"Hehe, Madam. Don't misunderstand, Master and I are only discussing—""I know what you're discussing, Collins." Hailey fought her anger from flaring up, then she put on an offended look. "I worked so hard to prepare these dishes and Kendrick is obviously hungry. Apart from overlooking his health, how could you say I want to poison Kendrick? Didn't he save my life just yesterday? Do you think it is the best way to repay my savior?" "Erhm..." The Butler scratched the back of his neck and his face flushed with embarrassment.Then Hailey glanced toward Kendrick. "If you still think I poisoned this food, then I'll prove to you that I did not." And she scooped a large portion of the food from Kendrick's plate then put it all in her mouth. "Madam, no. The baby." Hailey glared at the Butler as she slowly chewed the food. But he and Kendrick stared at her in shock and when she finally picked up a glass of water and pushed it down, their expressions instantly ebbed with relief."Hehe, Madam.
Just because she'd put it that way even though she hadn't really meant it, Kendrick was willing to fulfill her wish. Her lips tugged at the corners and her eyes tinged. How could he be this considerate even though all she'd done was scream and yell when a slight matter arose? "A–Are you alright?" She lifted her head and asked softly. "Yes, I'm fine," Kendrick replied and there was a subtle smile on his face. He stood up from his chair and Hailey instantly took the jacket from his hand. "Are you off to work?" She asked as he walked past her. His footsteps were slowed, he must still be feeling uncomfortable. Kendrick nodded to her question and rearranged his necktie. Hailey could see him struggling with it. Even his inner white shirt was damp at the back with perspiration. He had eaten too much, added to the fact that the food was hot. Would be able to go to work? Besides, the sun was high up in the sky. And wasn't he tired from the trip?"But Ken— Kendrick." Hailey picked up her
When they reached the bedroom, Hailey placed his suit jacket, which was still in her arms, on the couch. Kendrick was now sitting on the bed and tugging at his necktie, and she sauntered forward and sat beside him. "Let me help." Hailey took the necktie from his hands and carefully undid it. She didn't even look up at his shocked expression right now.After loosening the necktie, she placed it beside her on the bed and brought her hands back to his shirt. Slowly, she undid the first button, the second one, and then the third one. And as his bare chest came into view, Hailey knew she should look away. She had to look away. But she didn't know where the sudden curiosity came from and possessed her. "Hailey." Kendrick held her hands as she was fiddling with the fourth button. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?" His voice was darker than normal. And she couldn't make out the expression in his eyes with the tiny light streaming inside the room.Hailey blinked and swallowed down a
When she came out again, Kendrick was getting out of the shirt probably to feel more comfortable due to the huge plaster Hailey had wrapped around his arm."Let me help." Hailey hurried toward him and helped him out of the shirt. And she was soon back inside the closet to drop the shirt as well as his jacket. When leaving the closet again, she didn't forget to pick up a towel. She met Kendrick sitting in the same position and she sat back on her space then started wiping off his sweats. She wiped them all the way down his body and her eyes would stray more than normal to his chest."Hailey." Kendrick's voice finally sounded in the room.Hailey stilled at his tone and lifted her head hesitantly. "Why are you being extra nice today? Don't you want to know the truth anymore?"Hailey dropped her hand and sighed inside. She was already aware of the truth. But how could she tell him that? Wouldn't it be like giving out the maids? They might get into trouble or even lose their job for know
And using the chance that she seemed to have lost her tongue, he moved again until their legs touched and his hold became firmer around her waist. However, a bigger surprise was waiting for him. Because when Hailey broke out of her shock, instead of flinching away or slapping his hands off the way she normally did, she did something he never expected. She placed both palms back on his chest without breaking eye contact. "Really? I can look?" She blinked her eyes innocently. "You can look all you want." The words tumbled out of his own volition, and Kendrick swallowed hard past his throat that was suddenly parched. And Hailey didn't waste a second. Her eyes went back to his chest and he could see that familiar curiosity in them before she looked down. And together with her eyes, her hands started moving around. "How many times do you work out, Kendrick? Wow, they're so firm," the words were a whisper and Kendrick heard each of them. "Kendrick, where is the food?" She darted him
Hailey was now sitting on the bed with her eyes in the door's direction. She was neither sad nor mad. She only gave the door a blank look. "Kendrick, do you also think I bully you a lot?" Bully him? Kendrick almost laughed."No, you don't," he replied simply and sat beside her."Then I don't care what the Butler thinks." She shrugged and stood up. "I'll get you something comfortable to wear." She walked inside the closet and returned with a t-shirt. "If he doesn't believe that I don't intend to harm you, I can't help it. Time will show him the truth, right?" She looked up and gave him a smile. Kendrick's eyes lingered on her face as she helped him change into the shirt. She didn't care what the Butler thought about her as long as he believed in her. He also didn't care about the Butler's thoughts. But he cared about her thoughts.And her feelings. *****When Hailey woke up the next day, she glanced at the empty space beside her. Her shoulders dropped but her lips curled up into a
"Your favorite, Madam. Master told us to cook your favorite." Lizzy followed behind her and answered.Hailey had picked up a vegetable from the fridge and her hand paused at the maid's words. Then she chuckled. All the food the servants had been cooking was her favorite. So it had been Kendrick's orders. And the maid found this as the perfect opportunity to let her know. She shook her head and stood up straight with the vegetable in her hand. She wasn't even surprised, as the servants would jump at any opportunity to ship her together with Kendrick."Would you like to have anything, Madam?" The maid's surprised gaze darted from Hailey's hand, which held the vegetable, and her face."No, Lizzy. I'm going to cook." Hailey took an apron and wrapped it around herself. "Really?" The maid's expression brightened. Her reaction was completely different from the Butler's."Yeah," Hailey answered her with a slight nod. "Replace these ingredients and help me cut the vegetables, we're going to
However, his tone indicated more than that. And as Hailey walked closer to the living room, she subconsciously slowed down her footsteps. She didn't stop walking though until the living room came into view. And not only the maids, but she also found the Butler as well as the bodyguards in the living room. They were all lined up in front of Kendrick who sat on a chair. His back was to her and the Butler was standing close to him.And instead of the office clothes she expected to see him in, Kendrick wore a t-shirt because his bruised arm now wrapped in a new bandage was in her view.No wonder the maids had spoken about his injury. Hailey had initially wondered how they saw the bruise on his arm.But more than that, Hailey's new surprise was directed at something else. Or more literally, someone else. Kendrick and his words... She had to stop in her footsteps and conceal her presence to make sure her ears weren't playing tricks on her. "You are not allowed to speak ill of her both in
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