Zoe walked into ‘the Vogue Vision’ fashion show dressed in a very elegant emerald dress and silver stones around her neck. The shutter sound of the camera was almost deafening but she had her best smile on as always. She wasn’t surprised that a lot of the media wanted to take pictures of her face because not only was she a beauty to behold, she was the daughter of Margery Madrigal and also the wife of Avery Trent.She was asked a lot of questions by the paparazzi but answered none, only using her smile to cover up. Inside the building screamed of elegance and class that she was already used to. She was guided by the ushers to take a seat in the front row which she very much appreciated because it would give her a very clear view.A mini auction show began before the models were to get ready and she watched as the ridiculously rich people bought unreasonable things that she knew would just sit in their houses as a form of decoration. There were very ugly art works from renowned artists
“Well, I don’t think that is any of your business, Aaron.” Zoe replied boldly to him, making sure that she maintained a safe distance. She has seen Avery’s anger and has gotten quite used to it, but Aaron looked like he was going to be a tougher pill to swallow when angry. “It is a secret between Simon and I, so please stay out of it.”He shook his head, impressed by her confidence. “You are new to this family, Zoe, so don’t you dare act like you have a relationship with Simon.”“And what if I do?” Zoe asked. “What if I have a relationship with all three of them? Just stay out of my business, Aaron. I will look for what Simon and I lost, so, you don’t have to worry about it.”Aaron looked her over and then sat back on his chair in the dining room, deciding to let the subject go for the main time.“My mother mentioned something about you being married.” He said and she froze at the spot. Aaron caught her tension and tilted his head to the side. “We didn’t want to think it was true beca
Zoe and Avery walked into the dining room and Avery gave his mother a peck on the cheek while Zoe took the seat directly opposite her. There was no way in the world that she would be sitting close to a woman who hated her with every fiber of her being. Felicity on the other hand looked over to Zoe in the far end of the dining and her face lit up in one of the most genuine smiles that Zoe thought had ever seen on her since the first time they met.Now, this was strange indeed.“And how are you doing, Zoe?” Felicity asked.Zoe nodded awkwardly, lifting her head to acknowledge the servants who placed a glass of water before her. “I am doing very well, Mrs. Trent.” She replied before gulping down the water. She looked at Avery who offered her a comforting smile.Come on Zoe, this isn’t the first time you are meeting Felicity Trent, why are you this damn nervous? She spoke to herself still drinking the water like her life depended on it.“Mia said the show was great and that you guys had f
Aaron took the empty seat beside his mother while Mia sat beside Avery who offered her a smile, asking how her journey went and if she enjoyed herself.“Well, the show was amazing but I have seen plenty amazing before.” Mia bragged, accepting a glass of water from the servant standing behind them. She drank a reasonable amount, gave herself some minutes before putting food into her plate. “Zoe sure did enjoy herself.”They turned to look at Zoe who shrugged as she settled into the conversation. “There was a whole lot of glamour.”“But you are used to glamour.” Aaron chipped in while pouring wine into a glass. “I have been to your home before and it is glamour through and through.”“My home?” Zoe asked him and he nodded, sparing her a look.“Your home in the estate.”“What business did you have in my family’s house?” She asked.“Calm your socks down, Zoe. Your mother is a lover of the finer things of life.” He replied. “When it was her turn to host the Hotel Association business event,
“What do you mean someone is in the house?” Avery asked, standing up from the table immediately. He was able to see a little from the dim light of Dora’s flashlight, so he went to her, collected the flashlight from her hands.“I saw some men with covered faces, they were walking around the back of the house.”“What?” Avery exclaimed. “Have you alerted security? How can unknown men break into a security conscious house?” He asked, flashing the torch on Aaron’s face and his brother shrugged. Just then then, lights came back and Avery scanned the dining room.Zoe!Where the hell was Zoe! He almost screamed, fear enveloping his chest.Without a word, he dashed out of the house, still holding the flashlight in his hands. He ignored the other servants who watched in awe, probably wondering why he was in so much panic. The road to the bathroom seemed long enough as his heart continued to beat loudly in his chest.If the maid had seen unknown men in the house, then what if something had happe
“What the hell are you doing with it?” Zoe asked, surprised that he knew about it.“And what the hell are you thinking leaving that sort of weapon in my house?” He snapped back. “Aren’t you supposed to be smart and know that it could put us in trouble?”“Maybe I am not smart.” She retorted, freeing her hand from his grasp. “Maybe the first thing that comes to mind after finding a freaking gun in my garden is not to hide it considering that it might be evidence to a crime.”“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have kept it back under the grass. Maybe you should have kept it in a place where no one would find it if you were thinking of being a detective.” He responded.“And also, maybe I didn’t think of that because it is not natural to have a gun in a perfectly normal house.” She snapped again, pacing the kitchen while he watched in awe.“Or you kept the gun because somewhere in your heart you think this is happening because one of my personalities did something very terrible.” He said, surprisi
