"It's not him, Terra," Zara assures me.
But that's not enough to stop the trembling.
"What if it's him? What if he's dead?" I ask in horror.Zara squeezes my hand. "It can't be him."
The doors open and I head fast to the HR office, forgetting to wave Zara as she goes into a different direction. She yells goodbye behind me.
I find Lorenzo on the phone, looking terrified.
He hangs up on the call and starts putting on his coat.
"What's wrong, Enzo?"
"It's CJ."
^^^^^^^^
I rush into the hospital fast behind Enzo.
We find his step-mom, Jezebel and his dad, Mr. Jean in the waiting area.
His dad looks devastated.
"How's CJ?" I'm the first to ask.
I'm so relieved he's not dead. He's the only patient that survived the plane crush and fortunately rushed back home.
Jezebel look
CJ zips up my dress.I stare at the mirror, feeling a little doubtful about the choice of dress for this dinner date."It's a little too tight," I grumble.CJ circles his arm around my waist and pecks my cheek."No. You look perfect to me.""To you! But not to your family!" I grumble.I groan and spin to look him in the eye."This is a family dinner, Cedric. What if they don't like me?"He swirls his arms tighter around my waist. "Well, guess who's marrying you? Me. Not them."In the thirty days we've been dating, we have never talked once about marriage. So it sends a little chill down my spine. I hesitate."But they have to like me," I insist.He kisses my neck. "The only person here that has to like you is me. I get jealous. And you know what happens when I get jealous?""What?"He's looking at me so seductively.He grips my arm and throws me on the bed.
"I honestly don't get why you're freaking out!"Zara sips the chicken soup, gazing at me across the lunch table."It's marriage we are talking about, Zara!""No, it's a proposal, stupid!""That leads to marriage!""Terra, this is CJ we are talking about. He's handsome. He's young. He's the owner of this fucking company and he owns a fucking jet. He's fucking rich and your future is secure with him."I groan. "It's not about the money, Zara....""What's it? Isn't CJ a great guy?""CJ's a great guy. He treats me so good and he and I have this connection that I've never had with anyone.""Then why are you doubtful?"I bury myself in my hands. "I'm just scared. Everything's happening so fast. I've just dated him for a month and he's proposing already?""That's a man who wants you desperately in his life. Plus, you really don't have to rush marriage. You can move in together with him and get to know hi
Dad looks at me directly in the eye.I stare at him back, still struck by shock. My whole body is still, utterly speechless."Terra, is it?" Dad asks.My stomach lurches.CJ puts his hand over mine when he sees it's shaking. "Yes, she's Terra.""Reminds me of my daughter," he says with a tentative smile. "You look so much like her... I wish she was still here."What!CJ's mom puts her hand over his. "His wife and two daughters died in a tragic car accident..."My heart stops.He lied about us being dead to his new family?"That's really sad," I mutter."It's really nothing," Dad shrugs. "Fortunately I have been able to get over the past when I found my Cassandra."They kiss sentimentally, making me nauseous and disgusted.I used to hate dad. But now that he's back into my life, I hate him even more. He abandoned us m
If someone would have told me this would have ever happened, I would put my life on it and swear on my life it wouldn't.My dad.Sitting on my coffee table.Drinking my coffee.With my favorite mug.And all this is Amira's fault.She had to let him in. She even threw herself all around him the minute she saw him. I've never been so disgusted by someone's actions my entire life."Aren't you going to ask him where he has been all this years?" I mutter, looking at Amira.She gives me that sharp judgemental look."What matters is he's back and here with us."It's just funny how being smart doesn't stop you from making dumb mistakes. This is a mistake Amira will regret for the rest of her life."I'm not back!" Dad states.What!That comes like a blow to the face. Amira is astounded, staring blankly at dad.Te
"I didn't do it!"I rub my eyes with the palm of my hand, sniffing.One of the directors straightens his collar and grins at me."We are sure it's you, Ms. Terra. So save that for yourself."This boardroom is hell on earth. The temperatures are flaring and my whole body is sizzling."So, Ms. Terra, there's clear evidence that you stole the money. So it's better if you just accept the accusations and save us the time."My heart sinks."But I didn't do it!" I burst out. "I swear I didn't do it!"CJ, who has been quiet all this time, stands up angrily and bangs the desk."Then explain why you are on the cctv sneaking into my office and into my safe!"I stutter, a swell of fresh tears welling up my eyes. "I... I don't know... But it's not me! I was with you last night over dinner. And... And we talked for almost two hours after!"CJ glares at me. "You're a pathological liar! The time I dropped
Trust.I think it's the most dangerous thing.Trusting someone has to be the deadliest weapon to ever exist. Because with it, comes betrayal...Or atleast that's what happens most of the times.You trust someone and then follows betrayal. It's like trust and betrayal are connected. Like they are lovers or something...I mean, look at Jesus. The son of God himself. Betrayed by one of his disciples.. Jesus trusted Judas enough to make him one of his twelve disciples but what followed is a kiss of betrayal. And all this started with trust.Trust is deadly..And that's exactly what I did..I trusted CJ and he shattered my heart in pieces. He rebuked me like a demon and was so quick to judge me and disgrace me. He didn't even have the courtesy of asking me first. He just burst out on me, ranting all the insults in my face.
