It took Nicole about an hour to get to the address she texted and now she sat listening to the woman talk and she regretted coming here, it was waste of time, she should have gone to see Aron instead, she had canceled on him for this."What?""You heard me right, Rafael and I are happy together, don't come and ruin it you had your time and it has ended, move on already and stop holding on to the last, as you can see my baby already did,""Your baby?"Nicole asked, she damn well knew Rafael was no baby."Yes, Rafael is mine now, or do you need proof? There are so many everywhere just like well or why else would I be at his place at nine pm?""You guys are dating?"Nicole asked she knew her questions were dumb, knew she shouldn't be asking since she already knows the truth but the lady was acting like a dummy so she was just playing along."Of course we are, and we might get married soon, Rafael has been hinting on it, I guess my baby wants us to be legal real quick, I don't fancy marri
"I am sorry I couldn't meet up the other day, I had so much to do,"Nicole said while sitting across Aron."It's fine, I understand that you are a busy lady now with all the things that you have to do, I was surprised when you said you wanted to meet up with me, I understand,""Yeah, thanks Aron, how have you been?""Being good, I think I am going to cancel the exhibition for good, I don't think I will ever find a good place for it, I already postponed because you know why and if I do again, I don't think anyone will have interest anymore so it's best to cancel,"He said, he looked sad about it, she felt bad for him, he had paid for an auditorium but it turned out that the person he paid to was a scammer, he couldn't use the hall and he couldn't get his money back, that's why she wanted him to use her gallery, the space was big enough and it was an actual gallery, it will benefit her too and it will draw people to her, so win-win."There is no reason to cancel Aron, you can use my pla
She dialed his number and waited for him to take the call. If he doesn't then she will text him, it was up to him to show up or not."Hello? Nicole?"Wow, he didn't delete her number at least."Hi, Rafael, yes, it's Nicole, happy holidays,"She said in greeting."Thank you, so what's up?""Hmm, I don't know if your girlfriend told you, but I called before,""Girlfriend? Who?""Your girlfriend, Josie, I called before and she was the one that took your call, sometime last week, well I don't know if she told you what I told her,""I don't recur, maybe she forgot, what's it about?""It's about the hotel,""The hotel? I already told you it's yours, I am not taking it back,"He said firmly."I am not asking to take it back, I am trying to tell you that I plan on opening up for business by Friday and I would like for you to be there,""Huh, does it matter if I come? Just do your thing, I am busy so I have to go now,""Can you at least think about it? It would really be nice if you come aroun
Rafael sat in his car watching the guest go into the hotel, there were a lot of people, as he expected, but he couldn't bring himself to go in.Nicole had called him two days to Christmas to inform him about it, he hadn't given a straightforward answer so if he doesn't show up, she might not think much of it, Christmas? It was hell, compound with the fact that he still wasn't able to come to an understanding with the Mining stuff and then his Christmas being the worst ever, he hated the holiday season, have hated it since he was a young child, even before his parents passed away, this year, he had thought it would be different, that he might finally enjoy the holidays with family but his plans were crushed months before Christmas, on Christmas, he had been at the office all through, Josie had invited him to have dinner with her but he turned her down, after the stuff that happened at his house with Josie, he tried to keep his distance from her so that she won't get the wrong ideas, he
"She is not my wife anymore,"He corrected."Not to me though, she is still your wife in my eyes and your heart, honestly dude, let's make up with her, I am not saying get married again instantly, no, you can start from scratch, meet her, become her friend and start building that relationship again, you have all it takes,""Is that what you are doing with Armani? You are making her uncomfortable,"Rafael said shifting the talk from him, he wasn't going to get back with Nicole."Well, this wasn't about me but yes, that's what I am doing, she playing hard to get but I am not going to give up,""I just said you are making her uncomfortable,""Well that means it's working, anyway, I am going to make her mine again, not that I kiss and tell though but we did share some hot moments a few days ago, you know,"He said smiling brightly, Rafael rolled his eyes, if only he could say the same for him and Nicole."It will be nice if you take my advice and just you know do something instead of runn
Nicole looked around the huge auditorium, it was bigger than she thought, the hotel was bigger than she thought and she didn't even know how big it was until she got here today, which was the day of the opening, she had the place cleaned but this was her first time coming here, it has been her dad and Gavin that has been doing all the works, she was just here as the owner today and it was her first time, she felt like she was robbing the real owner, she hoped he will show up today, he hadn't called her back and when she sent a text to remind him he didn't respond."Time to go get ready for your speech, Nicole,"Natalie said, coming to stand beside her."This place is huge,""I know right? It's bigger than I thought, have you seen the hotel? I wonder just how much it took to get this done,"Her sister said in awe, Nicole had no idea either, she knew it was more than she was told, it had to be more, it was too big and beautiful."Is he going to come around?"Natalie asked, she knew who
