Steffan was about to say something when his chief guard came over, and whispered in his ears. He nodded and turned to Racheal. “Let's go congratulate the bride and groom.” He said, and helped her up from her seat. She smiled politely at all the people who greeted her on their way to the front of the hall. She saw Skylar sitting beside a handsome man in a black suit and purple shirt. She was a bit surprised. How can someone so handsome be so nasty? She turned her attention to Skylar. Skylar was in a beautiful purple dress with a long train. Her dark hair was held up with twinkling diamond pins. She looked like a beautiful fairy. It pained Racheal to think all that will go to waste on a man like this. She wished she had enough power to save herself and Skylar. Help them both out of this wicked world of arrogant, power-hungry people. “I have only seen you on TV. I thought the images were merely airbrushed.” Hamza stood up when he saw them. “But apparently, you're stunning in real li
Racheal felt her head contract, and beads of sweat appeared on her temples.“The necklace. The diamond necklace you sent me a few hours ago.” She said slowly, perhaps he did not hear her well the first time. Delbert still had the confused look on his face. “I did not send you any gifts? I have only sent you a gift once.” He said.“How is that possible? The card had your name on it as the sender. It said Delbert.” She suddenly stopped short. Damn. Something was at play, she had thought it strange the way he signed his name. The last time it had been, DELBERT .E. DALLOZ not simply Delbert.He was looking at her, she stared back at him. Suddenly his eyes brightened, like a light bulb had turned on in his head. He fished out his phone and frantically tapped at his screen.“Is this what it looks like?” He asked, turning his phone screen. “Yes.” She said, staring at an image of the exact replica of the necklace she had upstairs. “Fuck.” Delbert swore, punching the air. “What is it?”
“What are you doing?” Racheal asked in shock, stepping back. “Giving you what you need.” Steffan said, and completely ripped his shirt off. His abs popped and his chest was hard. Racheal swallowed and looked away.“What?”“I realised I have not touched you since we got married. So I thought I'd remedy that. Give you what you need.” He said, walking up to her. His chest, naked.“That's not what I need.” she said quietly. “Really?” Then why else will you bring a man up here?” He asked in a deceptively low voice. Racheal felt like she had been slapped. She wanted to scream at him. But instead, she turned away and began to walk angrily to her bedroom. “I don't want to argue, Steffan. It's been a long day.”She wanted peace, she wanted to be alone. And regardless of how charming he was, she would not bring herself to sleep with a man that disrespected her and did not care for her. Even if he had not been her country’s enemy. Just as she got to her bedroom, he grabbed her arm and spu
“What?” Racheal asked. Leah and Luna appeared at the hallway, their eyes wide with shock at the scene. “Who authorized this?”“All the necessary information are in there.” The cop gestured to the printout in her hand. “Please step aside and let us do our duty.” He said and pushed past her. Racheal quickly tightened her bathrobe around her, she had nothing on except this bathrobe. How was it even legal to barge into someone’s home like this?All her life she had believed the presidential villa was inaccessible. At least the one she lived in back in Xen wasn't. No one would dare come in like this to bully even the lowest maid. She began to get furious when she realised someone must have given them permission to do this. She marched past her maids and went into the living room. She yanked open her front door, startling the two guards stationed at the door.“Where’s Isaac?” She asked angrily. The guard on her right pressed the device on his ear and whispered into it. In a flash,
Racheal finally abandoned the task of organising, to her maids’ relief and Luna's immense satisfaction. She got dressed quickly and headed out. The Dalloz were not expecting her, and she had not made any appointment, but she hoped they would grant her audience. She got in one of the cars stationed for her, and soon she was on her way, protected by a convoy of security guards. When she arrived at the Dalloz mansion, the sun had risen high into the sky. Birds sang in the garden, and the air felt clean here. The butler met her at the door this time. She was not surprised, she had not made any appointments.“Is Madame Dalloz in?” She smiled tightly at him, feeling like a silly teenager.“Please, come in.” The Butler showed her in. He took her past the indoor porch with the fountain she liked, and past the large living room she sat with Madame Dalloz just a few days ago. They went up a staircase and he opened the door to another living room, just a little smaller than the one downst
Racheal glanced at her wristwatch. She had already spent about one hour here.“I still have to respond to them, accepting their offer.” She said looking up at Madame Dalloz. “Oh dear. Of course.” Madame Dalloz said.“Do you have a printer I could use?” Racheal asked.The woman looked at her in confusion for a few seconds. Then she said, “Oh, you are not allowed a smartphone or computer!”Racheal nodded.“That's such a ridiculous law. Like you could not communicate with your family in Xen some other way if you wanted to. You could even send letters and no one will know.” Madame Dalloz said, the irritation on her face deepening. Racheal said nothing. “The last room on your right is my husband's study. He has a printer I believe.” The old Lady said finally. Racheal stood up immediately. She did not want the woman to see her face.Monsieur Dalloz? She had always thought Madame Dalloz a widow. No one had ever spoken of the man, not even Delbert. And the old lady seemed like she was cal
Racheal stepped into the now empty building, except for staff members, and took an elevator to the tenth floor where the boutique was located. The boutique manager welcomed them at the door with a broad smile. She looked eager to get started. “Hello.” Racheal said with a smile. She envied women like these who had the opportunity to work, and wondered what it would feel like working for your own money, and meeting new people everyday. “How may we help you today ma'am?” The manager asked politely. She was dressed in an expensive looking suit and had a perfect smile. “I need a dress for a wedding. Can I have it ready by tomorrow morning if I purchase one now?” She asked.“Of course. This is the President's daughter's wedding right?” The manager asked, leading her into the super fancy shop.“Yes.” Racheal replied. It still surprised her how famous she was in Yin. Back in Xen as even the President’s own daughter, not very many people knew she existed. “Do you have anything in mind?
