’t the same Fred I used to know. He would never speak coldly to me. “Won’t you at least offer me something? Is that how to welcome your girlfriend?” I asked, tilting my head. He tapped his foot for over a minute before standing up and returning with a glass of red wine. I collected it from him and took a sip. “I didn’t like the attitude you pulled out there, Nevaeh,” he said. “Why would you start a fight at someone’s birthday party? I was
Ximena/Angela’s POVI couldn’t believe Nevaeh could be this naïve and gullible. How could she trust that bastard so much to love him like this? After crying so much, she dozed off, and I returned to the living room. I didn’t find Hudson there, so I thought he had gone to bed. I turned off the TV and sank into the couch, relaxing my head against the headrest.“How is she?” Hudson asked suddenly, startling me. I gasped, looking at him. He sat beside me, holding out a glass of water.“Thank you,” I collected the water from him, taking a sip. “She’s asleep now,” I informed him.“Do you know who the guy is?” he asked, crossing his legs and facing me.“Of course. It’s the same Frederick, her childhood friend,” I replied.“Frederick Archer?” he asked, and I nodded.“Frederick has been away for so long. How could she still harbor feelings for him? Besides, they were just teenagers when they separated.”“Love doesn’t kno