"See, he just hates me,"She cried."Nah, I am sure he doesn't,""I shouldn't even be crying over him, now my make-up is ruined and I still have to go say goodbye to the guests,"Nicole said getting up to look at her face in the mirror, just as she feared, her make-up was ruined to the point of no repair, she decided to wipe it all off and go say goodbye to the guest with her bare face.It took quite a while before the last of the guest left after the ceremony ended and she stayed till everyone had left, she wasn't alone Grace, Natalie and Aron stayed with her, and when the last of the guest left, she bid the staff who already started working goodnight and turned to her sister and friends."Thank you, Aron, you were so much help,""It's nothing really, I am glad I can help,"He replied, the more she got to know Aron, the more she couldn't find reasons to doubt his loyalty, he is kind of controlling but that was it, in all he was a nice guy, not just her kind of guy."Grace, you too, t
"I am tired, what the fuck do these people take me for?"Rafael yelled, this was not the way he wanted the year to end, it was not going according to his plan, how hard was it to just approve the damn thing."Sir, calm down, we just have to I keep calm to get what we want, you know the way people in power act, we can't let them get to us, that would be giving them what they want,"His lawyer said, Rafael understood what he meant but still he was pissed, he met with the governor three times already, there was no problem, yet the department of mining and mitigation is refusing to give their final approval, he was this close to just going ahead with his works without getting their signature, all they need to do is a sign, he already agreed to their ridiculous rules and regulations and had everything they asked for, every safety precautions, Every damn thing and yet it was just a day to the end of the year, no today was the last day of the year and still no answer from them."I understand
Rafael looked up to see his woman walking towards him, she was wearing a simple yet pretty gown that was more of a maternity gown than a wedding gown, she looked so good, every day watching her get bigger and bigger was the new joy of his life, she was everything he never knew he wanted, she was his wife, his love, his family and his life, the reason he existed, she looked up at him and smiled, his heart warmed up seeing her pretty smile.The past three months of his life has been the best so far, every day waking up to her was a blessing, beyond what he had ever imagined, not just her but her family too, the one that also became his family, he couldn't believe he had almost lost out on the biggest love he found, a year ago, he had walked down the aisle with a woman he had thought was Natalie but turned out to be Nicole, he had a motive back them, marry her and get the right to her properties, the day he made those decisions marked the beginning of the biggest change in his life, not
Three months later...Nicole watched as the reporters made a report that was concerning her."The wedding ceremony of two most talked about couples in the past few months is happening today and we are all living for it, the couple who are expecting their first child soon decided to tie the knot before their baby is born, and the whole country is looking forward to today,"The reporter said, Nicole laughed touching her tummy which has gotten bigger over the last three months, she was currently in her sixth month of pregnancy and everything has been blissful for the past three months, her life has been perfect in every way, she had family and friends and most especially Rafael with her and nothing could beat that."You know you are going to be late if you just sit there watching TV and smiling to yourself,"Natalie announced as she walked into her room, she was ready and looked so pretty in her simple yet so beautiful bridesmaid dress, both she and Grace were her bridesmaid."I can't be
She walked back towards her ward in a sad mood, she needed to speak with Rafael and hoped he come back soon, instead of going back to the room, she opted for going to the hospital rooftop, she asked for directions and was shown the way up, she saw a few people up there and went to the more quiet side, sat down and brought out her phone from the hospital gown pocket, she had found the phone next to her when she woke up this morning, she thought she had lost it but thankfully not, she played with the phone before dialing his number, it didn't go through, maybe he turned it off, she wished he could just appear in front of her, she needed to talk to him, they have been separated for too long, she wanted him back now."Rafael,"She whispered his name."What are you doing here on your own, I have been looking everywhere for you,"She heard his voice and turned to see him waving at her, she stood up from where she sat, he appeared, she smiled when he did before bursting into tears, he ran t
