Ayla"If it isn't my douche brother or should I call say...wife snatcher, his best friend and my wife who can't keep her legs closed," Roman mocked, as we headed into the mansion via the rear entry, leaning on the double door frame. I expected Kaleb to jump on him, but he ignored him."Are you not going to say something?" Roman added, attempting to rile us up."Actually I do have something to say," I crossed my arms across my upper abdomen and stopped walking."Absolutely no, you have nothing to say to him." Kaleb attempted to pull me away from Roman."I don't need your permission, or anyone else's permission to talk to whoever I want," I told Kaleb, ignoring the crease on his forehead."Is it because of what I did to you?" Kaleb asked, looking at Dean for help."This has nothing to do with you," I clarified."You heard her, she wants to talk to me. Now chop chop, I want to catch up with my first wife." Roman was relishing in the fact that I was defying Kaleb."I will come up in a fe
Ayla MarigoldI stood unmoving, my glistening burning eyes fixed on the text on my husband's phone screen. My left hand squeezed the pregnancy test kit in my palazo pants pocket, while I picked up the phone with my right hand.'Got home safely? I miss that dick already.' The clear words had my stomach churning, nausea rising up my throat. 'I swear I can't feel my legs.' Another one followed, making my trachea squeeze up."Oh god," I whispered in the empty bedroom, closing my eyes briefly. Every part of my body went on pause, my brain working to make a new connection. I could feel my head becoming heavy, so I leaned on the side of the headboard to steady myself. Just then my husband stepped out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist. I gulped, my mind already painting a picture of him on top of another woman, pleasuring her. My hand trembled, attracting his eyes which fell on his phone in my hand. "What are you doing with my phone?" His voice was low as he approached, eyes burni
Chapter 2AylaI woke up to a series of doorbell rings, the sound worsening the thrumming headache behind my temples."Aaargh," I groaned, the repeated ding-dong sound getting on my nerves. I stumbled out of bed, brushing my hands over my heavy eye-lids. My legs were still weak and my head was spinning but I pushed myself downstairs."I'm coming," I weakly shouted over another bell ring, rubbing my temples. "Jesus Christ Ayla, what the fuck took you so long?" Roman's stepbrother stopped pacing seconds after I opened the door, looking at his wristwatch."What the hell Kaleb! This better be important," I responded, closing my eyes when the light had me feeling like someone was forcing stick hot needles inside them."Is this how you welcome me after months of not seeing me?" he mocked, while I rolled my eyes. He had been in another city, where he had established a new company and was required to stay there until it was stable. It was safe to say that I hadn't been around him much, so
Ayla"Please pick up," I muttered, tapping my foot on the rug in the living room, waiting for my best friend Danica to answer the phone. My mind was saturated from hours of thinking about Roman bringing another woman, that I really needed Danica's help. It took me long to finally decide to call her, because she was pregnant for her long time boyfriend and I didn't want to stress her. "The soup is ready honey. Do you want it here or at the dining?" Marise our nanny asked."I tol-"The sound of the front door stopped me mid-sentence, followed by the sound of high-heels on the tiles. I held my breath, realizing that Roman was not joking when he said he was going to bring home his woman. I hardly had time to react when they rounded the hallway, stepping inside the living room."Danica?" I stood up, my eyes falling on Roman's arm around my bestfriend's waist. I let out a forceful breath, an uncontrollable shudder sweeping through my entire body.I wanted to believe that she had been on h
Kaleb I couldn't stop thinking about Ayla's reaction when I pinned her against the wall, as I drove to the family mansion. Since Roman had ignored my calls the entire day and could not find him in the office, I was going to confront him at home. The fucker had taken millions out of the company's account without any explanation however, an action that was dangerous to the company's progress. 'Will I see her?' I thought, shaking my head to stop thinking about my step-brother's wife in that manner. I could still feel a shudder running down my spine when she wiggled her body against mine. I wished I could hear her breath hitch again, as I whispered against her ear. She had gotten me so mad when she tried equating me to my fucked up step-brother. Despite that, her outburst and her foul mouth had also awakened feelings that I couldn't describe. "Fuck!" I hit the break, the near hit on a homeless girl in the middle of the road pulling me out of my thoughts. She stood unfazed by the s
AylaThe smell of coffee, sausages and baked bread wafted into my nose, making my stomach lurch. My eyes were still closed, but I was aware of my surroundings, including light steps towards the king size bed. I turned, then opened my eyes, coming face to face with Kaleb, with a tray of breakfast in his hands."Good morning Ayla, I hope I didn't wake you up." Kaleb placed the tray on the bedside table."I was," I paused, letting out a cough when my throat burned."I was already up. Good morning." I forced a smile at him as he opened a mini-fridge beside the bedside table. There was nothing good about the morning, just pain, my frail body, nausea and a saturated mind. "Here, take this first." He opened a sealed bottle of cold water from the refrigerator, then handed it to me. I gladly chugged the water in large gulps, closing my eyes as the cold liquid soothed my parched throat. "Thank you," I placed the bottle on the table."I didn't know what you'd love for breakfast so I made coffe
