“What man with a tattoo, Zoe?” Avery asked but she shook her head, trying to clear her memory of the horrible dream that she just had. She dreamt about Francis again and this time around, the man who had killed him was trying to reveal his face to her but somebody else had prevented her from seeing him. Somebody had prevented her from being killed that night and had knocked her out of her consciousness. It was that person that stood between herself and the man who brutally ordered the killing of her ex-husband. And now, everything was becoming clearer. The pieces were beginning to be put in place and it all happened because she had recognized the man from the picture. He had triggered her memory and now all she experienced that night was beginning to reveal itself. “Zoe?” Avery called again, studying her, making sure she was alright. She turned to look at him, no longer sure that she trusted him or herself any longer. If someone from her husband’s past was killing them off, then eith
Avery and Zoe settled into the new house in the next few days and began to live their lives again. The pain of Mia’s death began to subside and they were able to smile like nothing happened. Just like Jacob had said, the security system in the new house was not questionable as it did exceed their expectations. Her mother still sent some of her men and they stood outside the gate every time of the day without taking a break which made Zoe wonder whether they slept at all.It was past ten in the night when Zoe walked downstairs to see Avery waiting at the foot of the stairs with two glasses of wine in his hand. She wasn’t surprised when she saw his to be alcohol because, they had both promised to try to ease him into mastering alcohol and controlling his personalities. When she got to the foot of the staircase, she accepted the other glass with a smile on her face.He was dressed in blue jeans and a white polo that showed just handsome he could be. Zoe smiled at his bare feet, realizing
The sound of the ambulance coming from the distance relieved Zoe, making her calm a little more than she was before. She touched her bleeding head and felt the light blood on the tip of her hands. Someone screamed her name from inside the company and she saw her mother running out towards her. She turned fully, accepting the hug her mother threw her way and allowed her to dote on her like every daughter mother do.“Oh my God, what the hell happened?” Margery asked. Zoe felt her mother’s hands shaking and took them in hers. She might have forgotten that aside been a very important person to Avery at the moment, she was equally as important to her mother.“I am fine, mum.” Zoe said calmly to her, wincing when Margery touched the cut on her head. “I am fine.”Margery stared at the scene in horror, shaking her head in the process and Zoe joined her in accessing the exploded car. The roof of the vehicle was blown off and flames engulfed the inside. Whoever might have planted the bomb did a
“They saw nothing on your company’s security cameras.” Avery said to Zoe as he joined her in the dining rom. He eyed the bacon and coffee in front of him, feeling anything but hunger at the moment. “It was all passersby and moving cars.”Zoe sighed as she sipped her coffee. She had not been expecting anything good to come out from the investigations because just like Avery had said, the perpetrators were good at what they did. She took a slice of bacon in her fork, placing it in her mouth before turning to look at him.“Did you ask my mother about the guard that I told you about?” She asked in between bites and he nodded.“She said he left.”Zoe stopped chewing at the moment and stared at him. “He left?”“Yeah.” He replied absentmindedly, finally picking up the cup from the table. “He submitted his resignation to the head of security and disappeared. Maybe the event of yesterday affected him.”Zoe shook her head, realizing that she might have seen the man who placed the bomb in the ca
Avery believed what Jacob was saying to him although it made him mad. He has always suspected that Aaron could be friends or acquaintances with the people who had killed his mother and sister and almost killed Zoe, but he still wanted to be wrong. He watched Zoe’s face as she also looked at the picture, realizing that she wasn’t shocked or surprised. It was almost as if she knew who was in the picture.“Does it ring a bell, Zoe?” He asked, watching her and she looked up to meet his gaze, shaking her head afterwards.“No bell.” She replied. “But why was Aaron talking to someone like this? If this man was at the scene and he was having a heated argument with him, then maybe Aaron knows something that he is not telling us.”“Aaron has a lot of things that he is not telling us. He doesn’t care for me as much as he did when my mother and Mia were still alive.” Avery replied bitterly.“We need to talk to him, Avery.” Zoe said, wide eyed, hoping that he would say yes and he nodded his head.
“I do not like how you put me in a jet and bring me down here expecting me to come have fun when we have a lot of things to deal with.”Zoe complained as she dumped the little bag inside the house. Avery had asked her out on a vacation instead of explaining what happened at Aaron’s and that seemed suspicious. Every day that passes, he seems to be keeping a lot of things from her even though they had promised to have eachother’s backs. It was because of his secrets she refused to tell him that she knew the man from the picture. That she had seen him the day Mia was killed. That he was a very close acquaintance of her ex-husband; Francis, whom he had high regards for.It was all because of his secrets that she was refusing to trust him a hundred percent.Zoe turned to watch Avery enter the house, dropping his car keys on the table. He looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. “It is the weekend, Zoe.” He replied. “I thought we needed two days off the worries and the anxiety of living in
Zoe placed a bottle of wine on the already set dining table. After their trip to Lian, Avery had gotten a peaceful reawakening and invited Aaron to the house so that they would stick together and talk about how to help the police with their investigations. She had on a pretty white gown and allowed her hair to flow over her shoulders. Her feet were bare, because she wanted to give a homey atmosphere.She heard footsteps behind her to see Avery walk in, dressed in a white short and a red polo, also giving off the homey atmosphere.“I saw his car pull up into the garage, so he will be here in no time.” Avery said, looking over at the dining table.Zoe smiled at him, turning to investigate the table with him again. There were grapes and other fruits coupled with different types of evening dishes. Avery had told her pasta was one of Aaron’s favorites so she had asked the maids to make a very good pasta which exceeded her expectations when she tasted it.“We are ready.” She said rubbing hi
Zoe took three bold steps towards Aaron, her mind filled with anger and fear at the same time. She wanted to be wrong. She desperately wanted to be wrong but as the tattoo stared right at her, she knew she wasn’t. This was a very unique tattoo and she couldn’t have missed it. She had been staring only at it the day Francis had been shot and the trauma from it had made her not to be able to forget about it.Without warning, she touched the drawing with her hand making Aaron flinch in alert. He turned, ready to hit whomever it was touching him but relaxed when he saw it was only her.“Where…. When…” She stammered, blinking her eyes. “When did you get that tattoo?”“Are you okay?” Aaron asked, lifting a hand to touch her but she held his hand, turning his shoulders again much to his surprise.“Well, calm down, Zoe.” Aaron said smiling at her. “You shouldn’t be touching a man like that, especially your husband’s brother. I know I am more handsome but…”“When did you get the tattoo, Aaron?
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