ALENAI clenched my fist tightly and punched him so hard in the face that I felt pain as well. He dared to say such painful words in my face. "Fuck you, Hank!" I cursed, my breath ragged from the anger boiling within me. How could he be so cold?Hank gave me a hard resounding slap using the back of his hand that made me fall back into the chair, my face throbbing painfully as tears involuntarily escaped from my eyes. He used both of his hands to squeeze my throat, strangling me."I'm very much capable of murder, Cora, so show me some respect. Get the fact that your husband is going to die straight into your brain no matter how much it hurts. Hire the entire security of this country, but he'll still face his fate and it is death. And hell yeah, you are going to fuck me, Princess."Hank's long skinny fingers felt like tendrils on my neck as he squeezed hard, his eyes void of any emotion of sympathy or remorse. They were clouded by fury and bitterness. "I was going to make this easy for
ALENAHe continued staggering towards me with a smile of mockery on his face. What was he planning on doing? Snatch it away and kill me?"I said stop!" I burst out hysterically."Well, go ahead and shoot me. Nothing will stop me today, Cora," he boasted. He was getting closer and closer and my heart was beating faster and faster as well. I had to do this, otherwise I'd end up being the one dead. I had to do this out of self defense. I knew it'd haunt me for life, but I had to do it.I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger, expecting the gun to go off. Instead of hearing the gun go off, I heard laughter. Mocking laughter.I opened my eyes, purely confused. I hadn't shot him and the gun hadn't gone off either. I pulled the trigger over and over again, but realised the gun wasn't going off. I looked at Hank with confusion and shock in my eyes."It's empty. I wouldn't be stupid enough to have put it away in the first place if it were loaded. You're not the only one who hates guns, Princes
ALENAI didn't spend much time bidding the manager farewell with a fake smile plastered on my face and I proceeded out. He had kindly asked me if everything was okay since I had taken time in their stockroom and my bodyguards had come in all of a sudden, but I brushed it off as a small problem that didn't need any concern.The ride to the hospital was silent. I got there in fifteen minutes and my bodyguards walked me to Dylan's room. Harry was working here at the moment so I didn't have much fear because he was very alert and efficient. I briefed him on what had happened and asked him to make sure everything was done properly. I trusted him.I went straight to Dylan's room, hoping no one was visiting him at the moment because these days Ezra and Benjamin visited him often and whenever Axel wasn't on duty, he'd be there too. I was lucky enough to find him with only a nurse who was already done with her routine check up on him.I asked for privacy and everyone left us alone and they swi
ALENAI kissed his tears away tenderly, thanking him over and over again for giving me this sign. This was something I really needed right now. I kissed his entire face over and over again, telling him the words I knew he'd want to hear.I didn't sleep in the bed they had reserved for visitors in the room. I slept in a chair next to his bed, holding his hand. I felt much better and safer when close to him. It wasn't that comfortable, but totally worth it.The next morning, I went home an hour later than usual to prepare for work. It wouldn't affect much since Benjamin was in the office for the day and would help with most of the work. We had a meeting later in the day to discuss the issue at hand.The doctor wanted to talk to me and discuss Dylan's health like usual, keeping me updated. For the first time in two weeks, he sounded positive regarding good chances of him waking up from the coma.Harry took me home, giving me feedback on Hank. Everything had been done perfectly well and H
ALENAThere was a point in my life when I lived in constant fear for my life, a point where I was weak and vulnerable. Everyone I knew and loved deeply trampled on me and treated me like trash, wounding me deeply and taking advantage of me.I never thought one day, I'd have a different perspective to life and I'd ever be able to get on my feet, make my own decisions and use my voice to speak up for myself and do what was best for me. I never thought I'd ever be able to love myself again, look in the mirror and see someone beautiful, even with all the flaws, worth of living every bit of life like everyone else and just living the life I wanted to live.Chiefly, I never imagined that one day, some of the people who always terrorised me and treated me however they wanted at their disposal would someday have to bow in front me and beg for mercy with fear in their eyes; the same fear I had whenever they crushed me.I spun the chair in front of me, making it face backwards, then I straddled
ALENAGwen's tears fell faster than my heartbeat. Her lips trembled. I could see her chest heave and the emotions in her eyes made me pity her. "D-don't kill me, please. I'm begging you. Alena, we're like sisters.""Sisters my ass. Where was that sisterhood when I was the one in despair? Your time's up, Gwen. I'm done dealing with fake people who can lie and conspire someone's murder without any conscience," I exploded, releasing all the anger and fury I had been holding in."Two wrongs do not make a right, Alena. Do you want to become a murderer? It'll haunt you for life even if you get away with it. Murder is not the way. Spare me please," she begged piteously.I stood up furiously, kicking the chair to the side. "Don't you dare lecture me! If you know so perfectly well what's right and what's wrong, why didn't you apply it in your own life?""Ι...""Shut up! I'm not changing my mind. You wasted your chance and that's it."The bodyguards descended the stairs with containers full of
