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
"I saw the news, baby. That boy is a genius. He has single-handedly doubled the company's net worth. The profit margin is double the price of the previous years." He went on talking to her about the conference and how it was the talk of the town. Hailey was forced to be reminded of her father."Grandpa." She tugged at his arm as they walked toward the garden. "Do you think I look like her?"Her grandfather stopped and his brows knitted. "I only see physical comparisons, Child." He faced her and touched her cheek dotingly. That made Hailey wince. It was the place her father had slapped her. She couldn't believe it still ached."What is wrong?" Her grandfather deepened his frown. He took away his hand and narrowed his eyes at her face. "Who did this, child?" He asked, his eyes turning cold. "It's nothing, Grandpa. I'm fine." Hailey pulled away and went ahead to touch a large orange hanging from a tree. She should have looked into the mirror. The slap must have left some bruises. Thi
Hailey rubbed her shoulders with both hands around herself and thanked the bodyguard while she walked away from the parking lot. The Butler came to receive her at the door and helped her inside the living room.What was wrong with him? Hailey couldn't help but laugh at his worried expression. "You're freezing, Madam," he said after exchanging pleasantries. "You should have worn bigger clothes. It is colder in the evenings nowadays." "Thank you, Collins." Hailey shook her head at the overacting man. She would be fine with a warm bath.She was already feeling warm anyways. The house's temperature was unusually high today. "Is Kendrick back?" She looked around the living room, then her eyes went to the empty dining table. "Yes, Madam. Master is upstairs. He is in his study." "Oh." Hailey nodded. She stopped at the dining area because the dinner was ready. Kendrick did not come down even after she finished eating, Hailey couldn't help but furrow her brows. And that Sharon. Only Go
A vibration sound reached her ears from the living room and her thoughts were dragged to the calls from earlier. 'Urgh,' she had even forgotten about it. All thanks to Kendrick and his stupid secret. Hailey grabbed a random nightgown and slipped it on. Her phone kept on ringing and she hurried to the bedroom where she had dropped her pouch on the couch.She picked it up and then brought out her phone which was still ringing. Walking back to the closet, she dropped the pouch on its stand while her eyes were on the phone's screen as several missed call notifications popped up.And all were from her sister. It had stopped ringing again and when she was about to dial the call button, the phone went off once more. So she answered it and decided to sit on the only sofa in the closet. Her thoughts were back again on the drama at her father's place that morning and she breathed out a sigh. She didn't even get to see her sister. Maybe she wasn't at home. Because if she was, her father's sh
She would jump and call out his name. In the end, her hands would get tired of hanging mid-air. He would walk away after picking up her sister. He wouldn't even glance at her as he drove away from the school. Her nanny would come to carry her instead. Murmuring words to her that he loved her. Well– she had grown up hearing those same words from her nanny. Still, nothing changed. And until she was wiser enough that he would never carry her, she kept on running to him whenever he came to pick her sister from school. Hailey didn't know the phone was still on her ear, as those memories returned. And with them came the grief and anxieties she had held in for a long time."Please think about it, Sis. Things will turn back to normal if you apologize and give him what he wants," Chloe whispered from the other end.After hanging up, Hailey tossed the phone beside her on the sofa, unable to keep it in anymore.Things would not turn back to normal. Things were never normal. Her father would ke
"Do you want me to deal with him?"He shouldn't be asking. He should be giving orders to the guards to seize the greedy man. No one had the right to hurt her. No one had the right to touch his wife. Even if it was her own father. Was he insane to look past her condition? His gaze landed on her stomach and he placed his palm on it. He wouldn't tolerate this. And he knew exactly what to do."No." Her stunned voice made him lift his head and he found her staring at him, wide-eyed. "D-Don't do anything, Kendrick. It doesn't even hurt."That did nothing to douse Kendrick's rage, it only fanned it more. Was she stupid? What maniac would think of hitting a pregnant lady? Being her father didn't give him the right. He would put him in his place. Hailey shook her head again, her eyes widening more. The look on his face must have scared her, as she cowered back.That was the last thing Kendrick wanted. He didn't intend to scare her. But he couldn't also control the burning rage inside him. H
However, despite the shame and annoyance, Hailey woke up light-hearted. Her heart was light as a bird's feather. After letting it all out last night, she woke up energized and feeling better. Another additional luck, Kendrick did not linger. The moment she woke up, he left the bed and entered the bathroom, and shortly after, he got prepared and left the room, all while she was still in bed and praying to disappear under the mattress. The shower stopped and she stepped out, drying her hair and searching for the cream. She picked up the body spray container, then paused— Urgh! But she couldn't put it back. That cunning Kendrick. Dared he say she looked haggard again. Wait— did he even say that?It was all in her head, yet those words had stuck to her mind. He had only said that to distract her from...Hailey instantly put a halt to her thoughts as her mind went back to last night. Kendrick had distracted her from the white bag, and she was going to find out whatever it was. Thankf
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