C H A P T E R 5 2 : C O U L D A W O M A N A N D A M A N B E C O M E F R I E N D S ?
E L L A S T A N F O R D
“Piers?” Her eyes widened as he approached her and stopped only a few feet from her. “What are you doing here?”
“Ouch.” Piers winced, pretending as if she had just thrown a stick at him. “That hurts. There is no how are you, Joseph or it is good to see you, Joseph?”
“I am sorry.” Ella shook her head, sighing. “Of course I am happy to see you. How are you? When did you get back here?”
“Last night, actually. I thought I will come here and surprise Jav and maybe take him to lunch.”
“Well, you missed him. He went to a meeting since ten A.M. and he has not returned. Perhaps next time you should give me a call so I can check his schedule for you.”
Piers
C H A P T E R 5 3 : W H E N H I S H E A R T B R E A K S J A V I E R S U M M E R S “Great, I think we can conclude the meeting this afternoon,” said Thornton’s finance executive, Mr. Phil Lambert, with a smile. “If everyone’s happy with the arrangements that we discussed today, we could proceed with the contract and legalize everything so we can start with the project as soon as possible.” Once the meeting ended, Thornton approached Javier. He was about to ask his little brother to have lunch with him and Ava at their house when he noticed that his brother had his eyes fixated on his phone screen. With one glance, he could tell that he was staring at someone’s photo. It was a photo of his secretary sitting on her desk reading what looked like a contract, there was a serious look on her face. Thornton stifled a sigh. If he was being honest, at fi
C H A P T E R 5 4 : T H E F E E L I N G O F B E I N G A P A R T J A V I E R S U M M E R S Javier walked towards the car. He knew that if he faced her, she might feel embarrassed having been caught lying. Yet at the same time, he could not stay here and watch her break down alone. No matter what had just happened between her and his brother, he trusted her. Perhaps even more than he trusted his brother. Thus nothing else mattered as long as she was not hurt, as long as she was not crying. However before he could reach her, she had driven the car away, ready to exit the building. He pulled his phone out was about to call her when he realized that she was currently driving right after she cried her heart out in the parking lot so calling her might not be a good idea. Feeling a bit frustrated, he shoved his phone ba
C H A P T E R 5 5 : W H E N T H E R E A R E T W O L I N E S E L L A S T A N F O R D The next morning, the second Ella opened her eyes, her stomach lurched. That had been happening a little, lately, and she was worried that she was coming down with something due to all the stress. When she made it to the bathroom, the feeling was gone so she washed up her face and went downstairs to get some breakfast. Her mother had gone to the market, leaving a note on the fridge. After eating the pancakes left by her mother on the table, she took a sip of the tea that she had made, hoping that it would settle her stomach a little. In the afternoon, however, it was out of her hands. Her stomach was roiling, and she made a mad dash to the bathroom, and she only just reached the toilet before she started throwing up. When she was done, she sat back and flushed the toil
C H A P T E R 5 6 : W H E N L O Y A L T Y W I N S E L L A S T A N F O R D Ella barely remembered getting blood drawn. The nurse had been chatting away as she had done her job, smiling and laughing at her own jokes. However, for her, it felt like she existed inside a bubble at this moment. The outside world was not penetrating the fog over her mind, and the numbness only increased as she stopped at the drugstore and purchased a pregnancy test. Was she pregnant? The question swirled around and around inside her head. She wondered if it was even possible. Unfortunately for her, it was possible. She and Javier had unprotected sex that morning, and now they might be facing the consequences of it. Ella took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. What would she do if it turned out that she was truly pregnant? Javier would have to know. The baby would de
C H A P T E R 5 7 : W H E N H E F I N A L L Y F I N D S O U T E L L A S T A N F O R D The rest of the day, Ella tried not to think about her situation with Javier. She was just going to live in the moment. It would last as long as it lasted. Yet, in a small corner of her heart, she hoped that everything would work out somehow. That they would find some way to be together, but in her head, she knew that was not realistic. This relationship was doomed to end in heartache, but perhaps if she was careful, maybe she would not lose her whole heart to him. If she was careful, maybe she could guard one last piece. But deep down in her heart, she knew that she had not been careful at all or else she would not end up pregnant. Later that afternoon, a package arrived at her mother’s house that stole any remaining piece of her heart that did
