Racheal had little doubt she would escape this. Thalia was insane, why had she not thought of this before. A woman this obsessed with her married ex had to be a little crazy in the head.She could scream for help, she should, but over this loud music she doubted anyone would hear her.Then she felt strong hands yanking her. A scream escaped her throat, but to her relief, she was being yanked away from the edge, not over it.She looked up to see who rescued her, and found herself staring at an angry Skylar. Skylar looked livid, and all her fury was directed at Thalia. She soon pounced on her, despite security trying to tear her off.It seemed she finally found a way to let out all the anger she had. bottled in for days now, from her own frustrations. Racheal was mortified at the scene Skylar was forced to cause on her own wedding day because of her. The wedding guests soon crowded them and the president thundered,“Stop!” Before Skylar finally got off Thalia. Racheal saw Isaac rush
Steffan stepped back. For a few seconds, the anger in his eyes was replaced by hurt. But it disappeared just as quickly as Racheal had seen it.“You really think I am such a monster.” He said flatly. It was not a question, and there was no emotion in his voice. He turned away, and continued undressing. Racheal stood and just stared at him, unsure of her next words. She had always known this day would come, since the day her father announced the wedding. But did she really want to share a bed with this man?Was she ready to start truly living as man and wife with this man? She suddenly missed the life she had the past few weeks. She had thought she was suffering, but she was left alone. Her time was hers alone, and she did not have to stare at Steffan’s face, inhaling his scent even though she was angry at him.She was still standing as he walked towards the bathroom. Their bathroom, that is what she thought it was now. He returned almost immediately, pinning her with his gaze. His
Racheal was disappointed when she stepped back into the bedroom. She had hoped she would be able to sneak under the covers before Steffan returned from the bathroom.But apparently, she had wasted too much time in the closet, and Steffan was done bathing.She steeled herself, and began to walk to the bed, very aware that his eyes were glued to her body. In the safety of the thick white bed covers, she finally let out a sigh of relief. She stayed as close to the edge of the bed as much as she could. Her body was strung up at the knowledge that Steffan, her legal husband, was lying just a few inches away on the king sized bed.He said he was no monster, but she could not help being so nervous around him. Is this how all their nights would be?Perhaps she may become more relaxed around him, especially after she got more decent nightwears. She could not help feeling sad at how much more complicated her life just got.A lot has happened since last night. Danna Sherrod’s secret, the pres
Steffan was looking at her in surprise. Although she was uncomfortable under his gaze, she did not look away. “What did you just say?” He asked, his voice low and emotionless. She could not tell if he was simply surprised or angry, or both. She wondered if she should just drop it. The last thing she wanted was to make Steffan mad to the point he left her. That will push his father to punish her.“Before I married you, I had to be examined by a doctor against my will, to make sure I had remained chaste. My father said the Sherrods insisted on a chaste bride.” If she was going to allow herself to be swayed by this man’s kindness again, she had to be certain he was truly a good person, to some extent at least.Steffan just stared at her like she had suddenly grown two heads. She shifted in her seat impatiently, waiting for him to respond. They were drawing close to the presidential villa now.“How did they do it?” “What?”“You said it was against your will, were you threatned or rest
Racheal feared she may faint again. The memory of the whole checking-she-was-chaste experience felt suffocating. She hurried out of the suite and her guards joined her, Steffan’s own guards remained outside the door to the presidential suite.She got into the elevator and rode down to the large hallway, the one that connected all parts of the villa together. She was walking out of the elevator when she heard someone call behind her,“Racheal.” She spun at the voice. “Delbert.” She said in surprise as she saw him standing behind her. It appeared he had been waiting. For her? How did he know she would come down here? Delbert looked charming in a pair of denim and white T-shirt, his skin glowed against the lights that lit up the hallway. “What are you doing here?” She asked, hugging him. This was the first time she had seen him in anything outside a suit. She could not help thinking how men in Yin were competitively gorgeous. Delbert smiled his charming smile at her. She smiled ba
Racheal took her hand out of Steffan's. The memory of her experience at the interrogation room made her eyes sting with tears. “What if YOU hurt me, who should I tell?” she asked, pressing her lips together to hold back her tears. She was unaware that the tears had broken free, till she felt Steffan’s warm fingers wiping her face. Damn! Why was she so quick to break down?“Come, I made a bath for you.” He said turning quickly. He grabbed her hand, and he led her out of the closet. The bubble bath smelled so good, and looked irresistibly inviting to her exhausted body. But did this man intend to bathe her?As if reading her thought, he said, “You can step in with your lingerie on.”“I would like to have a private bath.” She said in the most serious tone she could put on.“No.” He said. “You still have not eaten, what if you pass out again.” What he said made logical sense, and she would have her a pair of lingerie on. At the very least, the lingerie was still one layer between her
“Racheal.” Steffan called, drawing her attention again to the present. She was saved from responding to his question by a mild knock at the door. “Please come in.” She said quickly, grateful for the escape. She found herself surprisingly happy to see one of her maids again. Luna smiled politely at her from the door but seemed hesitant to come in. As soon as Racheal saw the large bouquet of white lilies in her hands, she knew this was trouble. But she asked her to come in regardless. She had a suspicion that these flowers were from the secret sender from yesterday. She did not dare look at Steffan, but she could feel the angry gaze he fixed in Luna’s direction. “Is there a card there?” She asked, trying not to frown at Luna. The girl should know better than to bring this here, especially now that they knew Steffan lived here. But she did not want to be harsh towards her maid in Steffan’s presence. She did not want him to think it was ok to treat her maids disrespectfully in futu
Steffan was still on his knees staring up at Racheal. She wore her dress properly, and went back to her seat in the dining room. He stood up, and she could feel him staring at her, but she did not look up at him. “Racheal, who did that to you?” He asked, watching her intently.“I don’t want to talk about it.” She replied, forking a piece of now cold, bite-sized steak into her mouth. She could not taste the flavours of the meal, it tasted like paper, and her throat burned with tears.“You don’t have to keep holding things in.” Steffan said, “ Don’t you trust me?” He asked. She frowned up at him. How could he ask her such a question so soon after all that has happened between them since they got married. What reason was there to trust him? He had failed her before, who said he wouldn't again?Steffan ran his hand over his face in frustration when she would not say anything. Then he straightened up and walked off, his jacket in the crook of his arms. A guard walked in and picked Ste
“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