Jade, the manager, and some shop attendants were watching the unfolding drama. Racheal knew any piece of information about the presidential villa was big news to the public. If any of the staff here were some type of vlogger or social media influencer, they would definitely use this as content. But she had to send Steffan some kind of message, and teach Isaac a lesson too. She looked around the shop and scanned the rows of clothes, shoes and purses. She dived into the shop, and two bodyguards followed her closely. She picked shoes, formal and casual dresses, purses, makeup and other girly accessories, with the knowledge that the bill was running up. If Steffan wanted to be all macho and show her he had money, she would help him spend that money. She knew she was being childish, but she could not help the emotions boiling in her. She had endured too much in the space of one week.She had the bodyguards carry it to the front desk. The look on Isaac's face was satisfying. Good luc
“Mind Skylar’s head.” Steffan said, watching her get out of the car. Racheal cradled six month-old Skylar’s head in her arms and got out of the car. Steffan turned and walked ahead towards the courthouse. She knew he did not like this, neither did her mother, but she wanted to lead a new life from now on.She would only allow any dispute to be settled by the court no matter how long it took, instead of the torture, killing and all they had done up to the point that she had Sterling.“Maman," Sterling said, peeking his head around his father’s shoulders.“Yes, baby.”“Maman.” He said again, and she smiled at him. Steffan adjusted him in his arms as they walked into the building.It was an informal courtroom, and the biggest case in Xen. This case was what had disgraced Roslyn and made her lose the elections. Journalists waited outside for the final hearing.She and Steffan sat side by side after the judge took her seat, and the accused began to be escorted in by the cops. Roslyl
Racheal followed Steffan into his house quietly. His housekeeper greeted her warmly. She nodded at the woman. She was surprised to see Chef Bennett come out.“Dinner in five minutes, sir.” Then he paused. “Mrs Sherrod.” He bowed.“Make a place for two,” Steffan said. Those were the first words he had said, since she told him she missed him.“Sure, Sir.” Chef Bennett responded.“You kept him?” Racheal asked, as Steffan led the way upstairs. “You liked him.” He said simply.She said nothing more. He surprisingly led the way to his bedroom on the second floor. It was a dark masculine room, wide, dark and intimidating.She stood in the middle, unsure of how to act, or what to do next.He dropped his bag on the bed, and glanced at her.“I am sorry I hurt you.” She said. He paused, midway into sitting on the bed, then started to take his tie off.“That’s rare. Women never apologize.”She made a face at him. But continued anyway. “I was conflicted. I wanted to be with you, but I was
Racheal sat on the toilet bowl, staring at the pregnancy test kit. It clearly read positive. In denial, she took others. They read the same thing.She hurried back to her room and pulled on a dress. It would be stupid to make the same mistake twice. She sat nervously in the backseat as her chauffeur took her to the hospital.She waited nervously as her blood got drawn, and patiently waited for the doctor.She could not smile back as the doctor said.“Congratulations Mrs Sherrod. Would you like to see your baby?”She climbed the table, and stared at the ceiling as the doctor smeared a cold gel on her flat belly.“You are about seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor said excitedly. “Look at your baby.” She held her breath and turned.She could hear the heartbeat of the fetus as the doctor pointed out where the baby was in the sac. It was so tiny, she burst into tears.The doctor helped her up and soothed her, telling her it was OK to cry, that days like these were an emotional day for
The president is dead did not cover the horror of how Spencer Sherrod had died. He stared at his father’s coffin the next morning as the priest talked on and on. He had wanted to kill this man. He had wanted to kill him with his own hand, so why was he reacting this way to the man’s death?His mind kept going back to how Spencer had looked in the video he had seen. He was headed for a meeting, surrounded by his guards, edgy and nervous, and alone.The old woman had come from the crowd, begging an audience. He had hesitated, but asked them to let her through. The woman had hugged him, even as his guards had yelled that it was against protocol.One had even reached out to pull her away. Then flames. He shook his head as he remembered the explosion sound. They had quickly found out the woman was the journalist’s aged mother. The journalist Spencer had killed at Racheal’s office.He felt someone squeeze his arm. He looked down at the little woman. She was the only good thing in