C H A P T E R 5 8 : W H E N Y O U L O V E S O M E O N E J A V I E R S U M M E R S Javier swallowed and thought about the hell she had put him through on his drive home. The truth about Maria and the photos had almost been a relief compared to what he had been left to presume on his own. His imagination had ranged from a mysterious illness to her boredom with him to her involvement with another man. There was not another woman on the planet who had ever made him feel things like Ella. Who made him feel as if his life was better with her in it. Who made him look for her in a room filled with people. Who made him feel like smiling just because she smiled. There was no other woman on the planet who had ever twisted him in knots like her. For two days, when she had not returned any of his calls or texts, he had told himself to forget about her. That he was better off withou
C H A P T E R 5 9 : S L O W L Y E V E R Y T H I N G C O M E S D O W N T O T H I S E L L A S T A N F O R D Damon had come over and helped her do her hair and makeup. It appeared that he somehow managed to do better than she ever would. “Good luck, Ella Mia Bella,” he said as his arms enveloped her into an embrace. “And if you see that monstrous bitch at the party, would you accidentally not so accidentally dump your drink on top of her head pretty please?” He clasped both hands in the front of his chest and gave her a puppy look. Ella laughed, shaking her head seeing her best friend. “It would not be an accident if I dump it on her head, you know.” “Well, she is shorter than you but you can always aim for her back seeing that she stabbed you on the back.” Damon folded his arms and fro
C H A P T E R 6 0 : W H E N I T A L L C O M E S D O W N E L L A S T A N F O R D After the meeting with Javier’s mother, Ella finally made her way to the ballroom where the party was being held. Albeit the conversation was pleasant, she felt a little tense the second she stepped inside, knowing that Maria must be here and sooner or later she would have to face her. Taking a deep breath, she approached one of the waiters who carried a tray full of drinks, and took a glass of soda. She let the drink calmed her down as she made her way towards the long serving table full of varied appetizers. She was about to grab a mini sandwich when someone knocked her back from behind. It did not take a genius to figure out who it was because the next thing she heard from just behind her was “What do you think you are doing here, bitch?”
“Did you perhaps get some pieces of your memory back?” asked Ella, sounding hopeful. She’d once been in Clarabelle’s position and she knew how frustrating it was not knowing the past, to have a few years stolen from her memory. Although in the end, Ella managed to gain her memories back. Clarabelle cleared her throat for no particular reason other than to delay answering her sister in law question for several seconds. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was no easy way to say this and she knew that keeping this act for so long wouldn’t benefit anyone either yet it was really hard to tell the truth. No one would understand. “Look, Clara,” Ella held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ella’s eyes were understanding and Clarabelle was suddenly filled with immense guilt. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. We’re just so happy you’re alright. Don’t force yourself to remember, it’ll come eventually. I know this from experience.” Ella’s smile was what broke Clarabelle’s
“Oh, don’t be so sure, Brother,” teased Clara with a wink. She turned to Ella and Damon who were on her left. “You know Ella, and you remember Damon, right?” “Yeah, sure.” Maxon nodded at Damon. “Hey, man.” But when his eyes moved to Ella, he gave her an awkward smile. “Ella.” He wasn’t usually this awkward around females especially one married to his brother. Hell, he wasn’t awkward with Ava, Thornton’s wife — maybe only for a few months after his brother told the family about Ava riding their neighbor Josh on the kitchen counter. Truth be told, the fact that he was slightly awkward with Ella was all his sister’s doing. Before Javier realized his feelings for Ella, Clarabelle had tried to set up a blind date between Ella and Maxon. Furthermore, Max had once said that Ella was hot to Clarabelle, and knowing his sister, she had indeed told Ella. Max didn’t have any feelings or crush on Ella, but still, it would take him a little while to not feel awkward. He wasn’t good around people
“Oh, don’t be so sure, Brother,” teased Clara with a wink. She turned to Ella and Damon who were on her left. “You know Ella, and you remember Damon, right?” “Yeah, sure.” Maxon nodded at Damon. “Hey, man.” But when his eyes moved to Ella, he gave her an awkward smile. “Ella.” He wasn’t usually this awkward around females especially one married to his brother. Hell, he wasn’t awkward with Ava, Thornton’s wife — maybe only for a few months after his brother told the family about Ava riding their neighbor Josh on the kitchen counter. Truth be told, the fact that he was slightly awkward with Ella was all his sister’s doing. Before Javier realized his feelings for Ella, Clarabelle had tried to set up a blind date between Ella and Maxon. Furthermore, Max had once said that Ella was hot to Clarabelle, and knowing his sister, she had indeed told Ella. Max didn’t have any feelings or crush on Ella, but still, it would take him a little while to not feel awkward. He wasn’t good around people