Ayla"Is this how your dead mother taught you how to make chicken fried rice?" Catarina spat, dropping her spoon on the glass dining table with a clink. I ground my teeth, her words making me want to force the food down her throat, and bash her face on the table. It was one thing insulting me, but bringing my mother into the mix was entirely a different one."Get back in that kitchen and make me something else!" She ordered, throwing her napkin at me, pinning her cold gaze at me."What's wrong with this one?" I asked, holding her gaze with my chin tilted upwards."Excuse me!" She squinted her eyes, pushing her chair backward with force as she stood."How dare you talk back at me?" I ground my teeth together, with my mouth sealed shut."Mom?" Danica's voice drifted into the luxurious dining room. Even though it had just been a week, the two seemed to have just clicked. Catarina pampered Nika every time, a treatment she hadn't accorded to me as her son's wife."Hey honey," Catarina repl
AylaI stood against the door of my small servant quarters space, my heart pounding, still reeling from the shock of my husband's words. "I can't believe you'd stoop so low as far as faking a pregnancy for pity."My head span, making me slide against the door and onto the cold floor, despite my aching joints and muscles. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as a boiling feeling envoloped me. How could Roman think I was lying about his own child? Instead of hope and love, all he had subjected me to was rejection and insults."Why would you do this to me, Roman?" I whispered, the tugging chest in my pain making me close my eyes tightly.I remembered our wedding day, my trembling lips spreading into a painful smile. My mind pushed one memory after another, each one of them making my eyes burn. Though blurry, I stared at the ring on my finger, a choking sound coming out of my throat. To me it meant everything, but to Roman it was just like any other simple jewelry. Wasn't ther
Ayla"If it isn't my douche brother or should I call say...wife snatcher, his best friend and my wife who can't keep her legs closed," Roman mocked, as we headed into the mansion via the rear entry, leaning on the double door frame. I expected Kaleb to jump on him, but he ignored him."Are you not going to say something?" Roman added, attempting to rile us up."Actually I do have something to say," I crossed my arms across my upper abdomen and stopped walking."Absolutely no, you have nothing to say to him." Kaleb attempted to pull me away from Roman."I don't need your permission, or anyone else's permission to talk to whoever I want," I told Kaleb, ignoring the crease on his forehead."Is it because of what I did to you?" Kaleb asked, looking at Dean for help."This has nothing to do with you," I clarified."You heard her, she wants to talk to me. Now chop chop, I want to catch up with my first wife." Roman was relishing in the fact that I was defying Kaleb."I will come up in a fe
KalebI was going through my emails, one by one when Dean called me. The day had been a long one, and I hoped that whatever he had to say wasn't going to make it even worse."Aren't you one door away from my office down the hallway?" I asked, forcing enthusiasm even though I felt drained. All I wanted was to talk to Ayla but I knew she wasn't going to even think about it after what Amanda pulled off earlier."I'm not in the office, had to step out with Ayla." The moment he mentioned her name the insides of my stomach warmed up. "How is she? Is she okay? Can you please tell her that I really want to explain myself?" I didn't know I was going on and on until Dean chuckled over the phone, snapping me out of it."We are outside the building, heading to the mansion," Dean explained."Is Ayla coming back?" I excitedly asked, shutting down my computer."Be down here in 10 minutes, I'll tell you on the way," he straight up instructed. I could hear Ayla in the background telling Dean that sh
Ayla"Are you heading out early today?" Dean asked after I walked out of my office, head downcast. My eyes were swollen yet again from crying the entire afternoon, until I couldn't cry anymore. "I uum," I cleared my throat, to clear my husky voice. "I want to visit Marise today," I finished, side stepping him."You've been crying." He stated as a matter of fact, wrapping his hand around my wrist."Listen Ayla—""Please don't Dean. I know you want to talk about Kaleb and Amanda and right now, I can't," I breathed, biting my bottom lip to stop it from trembling."I understand. Can I give you a ride to the hospital? Before you say no, I want to accompany you because I know about what Marise did. Even though she is bed ridden, seeing her alone is dangerous," he quickly spoke. "Okay," I whispered.It didn't take long for us to get to the hospital, and even though visiting hours were over, Dean managed to get us into the ward. When we got in, Marise was asleep, her back facing us. "Maybe