“We should start moving. I don’t want Limuel’s men to find us here," he said as he stocked the fire. She dropped a plate of Ramen in front of him. He smiled up at her, and she smiled back.He did not mind if he lost all his wealth, and became doomed to this kind of life, as long as he had her. She was all he wanted now, all he had ever wanted really from the day he met her.“It will be a few hours still before we can start moving.” She responded. He nodded and picked up his meal. She walked closer and sat beside him. He turned to her, caressed her cheek, and kissed her lightly. She returned his kiss, enthusiastically, the way he remembered, the way he liked.He loved how much she loved his touch. They were soon grappling at each other, their meal forgotten. He squeezed her warm soft body as she moaned his name and dug into his back. He savored the warmness of her, the fullness of her curve, the lusty way she matched his thrusts, squeezing tight around him.He did not want to
Racheal sat shocked, staring at Steffan’s face, just barely able to see it in the near darkness. But she could see clearly enough the honesty in there. His blue eyes were clear and honest, open and pleading.“You should have said that when I wanted to hear it.” She said, shaking her head, starting to move away. But he held her.“I should have. I was a fool not to have.”“I even told you once that I loved you. You said nothing.”“I am sorry.”“Stop apologising. It won’t fix anything," she said, trying to pull away. She did not have to hear this, she did not want to hear this. It would make leaving him that much more difficult. It was easier walking away from a man who hurt her, and had never admitted to loving her even once. But now…“Racheal.” He said, taking her face between his hands. “I love you. I have always loved you. My heart stops at the thought of losing you. The day Isaac told me you were dying, the day you sent that divorce document, my heart completely stopped beatin
“I thought you changed. Apparently, you did not," Steffan said finally, looking away. “You are still as stubborn and careless as ever.”His words stung her.“Careless? You sound like I got some warning that a certain Limuel was after me and ignored it.”“I tried to warn you. I sent a dozen messages, tried to make an appointment,” he blew up.She shrank back. Well. There was no way she would have known. She had his number blocked, so there was no way she could have seen his messages. She still did not know how he had gotten her new contact number by the way. She could not think of any of her staff who could have given him her personal number.She knew he was in contact with Isaac, but could Isaac have given him the number?“After all that has happened to you, I don’t know how you can still put yourself in danger like this.”“One could say I was in danger, hiding with you in a storm like this. At least Maman would think so.” She said quietly, lowering herself to the floor. That got
“What are you doing?” Racheal asked as she watched Steffan walk towards one of the many couches in the room. He said nothing.He placed a bright flashlight she suspected he must have found wherever he found the axe on the floor, lighting the whole room up. He raised the axe, and began to hack at the couch.She stared at him in shock, at first not understanding what he was doing. Then she turned back, and shut the heavy bolt on the door. He had to make fire somehow, or they would freeze to death before the storm was over. Between the both of them, they could probably buy a million couches for this family.She walked further into the living room, past him, checking the whole place out. The only place that was open to them was the hallway, the open kitchen in the living room, and a tiny bathroom at the end of the hallway. All the other rooms were firmly locked. She was not very eager to ruin their locks like she did the front door.She walked towards the kitchen, and turned on th
“What? Why?” Racheal screamed in confusion as she watched Limuel’s guards pull a limp Steffan up.Then they began to pull him to pull him away, his tall frame causing his foot to drag behind him.“I had a suspicion he might come here.” Limuel said, pulling out a big cigar.“What did we do to you?” She asked, looking from Limuel to Steffan, who was being dragged away.“I have no problems with the Sherrods. Just you.”“What?” She asked just as she saw Limuel’s toddler run out of the house. The guards tried to stop the child who was not warmly dressed for the weather. The toddler screamed. He just wanted his father.Lukas Limuel turned at the commotion. “Let him through," he said, standing up. The child broke through the barrier of guards, and ran into his father’s arms.“I don’t have the time to explain anything. I hear your mother has suddenly returned from the dead. I believe she will pay a decent price in exchange for you as compensation for what your family did to us.” Lukas sa