ALENAI walked to Gwen's side and picked up her grey Fendi handbag. She looked at me desperately as I opened it without any hesitation and looked for any sort of papers. I found her medical report without any difficulty and dropped the handbag onto the floor as I scanned through the report that had authentication from a private hospital.There were results for many conditions, but I focused on the pregnancy one. It was positive. I put her report back into her handbag slowly, trying to digest the information."I got blood tests done because I felt sick. I found out I'm pregnant from the results," she murmured in a low tone. "I have a baby in my womb," she spoke distantly as if trying to convince herself of the fact. I picked up the chair I had been sitting in earlier and collapsed into it. I looked straight into Gwen's eyes as I leaned forward. I didn't like where this was going.“Whose baby is that? Is this part of your plan? Is this the part when you tell me that you're having my hus
ALENA"What?""I seduced him when I got there, but he turned me down. He wasn't even turned on, not even a little bit. He was pissed," she said softly. "I spiked his wine and thought he'd be drunk after that and get into the mood. He did get drunk, but all he could talk about was you and it was very annoying. I even tried pretending I was you, but that guy knows you so damn well. I didn't stop seducing him and trying to throw myself on him. He fell asleep before we even did anything and it was such a huge turn off.""Are you being for real?" I asked her in disbelief. I remembered punishing Dylan for that incident. Was it all for nothing?"Yes. I took off our clothes and made it look like we had been intimately involved. I made him believe we had fucked hardcore all night long. My pride wouldn't let me admit to him that we hadn't done anything. I never knew that was the last chance I had to seduce him and have sex with him.""Wow. Just wow.""Our relationship ended long before we broke
ALENA’S EPILOGUE Our black SUV pulled up in Mom's driveway a little late in the afternoon and we all got out of the car. Amelia was snuggled in her daddy's arms, a place I knew was one of her favourites in the whole world and the way he paid enough attention to her and kept her smiling just made their bond stronger.Aidan and Iris were on either of my sides each holding each of my hands tightly as we walked up the driveway to the main entrance. We had all been looking forward to this family gathering for some time now. Spending time together, catching up on each other's lives and just being there for each other was something we all enjoyed. We were a family and meeting up together like this was always a pleasure."Thank you so much, Mommy, for buying me these pretty sparkly shoes and sparkly dress," Iris squealed excitedly, jumping up and down on her feet as we walked, staring admirably at her new outfit. "I feel like a princess," she added, giving me a brilliant smile that revealed
FIVE YEARS LATERDYLAN’S EPILOGUEThey say that you will never truly understand something until it happens to you.I honestly never paid much attention to this saying until realistic things happening in my own life started weighing much on it and opening my eyes to how everything I was once told about this big mystery called life started unfolding before my own eyes and manifesting in my life.Many a time, Dad would tell me about how marriage and fatherhood changed his life greatly for the better and it barely made any meaningful sense to me, but right now in this very moment, bonding with my baby and showering her with unconditional love made it all make perfect sense.There was something inexplicably intoxicating about seeing our precious bundle of joy happy with a radiant smile on her face. That smile had to be the prettiest thing I had ever seen, for it extended deep into my soul and filled me with joy. I couldn't resist smiling back at her with an even brighter smile, placing the
ALENADylan twirled me around, dipping me as he leaned forward closer to me. Staring at the masterpiece of a husband before me, my breathing became shallow and my heart felt heavy in my chest.Dylan pulled me back up into his arms and I rested my head on his chest and let him sway my body as the chorus rolled in. The song twirled like thread around us, the rhythm of our bodies simply passionate and majestic. I was deep in love."Alena, you're the inspiration for this precious song, and I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on. So now I say goodbye to the old me, it's already gone. And I can't wait to get you home, just to let you know, you are...""The love of my life," we whispered together in unison as I joined him in saying some of the lyrics along to the song playing.I was crying. He was way too sweet. I never imagined he'd be able to love me this much and take our relationship to a whole new level.Couples eventually started joining us on the dancefloor. I looked