“Oh, come on, power interruptions happen all the time. Even here in the company, we have had numerous cases of power interruption.”Jacob said as he walked closely behind Avery to his office. Avery nodded his head, agreeing with his personal assistant even though a large part of him had a lot of doubts.As they opened the door to his desk, Charlotte stood from her seat, bowing to Avery who completely ignored her. He pushed the door to his personal office open and admitted himself and Jacob inside.“What are my schedules for this month? I think it is time I take my family out on a vacation.” Avery said, taking his chair at his desk and swirling it around. Jacob gave him a rough look as he dropped a tablet on his table, his tall build complimenting the navy-colored suit he had on.“You do not need a vacation, Avery.” Jacob said to him.“As a matter of fact, I do.” Avery replied. “Mia and Zoe are losing their minds because of our current situation and I do not want to be the guy who take
Aaron snatched the document off Avery’s hands and returned to his seat knowing fully well that he was being stared at with anger.“You said to me that you were no longer operating, Aaron.” Avery said, going closer to his table. “Now you also lie?”“Listen…”“You always say that you are so many things except a liar, Aaron.”“Oh, come on.”Aaron groaned out loud, frustrated with being spoken to as if he were a child. Avery always claimed to be the responsible son and he was happy that he was, but that didn’t mean he enjoyed being treated like a teenager. “I didn’t lie to you, Avery.”“Really?” Avery said, clenching his fists in anger. “You told me you were closed for now and if I can remember vividly, you repeated those exact words this morning when we spoke. That…” he pointed to the document in Aaron’s hands… “doesn’t look like something that has been closed.”“It is just a shipment that has been on its way even before the whole thing started. I was just going through it so that it woul
Zoe went round the little church Avery had picked for them in her simple floral white dress. She had pleaded with him that she didn’t want anything extravagant so he had done his best to get something small in the province close to their vacation home in Maples.Everything was finally going on well with her life. She and Avery were now in a place that she could never have imagined and they were going through life together. Sometimes he sends Aaron messages, to assure him that they were still brothers, but as usual, Aaron ignores them. As a couple, the both of them had visited Francis’s grave together in Maples, bringing him flowers and she had assured Francis that she forgave him for the lies and deceit while they were together.Zoe continued to look at the statue and altar in the catholic church where Avery had agreed they got married because he wanted everything to her taste. She was grateful for him and knew for sure that the both of them were going to have a good life together.“Z
‘I need you home right now’ kept resonating in Avery’s mind even as he dropped the call. He looked at Jacob who was busy surfing through the media, looking for ways to savage the remaining reputation that they had left.“Zoe said she needs me home.” Avery said to Jacob and the latter lifted up his head to attend to him. Avery stood up from his work chair and began to roam around the space between his work table and the window.“She needs you home can mean so many things, Avery.” Jacob said, watching him keenly. “What are you getting worried about?”“She needs me home could also mean that she is tired of the life I am leading with her and wants an out.” Avery responded, watching Jacob who sighed.“If she wants an out, then you have to let her go.”Avery shook his head immediately, knotting his tie that he had loosened when he had been working. When he put on his suit, he turned back to face Jacob.“I cannot live without her, Jacob.” He said. “I have to let her know that I cannot live w
Zoe woke up in the morning to an empty bed. She yawned weakly and rolled off her side of the bed, wondering where the hell Avery had gone to so early. The wall clock in her room read twenty minutes past eight which meant he was supposed to still be in the house.She searched the bathroom and the closet but he was nowhere to be found so she made her way down the stairs. The maids she met on her way greeted her differently and with pity as if they knew exactly what she had been through for the past two days. In the dining room, Kara brought a cup of coffee to her which she accepted with gladness in her heart. Finally, she was in the comfort of her home and could eat anything she liked. That wasn’t possible when she was at the mercy of Aaron.Zoe sipped her coffee, watching Kara who was looking at her with keen eyes. She smiled when she lifted the coffee from her lips at the young girl.“Did you miss me?” She asked, making her blush. “Where is Avery by the way? Have you seen him this mo