It was just the other day that I was moving in, with Ren, Dee and my mom helping me out.It's funny how a lot has changed within that span of time.Ren and Dee broke up. Ren and I rarely talk.My friendship with Dee sort of drifted. Mom died. CJ and I started dating. Zara framed me for theft.I mean, it's just mind blowing. Never in a million years would I have thought all that shit would happen to me.But I'm leaving tomorrow.I'm leaving this house for good.I'm going back to my old town to live with Dee. I'll graduate and hopefully find a decent job and forget about all this.Tomorrow, I'll bury the memories. Both bad and good.But it sucks...I really wanted a different ending, you know...A different happy ending with CJ. A different happy ending with Zara... I wanted them to stay a little bit longer in my life.But life didn't want that so...^^^^^^I'm taking the trash out
One week later,Graduatuon day,I wake up panting.Gasping for breathe.I immediately sit up in frustration and wipe the sweat from my forehead.Dalia wakes up in astonishment. "It's that nightmare again?""Yes."It's the third time in a row that I'm having a nightmare about CJ getting shot in cold blood in front of my very eyes. And every time I wake up with my body trembling as if it was all so real.Dee pulls me in a warm hug and rocks back my hair."You know maybe it's a sign," she says softly. "A sign to just get back together with him. You never know what happens..."I shrug and pull away. "It's just a nightmare. Nothing serious."I wish I could believe those words.Something in my gut tells me
Hey guys,I'm done posting the entire complete book of the series. Sorry if the book was too long. I really appreciate you getting to the end. I appreciate you buying the coins and reading the long chapters. It really warmed my hearts. Thanks for the few comments and the gems you sent my way. I really appreciate all of that. I couldn't be more grateful.I will be posting a brand new book soon over here. The book is titled "Princess Charming". I really hope that the book gets signed. Once it gets signed, I will post all the chapters here. I hope you guys enjoy reading it.Please read my other books, "60 Days" and "The Return". Don't forget to comment and subscribe if you like my books.I really appreciate the massive support. Thanks for subscribing and liking and commenting on my books. I'm so grateful for the support. Sending my love to you all.See you in the next book ❤
CJ'S POVTearing Terra?What does that Even mean?Tearing Terra?To tear her apart is like tearing me apart. When she's hurt, I hurt. When her heart breaks, mine does too. Even when I tried so hard to torture her and cause her pain, at the end of the day, I would feel so bad about myself and completely drained. I would lie asleep at night, thinking about her and that would tear me apart.Tearing her apart tore me apart too.In short, I was not able to tear her apart like I had previously planned.I tried so hard to tear her apart but I was not able to.I wanted to stay away from her. See her suffer from a distance but I couldn't do that as well. I couldn't fucking stay away from her because I wanted to kiss her. Caress her. Tell her I had missed her. And it was so hard for me because I saw her on a daily... Saw that beautiful hair being flipped at meetings... That perfect sweet mouth curving up a happy smile at lunch... T
Three months laterCJ is gone.Everyday I wake up, I'm reminded of that.I don't wake up with him beside me anymore.It's honestly sad, gloomy and boring without him here.It's cold mornings like this that I wish he was here, lying next to me. Holding me so tight that I felt his warmth. I wouldn't be feeling this cold because we'd make some intense hot love that would leave us burning. That would force us to head to the shower to kill things off... In each other's arms.I miss him...Everyday, I miss him.I drag myself out of bed and head to the kitchen. I sit down to my cup of hot coffee, looking out the kitchen window. Morning mist, thick as smoke.It's going to be a long boring day.No plans whatsoever.It's
"Don't tell me to calm down!"I yell at CJ.We just got back to town and everyone is acting okay and cool. Because it's not their only sister that has been kidnapped by the most dangerous serial killer I know.Their only sister that's pregnant.While I was having the time of my life, my sister was in suffering in the hands of the devil himself. That breaks my heart into pieces."Terra," Dee who just came in some few minutes ago says. "It has not been confirmed that it's Roman who kidnapped her..."I laugh sarcastically and bitterly. "Oh wow! That makes a lot of sense! I think she got lost on her way to the mall, don't you think?"Ren intrudes. "Terra, I think you have to relax-""Relax!" I scream. "Relax? My sister is in the hands of that evil monster and you're telling me to relax! How can I fucking relax! Who knows what the hell he's doing to her! Lord!"I fal
