Before bidding the securities goodbye, they mentioned something about having more guests in the house. And Hailey's eyes went back to where her own car was parked. Now she noticed an almost familiar car. As if she had seen it somewhere before. She didn't bother to ask the securities who they were. And she walked toward her car and tapped on the window."Aren't you coming out, Rick?" Rick slid down the window and she asked."I would like to stay in the car if you don't mind, Madam." His expression was blank. Hailey bit her lips to stifle her chuckles. Was he scared that if he went in with her the maids would surround him? She couldn't blame him for that. Therefore, she turned around and made her way into the house after casting a confusing glance in the other car's direction."Grandpa!" She called out when she stepped inside the living room. The servants were strangely out of sight and the place was too silent. They must be attending to their duties. Hailey's eyes wandered around
"Enough with that nonsense." Her grandfather's lips twitched in annoyance. "Sit down, Hailey. And all of you, leave us for a moment.""Father?" The middle-aged woman finally spoke up. She looked as if she would burst out of anger. "But we were here before her. Isn't it right to listen to what brought us first?""You know what is right and wrong?" The old man questioned her, his eyes narrowing. "I hate to give orders twice. You, take this woman and get out." Hailey's father looked helpless. And this was the first time Hailey had seen him not want to argue with her grandfather. Maybe he was too happy for that at the moment. He gestured to his wife, who looked about to retort, with a waving hand and said softly. "Let's give them some space, Dear. I'm sure it won't take long." The woman pursed her lips and glowered in Hailey's direction. Then she stood up and followed her husband outside the room. And before they could disappear behind the door, Hailey's father smiled at her, it almos
When she opened her eyes, she found her grandfather studying her carefully as if he was afraid she would burst. But Hailey was able to remain calm. "Why was she here?" She voiced out her inner thought. And despite being calm, her voice came out with a hint of anger. Her grandfather leaned back on his chair and shook his head with a big sigh. "She was here for you." He stared straight at her. "She was regretful."Hailey's knuckles turned bright as she gripped her bag. Here for her? Why would she be here for her? What did she want? And why did she come only now? And not five years or ten years or even twenty-four years ago? And was she truly regretful? "You have every right to hold a grudge, Dear." Her grandfather's tone held some sadness to it. "And I won't speak for her... I was also disappointed." Then he looked down and shook his head once more. "But you should have seen her... She looked desperate."'See her?' Hailey didn't want to see her. Her throat tightened all of a sudden
The old man studied her expression then chuckled and dropped the glasses. "The ride here must have been tiring, don't stress yourself." His eyes went to her stomach. "I would advise you don't linger, your husband is not in town.""Oh." Hailey dropped her head and nodded. A few moments there, she had almost thought her grandfather was mad at her. It turned out he was only looking out for her."Go to your room and have some rest," her grandfather commanded. "I'll let you cook me a meal after you put to bed, which shouldn't be far from now."The old man chuckled again and Hailey also laughed then rubbed her stomach. She couldn't wait for her baby to arrive. And her heart bubbled with excitement as the big day got nearer. "Alright, Grandpa. I'll get some rest and head back home." She gave him a quick hug then turned around and left the study room. And when she pushed the doors closed after going out, Hailey almost jumped in fright when she found her father standing in the hallway. He w
Hailey could only smile and shake her head at her sister's question. She had really been worried. However, it was useless saying that now. The most important thing was her thoughts were wrong and Chloe was alright. "Always take great care of yourself, Chloe. Never overlook your health." They got inside her room and Hailey sat on the bed. "Falling sick will be a hindrance to your career." "Thanks for your concern, Sis." Chloe didn't sit beside her. She walked around the room and admired the decorations. "I'll follow your advice and always put my well-being first." She touched the animated poster on the wall and then picked up the pink alarm clock, shaped like a rabbit, from the bedside table. "I remember this clock." She laughed softly. "Didn't Rob get it for you during one of his visits to his family?" Hailey gave a slow nod and laughed at the memory. Rob had commented at that time that the rabbit reminded him of her. Chloe held the clock with both hands and gazed at it serenely.
"Of course, Sis." Chloe nodded then dropped the photo. She put the album aside and shifted close to Hailey. "Rob stood up for your relationship many times in high school. He even went against his parents' wishes, to be in this city with you. He has sacrificed a lot so you can end up together." Her voice turned gloomy. "Don't tell me you're going to forsake everything just like that. Will you let Brother-in-law's wealth sway you so much that you're willing to let go of everything you've shared?" Hailey's mood dampened immediately. She had expected her sister to bring this up the moment she started speaking about Rob and their past. Hadn't Chloe promised her that she wouldn't touch this topic anymore? Her hand subconsciously lifted to hold her stomach but Chloe grabbed it, her speed baffling Hailey. "Sister." Chloe stared at her desperately. "You know I trust you to make the right decision, but you scare me sometimes. You— You don't even ask of Rob, it's like you're avoiding him. It'
She walked straight toward the study room to bid her grandfather goodbye. And on her way there, she almost bumped into her stepmother who stormed out of the study room all of a sudden. "I knew this would be a waste of time. Problems, more problems," She was grumbling to herself and didn't see Hailey.Hailey quickly stepped to the side and sighed. There was no doubt the woman just had a fight with her grandfather. Hailey couldn't make her presence conspicuous in the narrow hallway and it didn't take seconds for the woman to spot her. "You— You daughter of a vixen. It's your fault, all your fault! Who knows what stupid advice you've put in your grandfather's head? You're just the same as that woman. Now that she's back, I wonder if you're going to join hands and bring this family down once and for all." Her tone was low and filled with anger. Hailey was really tired already. And she prayed more than anything that the woman would leave her alone. And luckily for her, the woman didn't
Hailey shut her eyes and tried to assure herself that the woman was just angry. She didn't need to be affected by her words. "Tell me the truth, Hailey..." The woman blocked her path again before she could walk away. "Are you sure you are not seeing her already? And she is not teaching you all these tricks?" "I'm afraid you're thinking too far." Hailey was having a hard time keeping still. If only she could push past the woman and walk away. But that would bring more harm to her. "Whether I am thinking too far or not does not matter." Her stepmother chuckled darkly. "Because you see, Hailey. She was never a threat to me and whatever you do now will not threaten me." Then she grabbed her arm and lowered her voice, her eyes glinting with something Hailey could attest to as evil. "Didn't you know how I dealt with her? She thought she was smart enough to get engaged to your father. She thought that would earn her his love. However, her wish of marrying him never came true. I did that i
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