Avery held Zoe outside the warehouse as Aaron and his crew were being taken into the police van. His fear had known no bounds while driving to save his wife and that was when he realized that he couldn’t live without Zoe. Jacob was right all along. Aaron, his brother had gotten out of hand and the best thing to do to make sure that he doesn’t do more damage is to put him behind bars.He continued to rub Zoe’s shoulders, kissing her temple when Aaron was brought to stand before the both of them in handcuffs. There was a sorry look on his face but Avery was determined not to be swayed by it.“Avery.” Aaron called, trying to meet his gaze. “You are not going to allow them take me to prison, right?” He asked with a shaky voice.Avery scoffed, finally looking him straight into the eye. “Why wouldn’t I allow them take you to prison?” He asked. “You are a criminal and a murderer. People like you deserve to be in jail.”“Come on, Avery.” Aaron called. “Remember our family name is going to be
Zoe laid still on the cold ground completely ignoring the bed Aaron had asked his people to provide for her the previous day. The room was dark but she was staring at the ceiling, wondering how long it would actually take for Avery to forget her just like Aaron had threatened. That was the only thing keeping her alive at the moment because he had promised to kill her when Avery forgets she existed.She remained still in the dark even when the door opened but squinted when the light on the ceiling was turned on directly above her. Aaron walked up to where she was and looked at her but she ignored him.“Just a little while now, Zoe.” He said, drawing the chair close to him and taking a seat on it. “I was at the house yesterday and Avery is still looking frantically for you. Just a little while now before he forgets about you completely.”Zoe scoffed arrogantly at him, her eyes still focused on the ceiling which she could see clearly now all thanks to the light in the room. His words ind
Avery’s head of security was the only one watching the security cameras and he sat up when he saw Avery walk in.“You had just one job.” Avery said, trying not to scream at the top of his lungs. “You had just one job and that was to make sure you kept her safe.”“Mr. Trent, what…” Daniel stammered.“You were supposed to keep her safe and watch her at every time, what the hell were you doing when she left the house?” Avery continued without giving him time to talk.“Your wife went out in a hurry and we tried to follow her, but she was able to escape the cars.” Daniel spoke“What the hell does that even mean?” Avery screamed this time around. “What the hell is your job if she could disappear out from your sight?”“Mr. Trent, she said you knew where she was heading to.” Daniel said, trying to defend himself. “She told us she had your permission to leave the house and we couldn’t argue with that. She is your wife.”“Don’t you dare remind me what she is because I think I am very well aware
Avery shut his work laptop closed and headed out of the office. He had had quite a tedious day and wished nothing but to go home and be in the presence of his wife whether she hated him or not. At least anytime he was with Zoe, a lot of thoughts is being blocked from his head. The only thing she worries him about is Aaron but with that at least, there was a way to maneuver it. He just had to seduce her and she would forget totally about Aaron.Thinking about it now, it had been very long since he seduced Zoe and suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get home. Charlotte knocked on his office door and when he gave her leave to enter, she stuck her head and part of her shoulder in. He saw the strap of her handbag on her shoulders and could tell she too was about to leave.“Do you need anything else sir?” Charlotte asked and he shook his head immediately.“Nothing.” He replied. “You can go home Charlotte. Drive carefully.”She bowed at him and closed the door quietly behind her. Avery on the othe
Zoe tilted her head to watch Aaron and the look on his face carefully. Of course, it was him. She thought, sighing with distress. But why had she not thought about it and why the hell would he kidnap her when Avery had warned him not to come anywhere near her? She clenched her fists in anger, hating that he was two steps ahead of her just when she had thought she had the perfect opportunity to get him the punishment he finally deserved.“You keep on surprising me, Aaron.” She said, trying her best to keep herself calm. “You surprise me every single time.”“Of course, Zoe.” He replied, taking off his suit. “I am full of surprises, am I not?”The man who had brought her the glass of water, came in with a wooden chair for Aaron to sit on and he took the seat from him.“Do you not need me, boss?” The weird looking man asked and Aaron shook his head after giving his suit to him.“I don’t.” Aaron replied, smiling. “I will just have a little fun with my sister-in-law here and be on my way.”
Zoe relaxed on her seat and crossed her legs again. There was a certain thing she was feeling that she could barely understand. Yes, Aaron had confessed to killing Francis and she had it on her recorder. Then, why wasn’t she on her way to delivering it to the police together with the pictures Amelia had given her? Why was the satisfaction that he was going to surely be behind bars suddenly feeling bittersweet? Was it because she wasn’t sure how Avery would react to it? Or because she was scared Avery would no longer want her in his life if she puts his brother behind bars.The fact that Avery had become such an important part of her life up to the point that she thought about him before making her decision surprised her so much. She just wanted everything to be settled so that the both of them could savage the remaining aspects of their lives and live safely together. Was that the reason why she was stalling?“Did you just confess to murder?” She asked Aaron, who arrogantly shrugged h