Kendrick frowned. He didn't like her tone. He knew better than anyone, she was gritting the words out. "I gave it to Sharon—""I know." She cut him off in a light tone. "You don't sound happy." Kendrick held her chin. He couldn't understand what both girls had against each other. Even after the truce, there was still an unmistakable tension between them. Sharon had tried to act nice and Hailey— well, she never faked her emotions. And right now, she was faking them. "Didn't I?" She laughed. Not at him but herself. Her words sounded self-mocking. "It wasn't my concern to have you finish it. It's just a damn cupcake." She pursed her lips. "If I wasn't happy, I would have wiped the rest on your face." "Really?" Kendrick raised a brow and couldn't help but smirk at her.Hailey met his gaze and nodded, her lips stretching into a smile. "You were right, I've worked hard. And I don't like my hard work to be trifled with." Wiping a cupcake on his face? Kendrick didn't know why he found
"I want to go there and and..." She trailed off as if it wasn't a great idea to say the remaining words. There was a flicker of fear in her eyes for a second. She swallowed what seemed like her saliva and continued. "I want to go there and see to it that Kara's doing well. She's been taking care of the diner for so long, I don't want to let her think I've left all the burdens on her." And now, she was lying. Kara had communicated with him through the bodyguard. She even urged him to not let Hailey come to the diner soon. Her headache episodes were over, but slight stress could trigger them. As if reading his thoughts, Hailey's hold tightened around his hand and she went on to say, "You don't have to worry about a thing. Kara is there. She won't let me tire myself out even if I want to. And I promise you I won't. I will also reduce my workload and always return home early."Kendrick kept his eyes glued to her expression, the feeling of her hands on his not helping him to concentrat
He knew his friend had told her something. Kendrick wasn't cunning for nothing. He was too clever. She was even afraid to spend more than a minute with him. Not when she was still battling with this shocking knowledge of his dangerous life.Hailey had thought she would be able to come to terms with it if she stayed away from him. She even followed his request and didn't step foot in the hospital, with the assurance that he would take his drugs.Yet, those three days weren't enough. They weren't enough to pacify those suffocating emotions inside her. She felt hopeless and helpless at the same time. And one more daunting thing. The rising guilt inside her scared her beyond explanation. Kendrick had told her it wasn't her fault. She also knew that.It was his negligence that had caused him to fall sick. The Butler had said he was too stubborn to take his drugs. She was a living witness.Despite that, she couldn't help but feel guilty whenever she stared into his tired eyes.That was w
"I think you should see a psychotherapist, Sharon." Hailey snickered and gave her a pitiful look. "No, I think you should start packing your things, Hailey." Sharon chuckled. "Because your days here are numbered. You might even come back to find your things thrown out. Not even this baby can save you now, Hailey." She gestured at Hailey's bump. "Your days here are over." 'Relax, Hailey. She is simply a pathetic maniac' Hailey chanted to herself and she made up her mind to not let the girl's words get to her.Treating her as air, she entered her car and Rick closed the door and went to the driver's seat to start the car.But Sharon was persistent. And the happiness in her eyes only increased.She came to Hailey's side before the engine could kick off and she shook her head. "If I were you, I wouldn't return here today, or even ever. Because you wouldn't believe what I found in Ken's study." She sighed and let out another happy laugh. "Just don't come back, Hailey. It will be better f
Was it really to protect her? Or to speak the truth, was it because of her baby? He would still protect the baby even when her life wasn't in practical danger. Even if none of his enemies knew of the baby's existence. Her hand went to her stomach and she gave it a gentle caress. That stupid Kendrick. How could he do this to her? How could he beat her senseless and give her no freedom to cry? She was done trying to wrap her head around things. These thoughts were just so confusing, she could lose all her brain cells. And his friend. Where in the freaking world did that guy come from? He'd better fulfill his promise and build her the smartest drone, otherwise, she was never going to forgive him for dropping this bombshell of news on her. It was better to live in danger and not be aware of it, than knowing that you're in danger and something bad might happen even when you have a thousand guards guarding you from all sides. Hailey gave up trying to watch the tv and she rose to her f
"You're truly heartless, Hailey. Although your husband gave me money, do you think I'd turn my back on you?""Of course, you wouldn't." Hailey tried to give her a smile. What would she do now to make Kara drop the topic? She really didn't want to talk about it. Even if it bordered her so much, no amount of comfort could possibly work for her in this situation.But Kara's expression only turned gloomier and Hailey decided to test the waters.She took her hand and stared into her eyes then asked, "What would you do, Kara? Let's say you have a boss who is overprotective of you. You know he's going to hurt you but you have no power to defend yourself. In fact, he even protects you from others, while he himself is in danger. And in the end, you're going to be at the receiving end." "The heck?" Kara exclaimed with widened eyes. "Why would I want such a boss, Hailey? I don't care if he'll protect me, shit! I'm even going to kick his butt for putting me into such a miserable position. He sh
"Urgh, you're so unbelievable, Hailey." Kara let out a groan. "If one day you really make up your mind to leave that poor man, please don't break all your contacts okay? I still want to keep in touch with Rick. The dumb guy wouldn't even let me have his number. And also the billionaire, of course, I can volunteer to be his babysitter. Who knows..." She gave Hailey a wink and flip her hair to the side. "It might even lead to a heated romance. Oh my God, the billionaire and his babysitter," she said in a dreamy tone and placed both hands on her chest. Hailey's lips twitched at the sides and she rolled her eyes."Stop giving me that look, Hailey. I'm serious," she muttered, then paused and giggled. "You look as if you want to murder me right now. Are you jealous? Does it hurt to hear me speak about your husband that way?" "In your dreams." Hailey scoffed and turned her eyes to the tv. "Are you sure?" Kara gave her a sweet smile. Hailey bit her lips and decided not to answer her. Her
Hailey went silent and focused on the news instead. Then her eyes inadvertently diverted to the wall clock and she gasped.Shit! She had promised Kendrick she'd return early. "I have to go, Kara." She rose to her feet with her eyes still on her wristwatch. Kendrick must have taken his drugs by now. He should be asleep. "Why, Hailey? But it's not even closing time." Kara stared at her with a confused look. But Hailey was already out of the table. She had to pick up her bag from where she had left it in the kitchen. Rick was standing against a wall at the entrance. His eyes were on her. And she gestured him to go get the car ready."Hailey." Kara followed her into the kitchen, the confusion still on her face. "Why are you in a hurry?" She asked. Hailey didn't want to tell Kara why she was in a hurry. Otherwise, her friend would misread everything. It was a promise she had made out of desperation. And she had to fulfill it. She was desperate at that time to get Kendrick's permission t
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