Nicole looked around when she woke up again, Rafael wasn't by her side anymore, she looked to where Natalie was seated with Aron by her side, they were talking in whispers, she had told him to go and not return until he has gotten enough rest, he didn't want to leave so she had yelled at him to get out of her presence, it was harsh but she needed him to take care of himself too, she didn't want him to be careless with his health, he had surgery and he wasn't taking care of himself, imagine how scared she had been when all she wanted was to playfully hit him yet she ended up hurting him, the look of pain in his eyes had sent a shiver of fear down her body, she expected to see him again at least before she went to sleep last night but he hadn't shown up, when she woke up this morning, she had looked around for him too, she knew she told him to rest and he needed it but she had things to tell him, it was almost afternoon and he still wasn't back."Nicole, you are awake,"Natalie said as
"What happened?"The doctor asked looking at his hand."I mistakenly hit it somewhere and it is so fucking painful,"He said as the doctor helped him remove his shirt, he saw that his hand was bleeding again, Nicole didn't even hit hard enough for him to be bleeding this much."This is why I told you to look after yourself but you claimed to be fine, now we have to do a restitch or it might get infected and that's not good,"The doctor said to him as he placed a call across, it happened so fast, one minute he was watching the doctor give out instructions to whoever on the other side of the call, and the next minute, he saw himself falling, his head spinning and he couldn't control himself, he heard the doctor yell for someone and that was all he could remember.When he woke up again, he was back on the bed he had run away from, with the doctor, not the one he was with earlier but another doctor fixing something on the drip near his bed."You are awake, you stubborn man, you nearly kil
Rafael looked around the room he was in, the pain in his hands finally subsided, he got up and pulled his shirt on just as the door opened."Oh, you are up,"Lance said walking up to him."Yes, were you here throughout the night?""No, I just came in, I had to go to the police station, the other man was arrested this morning, but sadly Leonard died on the way to the hospital last night,"Lance revealed."What about my wife and her sister? Are they awake yet?"He asked standing on fixing his trousers."I don't know yet, I came straight here when I was told you are here, I can go and check for you if you want,"He offered."No, that's fine I will go myself,""I don't think that's advisable seeing that you had surgery a few hours ago,"Lance said trying to block his way."I am fine, don't you have things to do?""Yes, I will be on my way, call me if you need anything,"Lance said as they both walked out of his hospital room, they parted ways as Rafael walked straight to the doctor's offi
"Nicole?"She heard her name, it wasn't just anyone calling her name it was Rafael, he came, he was here, he came for her."Don't come any closer, don't fucking come closer or she will be dead,"Leonard yelled holding on to Nicole, he pointed the gun at her, Rafael slowed down for a moment, she wanted to run to him, run into his embrace but she knew doing that would be catastrophic, so she stayed still."Rafael,"She cried"Baby, it will be fine I got you,"He said, she couldn't make out his face properly, the room wasn't dark as before but her eyes were blinded by tears and her body tried."Let her go, Leonard, let her go, she didn't do anything to you, fucking let her go,"He told Leonard who pulled her even closer and pressed the gun to her face."You think I am a fool? I should let her go? No way, if I go down, she dies,"He yelled at him pointing the gun at him."Let her go and face me, you moron,""Please don't Rafael don't provoke him, please,"She pleaded, her voice was almost
After the talk with Rafael, Nicole couldn't fall asleep or do anything else again, she just sat and listened, Rafael said he will come and get them and she didn't want to be asleep when that happened, she told her sister to sleep so that she can be on watch, it seems like the younger guy finally left because she hasn't seen him since after their talk the other day. She silently prayed that Rafael will come for them tonight, she didn't want to spend a third night here, she wanted to go home, go home not to her family's mansion but to the house she shared with Rafael, even if he doesn't want to live in the mansion anymore she would stay with him at his new house, anywhere he was would be her home, she couldn't wait to tell him that she was sorry for everything and that she loves him so much,Nicole heard the noise in the distance, not just any kind of noise, vehicles were entering where they are, she quickly got up and walked to where Natalie lay."Natie? Natie? I think help is here, th
"Baby? What baby?"He asked."Nicole is pregnant, I know she hadn't told you yet, and she would want to tell you herself but you have to know that my daughter is pregnant with your child and you have to get them back soon, this is not good for the baby,"She replied, he didn't know what to say, he didn't know Nicole was pregnant, she didn't say a word to him, he thought, God, he thought the doctor said she won't be able to get pregnant again, dies that mean. Oh God, he needed to get her back. Aron collected the phone from him and spoke to Nicole's parents while he sat there still in shock.The police, his own team, and even the twins' parents agreed that it would be better if they involved security to avoid any foul play, he reluctantly agreed.Leonard didn't call back, instead, he texted a location where they can meet for the exchange and it was game on.Preparation for the meet up was super easy, it was the easy part of the whole thing, he wanted to go alone, wanted to just give the