But Hailey couldn't recount everything even if she wanted to. She couldn't recount how it was on this kind of occasion that she bumped into Kara. "So, you see," she said carefully. "I need to be there for her. I've always been, I don't want this year to be an exception."Only Hailey could handle Kara's roller coaster of emotions on this kind of day and she couldn't even imagine not being there for her. And she prayed so much that Kendrick would not turn her down. "I promise I won't run into any trouble... We'll only go shopping and then proceed to Kara's apartment. I'll have Rick drive us carefully and—""That's fine." His voice made her stop and Hailey frowned. This was too sudden."You mean I can go?" She voiced out her confusion."Mm." Kendrick made a sound of consent. "Be careful." Hailey's heart fluttered and her lips tugged at the corners. This was too easy. Had she been worried for nothing all along? She never expected him to agree so fast. "Ehm, Kendrick..." She called h
Cassie removed her sunglasses to take a proper look at Hailey. Her face was painted with astonishment and Hailey's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I knew I wasn't mistaken." Cassie snapped out of her reverie. "How could I have ever imagined seeing you in this kind of place?" She spoke half to herself while her eyes went from Hailey's face to her stomach. Hailey was at loss for words because she didn't really know what to say. Well, she wouldn't be surprised if she bumped into anyone she knew in such a crowded place. Anyone but Rob's sister who was also from another city. "Well, it's a small world after all." She chortled while her hand subconsciously went to her stomach to shield it from the girl's intense look."Yeah." Cassie gave a slow nod. "So the rumor is true," she mumbled to herself. Despite Hailey's attempt to shield her stomach, Cassie did not take her eyes off. It wasn't that Hailey was ashamed to let her know of her pregnancy, but she was just uncomfortable under the
Then Kara sniffed and held both hands to her chest. "Hailey, is it possible for us to share the same husband." "That is illegal, Ma'am." Rick instantly retorted. "Master and Madam are bound for eternity." "Don't dampen my hopes." Kara gave him an agitated look. "Can't you let me bask in my fantasy even for a little bit?""Only Madam is allowed to fantasize about Master," Rick replied. "Well, you can't control that, Rick." Kara jabbed at his chest with a finger. "Who knows what kind of thoughts I'm having about your dear Master in my heart right now?""That is unacceptable, Ma'am.""Tell me why.""Madam is your friend." Hailey could only watch in amusement and silently listened to their bantering as they left the supermarket. She could count the number of times Rick had spoken. But today, he was bantering with Kara and it was a sight for the sore eyes.Although there was no change in his ever-stoic expression, he seemed to be having a good time. Or was it only her imagination? Ri
However, Hailey's hope was far-fetched. When she returned from the kitchen with the utensils in her hand, Kara's conversation had gone haywire and she had never seen Rick looking more awkward than he was at the moment. "Do you think it is also my fault?" Kara was speaking to the guard in a low tone and she sniffed non-stop. "I just wanted them to wait a bit more. I haven't fulfilled her wish yet. Do you think I'm being weird? Doesn't everyone have ambition?" Hailey halted in her footsteps and narrowed her eyes. Why was Kara telling Rick about her past and her ex- boyfriends?Then her eyes darted to Kara's side and they landed on the beer bottle. "Rick! Shit! Don't let her drink." Hailey cursed out loud and hurried to grab the bottle. She could deal with an emotional Kara but not a drunk one. Not especially on this day, her birthday. Rick looked confused at Hailey's outburst. And he gave Kara a blank look. As if he didn't understand a word she said. "Forgive me, Madam. Ma'am appea
"You've worked so hard," Hailey murmured. "I'm sure she would like them." "Really?""Yeah." More tears gushed down her eyes and she sniffed again. "I'm so sorry, Hailey. I promise next time I won't act like this.""You don't need to be sorry." Hailey kept on patting her back. "I will always be here with you." Kara had made this same promise every time, but Hailey knew how hard it was to overcome a trauma. It would always be there, like a terminal illness. When it's its time to act up, it's always inevitable. "She wants me to be independent, and I am. I want to do that, even if they're willing to forsake me for that." "You can do whatever you want, Kara. If it makes you happy, go for it. Stop thinking about them, okay?"Although she acted unperturbed all the time, her father and the rest of her family forsaking her had left a deep wound in her. And this night that she let out all her emotions, She'd understandably mentioned them. "Whatever makes her happy makes me happy." Kara g
Otherwise, Hailey didn't want to imagine the look on Kendrick's face when they returned home very very late.But even in her drunken state, Kara who might have somehow grasped Hailey's words got more frantic. The only thing Hailey could register was Kara biting down hard on Rick's arm and setting herself free, then chaos erupted.The birthday cake, the decorations, and even the large table was not spared. In a flicker of seconds, Kara had turned the whole apartment into a mess. And while Rick ran after her to get a hold of her, Hailey was running from the girl who was now chasing after her like a maniac. "Take me home, Hailey!" Hailey leaned against the door and pressed both hands on her thumping chest as she had luckily found a way to Kara's bedroom and locked herself inside. "Hailey! Open it!" Kara kept on banging on the door and yelling. Hailey would be damned to do that. Her whole body shook as she carried her wobbly legs toward the bed with both hands on her waist. It was
Wait— If Kendrick had already left for work that meant she could relax at least for a while. And if he was really angry, then some of his anger would have already subsided by the time he got home. With that assurance in mind, Hailey's heart was once again at ease and she strolled inside the house. She hadn't even taken breakfast yet and she was screamingly hungry. But first, she had to change out of these clothes. Therefore, she headed toward the stairs, not thinking about why the Butler as well as the servants were nowhere in sight. Her head was only filled with finding a way to pacify Kendrick. And again, Hailey was carried away. As she walked through the hallway toward the bedroom, she didn't notice the sound of footsteps coming from ahead, until a figure stopped in front of her and she halted. "You are finally back."Hailey's eyes dimmed at the sight of the girl in front of her. Her eyes strayed from Sharon to the bedroom's direction then back to Sharon. "What are you doing
"And what kind of thoughts do you think I'm having." Hailey only got more agitated. This stupid man. He literally heard her questions, why was he evading them? "Whatever kind." "You..." The rest of her words were weighed down by the lump in her throat. Shit! She wasn't supposed to cry. Why then did she want to cry? But she was so mad right now, and he was treating her words as air. That wounded her more than Sharon's words."Just answer my question!" She strode up to him and snatched the towel from his hand."What was Sharon doing in this room? Why didn't you pick my calls? What happened yesterday while I was away? And why is Sharon acting this way?" Hailey had a lot to say but the rest of her words died in her throat. Like how Sharon had mentioned this wasn't the first time, and how she had openly directed her to ask the servants. It was as if whatever happened in this house, Hailey was the only one left in the dark.The Butler as well as the maids knew what was going on. But none
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