KalebI kept on passing by Ayla's office, gathering enough courage to talk to her after a night of not sleeping in the same house with her. Dean had told me that she came in earlier since she lived near the office, but I hadn't seen her. It was almost lunchtime, and she was still locked up in her office. Pacing up and down in the hallway, I eyed her door from a distance."Is there a reason why you are pacing up and down instead of answering my calls?" The irritating voice sounded behind me, breaking me out of my trance."What the hell are you doing here?" I gritted my teeth, my back facing Amanda. How had I not heard the sound of her stilettos coming into contact with the tiled hallway? I must have been really deep in thought."Didn't you get the email?" Her sickly sweet voice had me clenching my hands into fists. After closing my eyes to calm myself down, I turned, glaring at her."Given that look," she said, roaming her eyes around my face as if scrutinising it. "You have already co
Ayla"You said you were taking me to an apartment, Dean, not a freaking penthouse," I exclaimed, my swollen eyes widening as I took in the entrance."Well, it's still technically an apartment." Dean shrugged as we walked inside the beautiful space. The first thing I saw was floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allowed the natural flow of light inside."I can't afford this," I whispered, admiring the bespoke furniture."Yes, you can, but you are not paying," he answered."But you said you were going to—""Forget what I said, Ayla. You are free to stay here for however long you wish. Everything will be provided for," Dean clarified, beckoning me to follow him."What's the catch?" I stopped, placing my hands on either side of my waist."There's no catch, I am helping a friend," Dean explained."You haven't known me for that long. Plus a part of me feels like Kaleb put you up to this. And if he did, let me break it to you, this will not make me forgive him.""I don't need to know a person
Kaleb"What the hell, dude, did someone die?" Dean's loud voice filled my ears, making me scrunch my face up."Lower your voice." I forced the words out, holding a whole bottle of Hennessy in my living room, seated on the sofa."Seriously? You missed an important meeting with investors to drink yourself to stupor?" he barked, walking towards me."I haven't seen Ayla either, and no one is picking up their phones. Are you guys okay?" he asked."Ayla?" he called, looking around."Good luck getting an answer from her," I muttered, taking a big gulp of the liquid. I barely felt it as it burnt my throat; after all, the burn was nothing compared to the tugging feeling in my chest."It's 11 for goodness sake, Kaleb! When have you ever missed work just to stupidly drown yourself with alcohol?" Dean attempted to snatch the bottle away from me, but I hid it behind me, giving him a wavering glare."She has refused to talk to me," I said, my voice shaky."Who, Ayla?" Dean probed, sitting beside me
AylaI pressed a fist on my trembling lips, my thoughts spinning in my head. Kaleb's mouth was moving, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. All I could feel at that point was a barrage of emotions that left my body crumpling in on itself."A child," I uttered in a low yet shaky voice."Now I get it...the messages." I swallowed hard, past a growing lump in my throat."Baby, I can explain." I could now hear his voice from afar, filled with hesitation and heaviness.I forced a painful laugh out."Explain what, Kaleb?" I asked softly."How many motherfucking times did you have the chance to come clean? I asked you if everything was okay. You denied knowing anything about the number, over and over again," I whispered the last part, pushing myself off the bed. My body felt as if it had been hit by a bomb, but then I couldn't stay another minute near such a lying coward."You know the worst part?" I closed my eyes, listening to my heart beat as it seemed to slow down."You never thought to
Kaleb"What was that?" I shouted at Amanda over the phone in my bedroom at the mansion."What was what Kaleb?" she sweetly inquired, her nonchalance over the matter making my patience thin."You know fucking well what I am talking about." I was minutes away from hunting her down and putting her in her place."Well consider that a warning love," she responded, giggling at the end."What?" I asked."When the results come, and you find out that indeed you are Leo's father, I expect your unwavering attention and participation in his life," she explained, her tone of voice becoming more serious."What is that supposed to mean?" I leaned on the wall, my emotions all over."You cannot be there for Leo while you are parading around and investing your time in that good for nothing poverty ridden girl. So, I will send her a message containing every piece of information you have been hiding from her. Trust me I know that you haven't told her a thing about our son." My grip around the phone tight
Ayla"Baby, please talk to me," Kaleb begged as I walked out of my office. It seemed he had been standing by the door, waiting for me to step out."You haven't said a word to me since yesterday, Ayla," he added, following me as I headed straight to the cafeteria. I had woken up before him and had used an uber to get to the office, without eating anything."I won't stop following you until you talk to me or let me explain myself," he muttered behind me.I hadn't slept a wink, wondering why he would lie not once but twice. What was so important that he couldn't have told me? I had a mild ache in my head, and I had to keep swallowing the urge to cry."Good morning," Randolf greeted us confidently when the elevator opened. He moved a little bit back to allow us some space as we got in. Instead of answering, Kaleb gave him a nod, while I bit down the urge to call him on his scheme with Roman.From the way he was carrying himself, he thought that he had covered his tracks very well."Are yo