It was as if she had lost her tongue– and Hailey kept on praying. She prayed that Kara wouldn't embarrass herself. And she prayed that Kendrick wouldn't try anything crazy, making her fears come true. He finally reached their side and both girls gasped. Hailey was frantic. And Kara seemed excited. Then she did something Hailey never expected. She staggered into Kendrick's arms and squealed. That was it. It was over. Hailey facepalmed herself and wanted the ground to just open up. Because whatever was coming next, she had no power to save her friend.She might as well disappear, in order not to witness what would happen. What Kendrick would do to Kara. However, she had no choice but to watch helplessly, with a rapidly beating heart while Kara made a fool of herself. Kendrick look stunned as he stared down at the girl who was gripping his arm and jumping up and down while screaming. His expression was almost calm. But Hailey knew that was the calm before the storm. Should she
"Wait." Hailey held out her hand and called. But none of them turned back. And in a blink of an eye, they both disappeared inside the study room. 'Shit.' She let out a curse and continued walking. Kara didn't know what she was getting herself into. By the time she got to the door, she was panting again. She had to save her friend no matter what.But when she turned the doorknob, the damn thing wouldn't budge. She tried and tried again, it was still the same. Kendrick had locked the door.Real panic gripped Hailey's heart and she started knocking. No one answered. She knocked and knocked and knocked until her knuckles ached. However, no reply came from inside. Then she started pacing back and forth while biting her fingers. She even called out Kendrick's name several times, no reply came. "Urgh." Hailey wanted to pull at her hair. What the hell was going on inside? She shouldn't have mentioned going to the diner. That way, Kendrick wouldn't have thought of inviting Kara here. Her
And Kara went silent again. She even let out a soft laugh. Then she shook her head and said, "It still feels like a dream. He even knows my name—""Urgh, go to the point." Hailey groaned.Kara gave her a fleeting glance and shook her head again. "We didn't discuss much." She started. "Well, someone kept interrupting us." Hailey knew that someone was her, but she was tired of telling her to go on. Kara had a habit of putting people in suspense. And she knew the more she pestered, the more the girl would drag it on. Therefore, she focused on eating her food while keeping her ears open."Good." Kara laughed. "Now I'll tell you everything from the beginning to the end." Hailey waited a few more seconds, quietly eating. Then Kara let out a soft laugh and started. "When he called me into his study, you know what he said." She looked at Hailey with shiny eyes. Hailey shook her head, urging her to go on. "Well, he said, 'Mrs. James, please have a seat." She cleared her throat to imitate
"Kara, what happened next?" She asked hesitantly, snapping Kara out of her fantasy. Kara let out another giggle and said, "That was it.""What?" Hailey stared dumbfounded. "That was it? He didn't say anything else?" "Yep." Kara shrugged. "But guess what, my dear friend." She turned to Hailey with a huge grin. "After he finished saying that, I finally had my chance. Oh, I can't believe how lucky I am. I stood up from the chair and told him, 'I'm a fan of secret marriages Mr. Reid. Your secret is safe with me. But—'""You told him but?" Hailey butted in with widened eyes and Kara grinned. "Yeah. I batted my lashes and said, 'But, Mr. Reid, since I promise to keep your secret, don't you think we should seal this deal with something tangible? Something good to keep my mouth sealed?'"Hailey's heart leapt into a higher frenzied state. This roller coaster of emotions was tiring her out. However, this might be the last shock. Kara had landed herself in deep trouble. "How much. He instant
"Hailey." Kendrick's voice stopped her. Hailey turned around after telling Kara to go on. Whatever embarrassing thing Kendrick wanted to do, she didn't want Kara to witness it. And she knew what he was about to do because as she stepped toward him, he didn't waste time to touch her bump. "I hope you are not hiding anything from me," he said softly. However, Hailey could feel the threat in his voice.Shit! Did he notice something? Did Kara accidentally tell him something? Wait— did he hear them while he was walking down the stairs? "W–Why did you say that?" She stared up at him and asked. If she avoided his gaze, he would surely suspect something. She had to act normal, and hell! She was finding it hard doing that "Your friend, she's hiding something," Kendrick replied, his eyes narrowed.And Hailey's heart almost stopped beating. Urgh! She should have known better. Kendrick was good at reading people. He hadn't only summoned Kara to threaten her, but also to investigate her. What
And Hailey chuckled and her eyes followed him as he walked away without any protest. Well, that was good. Maybe there was a slight chance to bend him to her rules.If that was possible, then she couldn't wait. Ahh, it would be great to turn Kendrick's minions against him. That way, she would have an upper hand over him.She turned around and strolled to the large door, hoping maybe her sister would be around. That way, she could also speak more with her physically. When she spoke with Chloe on the phone and questioned her about Sharon, Chloe hadn't denied that they met. But she said it was a coincidence. And Sharon had only chatted with her about her movies. Because, strangely, Sharon turned out to be one of her fans.Still, Hailey felt the need to speak more with her sister. She should keep Sharon at arm's length. She couldn't risk anything. Sharon wasn't the type to be friendly with just anyone. As she stepped her feet inside the living room, Hailey gasped at the sight in front of