ALENADylan pulled me towards him gently but firmly by my waist and he placed his lips firmly on mine, cupping my cheek with his hand.His lips were soft, almost silken against my own. Our lips fitted perfectly as if they were meant for each other. Moving against each other, feeling each other.Warmth blossomed in my chest, sparks igniting. This was beautiful and magical, a dream come true. When we pulled away from each other, the crowd was cheering loudly for us, clapping and everything.We both chuckled, holding hands tightly. We turned and faced everyone. Their cheers grew even louder and more enthusiastic.I could see Mom sitting in front with Benjamin, Steve and Celeste. Ezra was in front on the other side with Axel, Sophie and Elizabeth. Everyone else followed behind them. They all looked happy for us.Dylan and I stepped down from the wedding altar and we proceeded down the aisle. Everyone rose and started throwing confetti at us as we walked out. It was perfect.I looked up at
ALENA"Of course, I will. When can we start making the preparations?"Dylan laughed, pinching my nose. "Silly, I mean today. Everything is already set. You just have to get ready and walk down the aisle.""You're kidding right?""I'm dead serious, honey. Everything's the way you wanted it and mostly your choice. I know this isn't our first wedding, but I want us to consider this our actual wedding because the previous wasn't even one. This time around, I'm marrying you willingly with pride."I laughed, failing to believe this. "How? I can't believe this.""Believe it, baby. We're getting married and this time around the proper way. I've been so excited to finally take you as my wife the proper way and give you the joy you deserve. I want to marry you, Alena.""Dylan, how did you even think of this? Just how?" I asked him, blinking away my tears.He wiped away my tears with his hands. "Because I want to see you happy and make your dreams come true. It's called love, honey. You've drown
ALENADylan opened the door of his car on my side and I stepped out, taking his hand which he had extended politely towards me to help me out. I murmured a polite thank you with a smile on my face as he helped out and closed the door once I was standing next to him.We linked arms and he gave me a small peck on my forehead before we started walking down the pathway that led to the dock of a beautiful lake.There were bright heart shaped lanterns hanging on tree branches and rose petals artistically scattered on the pathway we were walking on. Star shaped twinkle lights were wound around branches and lining the pathway. It was breathtakingly beautiful.It was a beautiful sunset and it felt extraordinarily magical with the water in the lake glimmering beneath the beautiful sky, looking calm and inviting.I had no idea if it was the beautiful weather and scene that added the special magical effect or if it was the exceptional man right next to me, holding me like his entire life depended
DYLANI loved it when she played dirty. I loved seeing that side of her that only I knew. I loved this state where she was raw, untamed and fierce sexy."Naughty girl," I chuckled, smacking her butt firmly. She winced, her lips cracking into a wider smile."If I am naughty, what are you?" she purred, pressing her body firmly into mine. She bit her bottom lip tenderly, looking at me with lust filled eyes."Your sexy husband who loves bringing the naughtiness out of you." I smacked Alena's butt one more time, pressing her body into mine at the same time."Ah," she moaned, throwing her head back. She loved it.I took my spoon and scooped some ice cream onto it. I trailed the spoon from her earlobe down to her throat. She shivered, looking at my hand. "Cold," she breathed."I'll set you on fire," I promised and with those words, I smashed my lips onto her neck, earning a loud moan from her.I held her firmly close to me by her butt as I attacked her neck with deep kisses, soft nibbles and
DYLANShe took her wine glass from me and looked up at me, taking a step closer. "Careful what you wish for, Princess. I want to, I can and I will eat you," I said, closing the small gap between us."Is that a promise?" she asked me, running her finger slowly down my torso. I had been working out a lot to get back in shape. All my hard work hadn't gone to waste."It is," I affirmed, brushing my lips against her smooth skin. "And you know I never break my promises."Alena stood on her toes and she pecked my lips. She held both of our glasses, looking deep into my eyes with her bottom lip between her white teeth. I poured the wine and took my glass from her."What are we toasting to?" she asked me."To us. To our lives, love, freedom and everything we ever wanted that we can proudly say we achieved.""Cheers to that," she said, raising her glass."Cheers." We clicked our glasses and washed down the red wine together in one go. We had a second round and we drank the wine in the same mann
DYLAN"No," she mumbled quietly. She was crying."Show me your face. I want to look at you," I spoke softly."Do I have to?" she replied quietly. She sounded cute and in my head, I could see a cute pout on her lips as she said so. That made me smile."Yes. You have to," I murmured, kissing her temples. Alena slowly pulled away from me and she sat up, facing me. She had tears in her eyes and a few had fallen down her cheeks. I wiped them away using my thumbs."And why is my beautiful princess crying when we're supposed to be celebrating?" I asked her, taking both of her warm hands into mine. I planted sweet kisses on both of them and looked up at her. "I don't know," she mumbled, looking at our hands. "Tears of relief if there's anything of that sort I guess.""You don't have to hide your feelings from me, you know. It's okay to cry if you feel like it. We all express joy and relief in different ways.""Does that mean I can bawl my eyes out and you'll still be okay with it?""Hmmm...