"Don't tell me to calm down!"I yell at CJ.We just got back to town and everyone is acting okay and cool. Because it's not their only sister that has been kidnapped by the most dangerous serial killer I know.Their only sister that's pregnant.While I was having the time of my life, my sister was in suffering in the hands of the devil himself. That breaks my heart into pieces."Terra," Dee who just came in some few minutes ago says. "It has not been confirmed that it's Roman who kidnapped her..."I laugh sarcastically and bitterly. "Oh wow! That makes a lot of sense! I think she got lost on her way to the mall, don't you think?"Ren intrudes. "Terra, I think you have to relax-""Relax!" I scream. "Relax? My sister is in the hands of that evil monster and you're telling me to relax! How can I fucking relax! Who knows what the hell he's doing to her! Lord!"I fal
"Shit Eli! You scared us!"CJ and I are in a towel as we stare at both Eli and Zara from upstairs as they are downstairs."Biiiiiiiiiiiitch!" Zara shrieks. "So this' whatchu' been upto after some jail time! Lookatchu' being naughty!"I roll my eyes at her, concealing just how excited I am that she and Eli are here.It's going to be so much fun.The perfect way to escape from all the negativity and toxicity. I was drowning with everything that was going on. A part of me died slowly day by day.But this... This will be the perfect therapy.An old beach house with the man I love and two close friends.The perfect combo!Eli tosses himself on the couch as CJ resumes to the master bedroom that we slept in."Zara? Can you please come up?"I borrow a dress since I didn't carry any clothes. A few minutes later, I step out of my room with my hand in C
I knew this moment would come.But I swear to heavens, I was not prepared for it. I was not prepared to explain myself. I don't know if the answers I got are the right answers or if they are answers at all.I open my mouth to say something then I quickly shut up, careful with every word I'll say."Honestly, Cedric... I can blame it on a lot of things but they all come down to me. To my selfishness. It was me..."I take a deep breathe and continue."When I eloped to Russia, I did therapy because I couldn't live with what I had done to you. I had nightmares. I drank myself to sleep. Bars were my favorite spots. But therapy kind of helped me deal with what I had done in a positive manner and learn to live with myself."I swallow hard, nostalgic about those pretty dark days of my life." And through therapy, I learnt some things I didn't know about myself. I had severe anxiety. It's something I had lived with, yet didn't know
The sun is low on the sky when CJ opens the cab door for me.I step out into a stone circular driveway in front of a mansion and I look around blindly In awe.The view of the mansion in front of us is breathtaking. The house sits on a cliff above the ocean and the low sun sets the waves on fire.CJ leads me around the house, his bag on one hand as he holds my hand with the other. We walk along the edge of a large blue pool and towards a furnished pool house.At the doorstep, is a large porcelain pot. CJ bends it over and takes a key under.CJ opens the door and I step inside to an old classic living room with artistic old paintings on the cream walls and one-armed sofas with hundreds of pillows. The table in the middle is wooden and seems like an expensive old furniture that has seen the best of years.Underneath the sofas, lays a Persian rug and just in front of the decor, sits a huge fireplace.&nbs
Present day..."He killed his friend?"I nod my head sadly. "Then he forced me to clean up for him and drag the body to the basement."Honestly, that was it for me.I didn't care if he threatened me anymore.I had to leave him. And leave him right away.If he could kill Oscar that quick within a snap of a finger just because of some argument, I wonder what he'd do to me?There's no way I'd sit and wait to see what he'd do to me... I had to leave!"So you stole his packaged drugs and sold them?" asks CJ."Yes, to a guy he despiced. Osborne. Some rich tycoon and I sold it at a very cheap price because I needed to fly away..."CJ looks at me in worry. "It must have been hard for you...""Yes... Especially because I had to stay in h