He took Hailey's hand and lowered his voice. "You will go back to your husband and have a talk with him. You will tell him to invest a large sum in my company. Quit being stubborn. I don't want you to fail me again." Hailey swallowed as she watched her father's greedy expression. Was this even her father? Was he willing to forsake her happiness no matter what? She pushed down the emotions threatening to erupt and pulled her hands from his hold. "I'm afraid I'm going to let you down, Dad. I can't speak with Kendrick no matter how many times you ask. Please don't bring this up again. I'm begging you.""You." Her father pointed a trembling finger at her. "I don't want to squabble with you, Hailey. Go back there and lay my requests!""No, I won't—"Before Hailey could finish her words, a hard slap echoed inside the room, and the next thing she felt was the burning pain on her cheek.Her eyes watered instantly and her head pounded with pain. "You ungrateful child." Her father's voice w
She thanked the bodyguard, and immediately left the car. The cold breeze hit her skin, slightly chilly but still so soothing. Her eyes wandered around the house as she stood in the open space.The atmosphere was humid. The smell of nature hung in the air. Leaves fell from the trees, swaying with the air. And the lush grasses felt mushy under her feet. Hailey's eyes went to the gigantic trees and a smile blossomed on her lips. She grew up playing among them. Sometimes with the servants, and sometimes— alone. Her legs took her to where the security men stood. And each wrapped her in a tight hug. "Look who we have here." The older man beamed. "It felt like ages since you last visited," said the younger man."I missed you guys too." Hailey hugged each of them back with a cheeky smile. Then they started telling her stories. It had always been like that. They told her about their latest adventures. They were both father and son. And even though Hailey couldn't understand their love for
Sharelene stood in a corner, watching everything unfold. The family was in a frenzy. She could only see fear in their eyes and hear the fright in their voices.As the staff wheeled Hailey out of the emergency room, a deafening silence fell upon the hallway. And Ken...He hadn't been himself since they came here. He hadn't been himself since a few days back when he learned Hailey was kidnapped. Neither would he speak to anyone, nor listen to those that tried to talk reason into him and advise him to take it rationally. Since a few days back, he was the complete opposite of the man she had met many years ago and had a second chance of getting close to again. The man that would always keep calm no matter the circumstances...He was nowhere to be found. Ken was completely different from that man she knew. In her mind, she'd almost gotten what she wanted... Or more specifically, what her family wanted. But now, staring down at the ring on her finger, it was as if the engagement neve
```````And every day, Kendrick lived in guilt. For the next several months, every minute of his life was consumed by guilt. It took him weeks to gain her mother's favor, and even months to regain her grandfather's. He would come back every day, hoping that her eyes would at least flutter. Her bump kept increasing at an alarming rate. His every day was filled with fear and trepidation. And one day, her eyes did flutter. He was supposed to feel joy, but not at a chance that more trouble loomed ahead. Her pregnancy was due and not a week after that, the babies arrived. His real fear resurfaced at that moment. The fear that they would never be able to hold their bundles of joy together. The fear that he would never get the chance to tell her that he loved her. However, she proved the doctors wrong, chasing away his fears. Now, staring down at the babies, her utmost gifts to him, Kendrick had never felt so much contented in his life. He'd never been able to wipe off his smile sin
***Kendrick paced in front of the Emergency Room. His heart was in his stomach and his hand never left his hair. It was as if she'd been inside there for hours now despite being wheeled in just now.No amount of self-reassurance could calm him. No one attempted to offer him reassuring words even. They've all been in the same dilemma.Her mother wouldn't stop crying and he couldn't find the heart to offer her those words he'd yearned so much to hear. Hadn't it all been his fault? Hailey was pregnant. How was that possible? When they arrived here, it was the first thing the nurses said after taking her vitals. But Kendrick still found it hard to digest.And the fact that the child would definitely turn out to be his only made him more confused. It made him angrier with himself. "Ken, what is going on here?" Rushed footsteps sounded in the hallway and he glanced sideways to find his parents as well as Sharelene. "What are you doing in this place? Is someone wounded?" Asked his f
~~~'Hailey.'Kendrick's hands trembled and his grip on the gun threatened to loosen. Staring up at the balcony where she was being held captive, he fought not to let the rage take over. The rage that became multifold the moment he sighted them dragging her here. Her body was limped. She looked worse than how she'd looked in the video. And an almost similar-looking lady, whose face was cascaded with tears, was being held at gunpoint beside her. Was that her mother? "Don't worry, Mr. Reid." Standing with them were the three shareholders. "She isn't dead yet. But she'll soon be, if you don't follow our commands."Mr. Weimar and the rest. Kendrick's assumption hadn't been wrong. They had a hand in this. "Already, you've broken one of our rules," scoffed one of them. "We thought we told you to come alone. Coming here with your friend is like seeking more trouble. Will Mr. Carter be competent enough to fend for himself?""Shit! Buddy, these stupid old fools are underestimating me," De
