“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
The week went by quietly and smoothly for the Trents. They had managed to put off the breaking in incident behind them and were now living their lives as they were supposed to. Avery opened the door of the dressing room in the evening of Wednesday to see Zoe sitting by the mirror, allowing the makeup artist to do his magic on her with her eyes closed. He walked over, smiled at the artist before placing a kiss on Zoe’s already made hair, breathing in the scent of her vanilla flavored shampoo in the process.“Look who is back.” Zoe said, a smile spreading across her face.Things have been very good between them. The more they lived together, the more he fell in love with her. Although she hasn’t totally confessed her feelings for him, he sure knew she felt the same way about him. He was becoming softer by the day and his personalities have given him some peace by not coming out for the past week, allowing him live his life.“Are you dressed?” Zoe asked, her eyes still closed while the m
Zoe stared at her, wondering how possible it was that she was present at her wedding when in fact just few people had attended. She and Francis got married in a very casual garden and had not more than twenty people present because they had thought they didn’t need people as long as they had each other. But seeing this very beautiful lady who threw flashy stares at her husband say she had been there, didn’t sit right with her.“Are you sure about that?” Zoe asked, studying her and she smiled sweetly.“Of course. I remember being in Maples then to teach a modeling class and getting dragged to a wedding because my friend and I thought it was pitiful that the ceremony was scanty.” She replied. “When we got there, I was surprised that it was Zoe Madrigal tying the knot.”“Oh yeah?” Avery asked.“Yeah. I also remember wanting to come say hello but we were called up for an emergency and had to leave.” She continued. “What happened? You got divorced?”“Uhmmm…”“Yes.” Zoe replied immediately,
Avery stood perfectly still watching his mother’s body being wheeled out from the house. There were red and blue siren lights flashing round the building and if no one stopped the sounds of the siren, he was going to dismantle the ambulances with his bare hands.God, his mother was dead. She was gone and it was all because of his recklessness. Zoe warned him, Mia had warned him but he had only thought them as being hysterical because they were women.And now, look what that had gotten him.He leaned by the wall outside the house, still looking at the body the police officers were asking him to identity. There was no way in the world he was going to identify that his mother was dead.“Mr. Trent. We know this is a difficult time but before we take her away, is this your mother?” They asked him but he couldn’t bring himself to answer the question.“Mr. Trent?”“Yes, she is the one.” Zoe replied, adjusting the white shawl she used to cover her shoulders as she came closer. She watched Ave
Zoe turned off the television in her mother’s house and sighed in distress. The news about Felicity’s death was over all channels she tried to watch which almost drove her crazy. She still couldn’t believe that her mother in-law was dead. Felicity didn’t look like someone who could die so easily like that. How simple was it to end someone’s life with just a bullet from a finely made gun.Felicity’s death reminded her of how Francis had died. He too had been shot but while she had not been there to witness Felicity’s, Francis’s own was still vivid in her mind.Things were falling apart in the Trent family. While Mia was giving everyone the silent treatment, Simon still occupied Avery’s body and he wasn’t looking like he was leaving soon. If this was how Avery dealt with pain, it was a really twisted way to do it.“Are you okay, Zoe?” Margery asked as she watched her daughter going lost in thought.Zoe on the other hand blinked twice before turning to focus her attention on her. “I am f
Zoe and the rest of the Trent family walked into the vacation home in France with so much bad air between them all. Mia was still not speaking to anyone and neither was Avery. He only spoke to her when he felt he needed to. The burial ceremony had been just a family affair but that had not stopped the reporters from being there and intruding as usual. Felicity’s pictures were still splashed over the news, accompanied with some really weird speculations about her death.None of them had spoken to the media because they didn’t want anyone to know that prior to Felicity’s death, they had been receiving death threats. It would make people question them. So, they had been quiet, spoken to the detectives for leads and kept themselves locked inside the house. Even today, they all left at dawn to avoid more cameras in their faces.Zoe wasn’t sure she liked the way things were in their lives now, but she wasn’t going to complain. She understood that they were not only grieving, but blaming the
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