“And you’re married,” reminded Ella, shaking her head. “True. But I’m not blind.” “How’re you, um,” he scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably, then cleared his throat before adding a soft and barely a whisper, “Princess.” With three sets of eyes watching him in curiosity mixed with surprise, Macon Summers had a faint blush on his high cheekbones. He cleared his throat one more time and focused his eyes on his little sister. “Sister?” Clarabelle let out a small giggle. “Sorry, guys, I made him call me that because he was the only one who only visited me once since I got admitted in this hospital.” There was a glint of mischief in her green eyes. After all, one of the reasons little sisters were born was to annoy their brothers. It was a birthright as much as it was an assignment. Maxon heaved an exasperated sigh. “I’ve apologized a dozen times, Clara.” He made his way to the empty spot on the right side of her bed. “I’m not going to make the same mistake of asking ‘what else
“Did you perhaps get some pieces of your memory back?” asked Ella, sounding hopeful. She’d once been in Clarabelle’s position and she knew how frustrating it was not knowing the past, to have a few years stolen from her memory. Although in the end, Ella managed to gain her memories back. Clarabelle cleared her throat for no particular reason other than to delay answering her sister in law question for several seconds. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was no easy way to say this and she knew that keeping this act for so long wouldn’t benefit anyone either yet it was really hard to tell the truth. No one would understand. “Look, Clara,” Ella held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ella’s eyes were understanding and Clarabelle was suddenly filled with immense guilt. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. We’re just so happy you’re alright. Don’t force yourself to remember, it’ll come eventually. I know this from experience.” Ella’s smile was what broke Clarabelle’s l
Dear Gentle Readers, Life has been hectic for this author and he apologizes for making everyone wait on updates. This author also apologizes for the broken chapters with duplicates content. He has informed the editor previously. Since it’s not fixed, this author will double update 2 chapters into 1 on the next one before adjusting the one you have paid. Daily updates will start again in May, so pls be patient. Thank you all sm for your support and love. It has never gone unnoticed. Much love,Yours truly,P.S. this author will only be updating this story for May, Lone Wolf will have to wait until June. It’s very hard to find time these days, unfortunately.
“What about the cake?” Ella eagerly asked as she grabbed an album filled with photos of wedding cakes that she’d asked from the bakery who’d made her wedding cake. “Which one do you want? And how many tiers do you want it to be?” Clarabelle moved the magazine aside so Ella could place the album on her lap. She began checking each cake and reading the label placed next to each photo. “Earl grey sounds lovely,” said Ella, pointing out a cake on the right side of the page. “Or maybe chocolate fudge. That sounds lovely too. We can perhaps have it with white frosting or pale blue to match your dress.” “Darlings.” Damon dramatically sighed. “This is an easy question. You should stick to the most delicious cake in existence. Coffee and cognac. Keep it elegant, keep it tasty.” He stuck his forefinger and thumb together then kissed them like a chef. “No, thank you. I think I’ll stick to my favorite cake. Red velvet,” said Clara with a frown. “I’ve tasted coffee and cognac during Ella’s wed
“Remember that it’s all about you, Darling,” said Damon with an exaggerating wave of his hand that made both Clara and Ella giggle. “You are the center of everything that day. Everything else should be a blur but you should be the only thing that’s crystal clear in everyone’s mind.” Clara shook her head, covering her face with both hands. “Gosh, you’re being way too much.” “It wouldn’t be Dee if he isn’t being too much,” commented Ella with a grin, teasing her best friend. She moved her gaze back to Clara and smiled. “But I have to say that he’s right, Clara. You should be the center of the event. So have you decided on your wedding theme yet?” “You guys are killing me,” said Clarabelle with a loud sigh. She brought her hands down and stared at the wedding magazines on her lap. Even though every girl had a vision of their wedding and how they wanted it to be, Clara had forgotten all about hers when she’d started her company. She’d thought of her company as her baby and that she was
Hélène d’aureville had turned Draven Summers into a softie and he didn’t like it. Not even one bit. “Yes, I am fine, Mum.” He glanced at the door and frowned. Suddenly he felt annoyed that his sister’s boyfriend had not come out of there and it had been more than twenty minutes. “Let me knock on the door.” With determination, he approached the door, and then without even knocking on the door or giving any warning, he swung that door open. “Sister!” Draven greeted the two lovebirds loud enough for the neighboring rooms to hear. “Mum and Dad are here to see you. And of course, your fiancé.” He opened the door wider and held it so both of their parents could walk inside. Much to Draven’s dismay, his sister and her lover weren’t making out. They were at a polite distance. She was on the bed while he was sitting on the chair next to her bed. The atmosphere was different too, it was not as hot and bothered as it had been about half an hour ago. It seemed that they had been having a convers