***"Hailey, listen to me!" Rob grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look up. "This is important, you have to take it."Nothing was more important to Hailey right now than getting away from him. Not only did she fear these drugs he had brought her, but she also feared the way his demeanor had changed ever since he returned with them.Of course, even if Rob was really trying to save her, there was no way she was going to cooperate with him.Yesterday, he'd secretly taken her blood, waking her up. And he returned this morning, looking agitated and somehow angry at her. "Hailey!" Rob's hold became tighter. "You must take these drugs immediately. I can't get you out here if you don't. Please, Hailey." He softened his voice. "Just take the damned drugs, you'll feel better. We both will feel better.""What exactly is wrong with you?" Her mother's voice faded in the background. "Leave her alone, she doesn't want to take them. Please I'm begging you, don't torment her any further."While he
Maniac.Hailey lifted her hand weakly to send a slap across his face, but her hand went limp and fell mid-way."M–Murderer." She pushed his chest. "Just go, leave me alone.""Hailey." Footsteps approached the room and Rob said frantically, "Please hold on." He touched her forehead. "You're sick. I'll get someone to treat you. I'll get you out, I promise."Then he sprang to his feet and left, closing the door behind him. Hailey was left wondering how such lunatics could be left wandering among normal people. She sniffed and waddled back into her mother's embrace. How blind had she been to associate with these kinds of people in the past?And how could she put a stop to these endless noises and intense headaches? She didn't want to remember? She didn't want to recall whatever they had shared in the past. ***'Ken, you have to save me. These strange men have captured me and they won't release me until you come. If you don't come alone, Ken, they're going to kill me and my Mum.'Kendric
...The hours dragged on, and from the tiny cracks in the wall, it seemed night had come. Still in her mother's embrace, Hailey shut her eyes to keep up with that pain.Both hands were wrapped around her stomach and she'd shiver now and then. As much as she'd like sleep to overtake her, it didn't. The exhaustion weighing her down didn't let her achieve that. The exhaustion caused by the aches all over her body. Her head pounded constantly, the voices also became louder each time she was left to her thoughts. Those hallucinations were neverending, and very soon she was afraid that they'd burst out, damaging more parts of her brain.The darkness slowly disappeared and the creaking sound of the door made her aware that morning had come. Another day of torture and pain."Hey, wake up!"Before cold water or anything worse could be splashed on her, Hailey leaned away from her mother's embrace who was also awake."Take your food!" The man burly man threw a food box and a water bottle at them
***"Ken, you have to save me. These strange men have captured me and they won't release me until you come. If you don't come alone, Ken, they're going to kill me and my Mum. They have laid traps for you, Ken—"Hailey was cut shut by a hard slap across her face. Bound to a chair with ropes, cold water was splashed on her face. She licked the side of her lips, tasting the metallic liquid; the only thing that kept her from fainting."Damnit! Woman. I told you to leave the trap part out! Are you deaf or what!?" The man holding a camera in front of her shouted. "Now, let's take another video. You will say everything you were asked to.""Stop wasting your time, Man," the portly man said and walked forward. "I don't think this lady is willing to cooperate.""I told you she's a stubborn one," Chloe scoffed from a corner."Now listen to me, Young lady." The portly man approached her and lifted her chin. "If you keep acting this way, we can't fulfill our promise to you. Give us your cooperation
***"Buddy, this is serious. How could she just disappear into thin air? Is there a chance that they're hidden somewhere in this city?"This city? Probably not. Kendrick had turned the whole city upside down. He'd deployed every force he could think of. They'd searched everywhere; every warehouse, every dilapidated building. There was no sign of them. It had been three days and there wasn't any traces of them. He'd driven to the cemetery that day, hoping more than anything that she hadn't spent the night there. And his prayers turned out to work. Only that, what actually happened was worse than spending a night in the cemetery. The sight of her phone by the cemetery gates was all he needed to know that something bad had happened. She was abducted. And there was still no traces of the suspects. Her sister and that guy. "Damnit! This is all screwed up." Devon paced for a while before sitting on the couch. "You didn't tell me you've taken her back. You never should have allowed her