Racheal got home, changed into a bathing suit, and dove under the swimming pool in their bedroom’s balcony.Steffan stood watching her for a while, and announced he was going to get his swimming trunks. Racheal barely heard him. She stayed under the water, not wanting to think. She remained that way, holding her breath, her lungs beginning to burn, until she suddenly felt strong hands pull her back to the top.“I did not permit you to die,” he said.‘I don’t need your permission for anything, husband.” She smiled weakly at him.“That is the most contradictory sentence I ever heard.”Racheal laughed, and then began to cry. Steffan held her, and swam with both of them towards the ledge. When she quieted down, he climbed out of the water.“You know the best thing to process such large information?” He asked.Racheal shook her head at him.“Alcohol.” He said, and disappeared into their bedroom. She stared up at the bright sunny sky. This was such an odd day to learn all these truth
Racheal picked up her phone, as she rolled tiredly out of bed. She also picked the bouquet of roses, and brought it up against her nose as she called Steffan’s phone. It was out of reach. She grabbed a robe from the closet, and took the flowers downstairs as she dialed his number again.The call still did not connect.“Ma’am.” Leah appeared at the foot of the stairs, looking to see if she needed any help. Racheal stretched the flowers to her. “Please put these in a vase.” She said, Leah took it and bowed, heading to the kitchen. Racheal followed behind.“When did Steffan leave?” She asked.“About an hour ago,” Luna appeared. Racheal turned to her. “Did he say anything to you, leave any message for me?” She asked, and glanced down to check her phone for the time.Her phone beeped with a new message.—------------------------DelbertI will pick you up in about an hour 💓💓16:50—------------------------“No Ma’am.” Luna responded. Racheal turned around. “Put the roses on my n
Dellbert looked shocked, and then hurt.“Don’t do that. I am the victim here," Racheal said.He was frowning at her in confusion. She picked her glass up and took a sip. “It was so easy. It could have been so easy to say we are both from the Auclair family.” She said, staring in his eyes.She saw him inhale sharply, his eyes widening a little in shock.“Racheal,” he said, and reached out to take her hand again on the table. She pulled it back.“Why did you not say it?”“Racheal. I…” He stopped.“It’s fine if you do not want to talk. I will go visit your grandmother tonight. Or should I say Maeva Auclair.” “Don’t be like this.” Delbert said, distressed. “Don’t be like what?” She said angrily, her voice getting loud. She stopped, trying to calm herself down as she felt some eyes turn to glance at them.“I don’t have much to quarrel with you for. Your grandmother is the one who has questions to answer," She added more calmly. “I am only hurt that I called you friend, and you kept su
Racheal stared at Delbert. She moved her chair back noisily, and stood up.“Madame Dalloz used me, she put me in severe danger for whatever reason, she cannot get away with it.” Racheal said, looking down at Delbert.“Racheal. You cannot…” Delbert was saying. She did not wait for him to finish before she turned and hurried out as everyone stared after them. How had she been so foolish?All these months she had sought out the woman’s advice. She thought the Dallozs were her friends, her allies, and were trying their best to get her out of here. She had no idea they were her biggest enemies. They had actually brought her here to use her.Marry Delbert, that was the ultimate plan? Why, so she could put him or his father in Spencer's seat.Racheal ran as soon as she was out of the building. She looked around for Isaac. She wanted to get to the Dallozs mansion before Delebert could stop her from confronting his grandmother.“Ma’am.” Isaac appeared beside her. “Where are the cars?”
Madame Dalloz frowned, her jaw trembling.“You are just like your mother. Stubborn, carefree and never listens. I had to befriend Roni because that was the only way to get you out of there. The marriage too was the only way to get you out of there. If you stuck to the plan you would never have had to suffer.”Racheal laughed loudly.“I would never have suffered? The day I met you was the day I was framed and taken hostage, and you did not even know it.” Racheal said. “If I was truly your priority like you claim, it would not have taken you three days to notice I was missing.”“But I rescued you in the end. Delbert did his best to bring you out of that place.” Madame Dalloz said, wincing.The butler who was hovering around, came forward to ask if she needed anything. Madame Dalloz waved him away. Racheal stared at her, not feeling any pity towards her. She was just sixty, she might as well be putting on an act again.“So I have to give you a medal for taking me out of the unnecessary
Racheal walked past the butler who ran the opposite way towards where Delbert was screaming. As she stepped out the door, she saw the Dallozs security guards hurrying in.She saw her guards looking back towards the mansion in confusion at all the commotion. She walked towards her car, but she ignored the door Isaac pulled open for her, and went around the car.“Step out.” She said, pulling the chauffeur’s door open.“Ma’am.” She heard Isaac say.“Get out.” She screamed at the chauffeur who sat stunned, looking at her. He hurried out, and she got in and turned on the car.“Ma’am.” Isaac said again in panic as he shut the door he had been holding open for her. She took her foot off the breaks. She had not driven in years, she had not needed to.She set the car in motion, and started to drive away. But Isaac was quick. He grabbed the passenger door, and practically fell into the car. She increased her speed, dodging cars as she joined the traffic on the road.“Ma’am. This is dange
“Racheal.” She heard Steffan scream behind her when she was several feet away from the building. It seemed his voice was all her body needed to swing into action.Because she picked up her dress and ran. She did not stop, and soon left Isaac behind even in her heels. She fell into the car, and locked the doors. She sped away just as Isaac reached the car.She drove fast to Jade’s house, forcing herself not to think. If she let her mind think, she would definitely get into an accident.Her purse on the floor of the car was vibrating. She ignored it and focused on the road ahead. She could not remember the last time she had driven herself alone. She was not even sure that had ever happened. By the time she was old enough to drive, Roni had been a president, and on days she was allowed out of the palace, she was heavily guarded.She had learned to drive just because it was a nice-to-have skill for children of such an influential family.She hoped no cop would pull her over, because
“How are you going to avoid talking to Steffan now? Everyone will be at her wake, and funeral.” Jade said, looking at Racheal.Racheal looked at her blankly. Then she picked her phone up from the carpet it had fallen on.—-------------------------RachealThree days. I need three days of quiet,Please. Don’t approach me.09:00—-------------------------She sent it to Steffan, her eyes ignoring all the texts he had sent. “I think that is settled.” She said out loud, and scrolled towards her saved contact. She hesitated but dialed anyway.“Delbert.” Her voice broke as she mentioned his name.“Racheal, come home. Maman would have wanted you here.”His voice was subdued, and he sounded even calmer than usual.“The wake is this evening. If you prefer to come then.”“I will come now.”“Ok. My parents will be here by afternoon too.” Racheal subconsciously nodded even though he could not possibly see her through the phone. She hung up.“You should not go alone.” Jade said as soon as s
“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