Devon didn't mind getting ignored by Rosslyn. If better, he was enjoying the drama going on between him and his assistant. "Your Boss wants to be left alone, now stop bothering him." He slowly pulled her back to his side. Rosslyn freed herself again. And after another confused look in Kendrick's direction, she said, "Have a great night, Sir." Then she disappeared into the opposite suite. Kendrick returned his focus to swiping his card on the door. "You're acting too suspicious," Devon whispered. "I can tell you're eager to call it a day soon in order to communicate with your wife." He laughed. "If you keep at this, Buddy. I bet Rosslyn will find out soon.""If you haven't divulged it yet." Kendrick pushed the door open. Maybe he was just wasting his time hiding from his assistant. He'd even tell Hailey not to call him first in case she happened to be with him at that time. But his blabbermouth of a friend. Kendrick wasn't confident that Devon hadn't told her already that he had a
Maybe he should have given the Butler a call first. Now he'd interrupted her sleep. But he couldn't hang up, he had woken her up already. And it seems like she didn't glance at the contact's name."Hailey." Kendrick didn't need to be asked if she had been waiting for his call the whole day. And what felt like guilt started surfacing. "Go back to sleep, I'll call you tomorrow.""Huh?" Hailey sounded confused for a while. Then Kendrick could hear shuffling from the other end. "Kendrick, is that you?" She cleared her throat. "I wasn't sleeping, I was only taking a nap.""Really?" Kendrick glanced at his wristwatch and frowned. "Yeah," Hailey answered. "I wasn't asleep."Kendrick shook his head and settled well on the bed, by leaning against the headboard. How could she take a nap when it was nighttime already? And who was he to dampen her hope when she seemed so eager to keep the phone call going? "So it's not nighttime yet." Kendrick decided to stall for a bit. "No, it isn't," she
"Good to know." Kendrick was somehow happy. He'd prefer she didn't go anywhere these days and stayed all day at home. When she surprised him by saying she would no longer go to the diner, he'd never been more relieved. She had told him she knew her limits, maybe this was her limit. Had she started feeling some discomfort? He studied her expression. Yesterday, while she was at her grandfather's, she didn't sound well. And in the night when they made a call, she wasn't as open as now. She didn't even speak to him about his investment again in her father's business, which she might have undoubtedly learned yesterday. He'd had his assumptions that something was bothering her. Otherwise, was she experiencing pain? And could he wait until he went back to find out whatever it was? Wouldn't it be too late at that time? There were only two days left. Two days before he'd land in the other city. That was already far enough. "Did anything happen at your grandfather's?" She wasn't expectin
Her smile faded and her lips parted. Which had him wonder, had she done that on purpose? Had she been distracting him with questions intentionally to shove the topic aside? And why didn't he see that coming in time? A few seconds trickled by, she only blinked at him. And he held her gaze, in case she wanted to look away. "Kendrick, I..." She trailed off, her voice was a whisper. And Kendrick listened on waiting for her to continue. "Actually, it's nothing serious." She gave him a harmless smile. "My Grandpa's call was only to tell me something intangible. We only discussed stuff. It turns out he missed me."She was lying again. Kendrick couldn't stop his glare. From her earlier statement, she had admitted that something was bothering her. She even asked if he could read her. Now she was saying nothing happened at her grandfather's? Ridiculous. "I don't want to know what you discussed with your grandfather, Hailey," he muttered. "I want to know what is bothering you and what happen
"Well, Good night, Buddy." Devon laughed again. "And in case baby Mama calls, tell her how grateful I am to have her come into your life. Her presence is like the light at the end of a long dark tunnel. Without her, you would have remained a walking corpse." Okay, Devon was going too far. Did he mean he had been a living corpse before meeting Hailey? Kendrick rose to his feet and pushed the guy out of his room. Then he locked the door and came back to sit on the bed. A sigh left his lips and he put the phone to his left ear. "Hailey?" He called out, and he could hear her soft breathing from the other end. "That was Devon. Don't mind his words," he cleared his throat and said. Why was he feeling awkward? He frowned. It wasn't as if he was guilty of anything. Whoever Devon was talking about, Kendrick couldn't recall her name. "Oh..." Hailey only made a sound. "Did you go on the trip together?" "No, he tagged along," Kendrick explained. Then she made another sound again. Her voic
Her bump was way too big for her to know what her actual size was at this moment. But what if she gained weight? What if after putting to bed, she would become double— no, triple her original size? That was a normal occurrence for most women after putting to bed. Hailey had read that up to ninety percent of women gained additional after becoming mothers. There was nothing wrong with that. But why did that idea scare her to bits? Normally, she wasn't much on the slender side. She had her fleshes all in the right place. She couldn't be termed as chubby though. But what if she became chubby and no longer attractive? And what if Kendrick was more into attractive women? Urgh! Why was she even thinking about that? Her pregnancy was his fault, if anything happened to her body after giving birth, he should take responsibility and not despise her. But what if—"M–Madam, please be careful!" The Butler's anxious tone broke Hailey out of her thoughts before she could injure her hand. She d
But despite the lace trimming at the chest and the off-shoulder straps, the dress seemed conservative enough. It would also accentuate her bump well. 'There's no need to be nervous,' Hailey assured herself with a nod. Maybe she should try something different for once. She made up her mind and traced the fabric with her fingers. There was no doubt this dress cost a fortune. The brand name wasn't popular among the masses. Only a few handfuls could get their hands on it. A soft sigh left Hailey's lips and her shoulders dropped. Was this the kind of style Kendrick preferred? A President's daughter would definitely wear something similar to this one. Or a female CEO, or someone that owned many estates. "Urgh, come on!" Hailey groaned and facepalmed herself. Since when had she been this insecure? She'd always been strong and contented her whole life, she never compared herself to anyone. Never. She changed into the dress with difficulty. The zip was too low to reach. And she strained h
She sidestepped down the stairs, giving the bodyguards room to move freely with the huge boxes in their hands. Behind them were the three maids. They were all holding large bags. Did Kendrick buy them all? What for? Hailey's eyes widened in astonishment.But her excitement and anticipation at the moment had surpassed her curiosity. She took to her heels once more, heading in the living room direction. That was where the over-excited maids had pointed. And on reaching there, her breath caught in her throat. No– she literally teared up. Kendrick stood in the middle of the living room, one hand in his pocket and the other one holding his phone. He hadn't noticed her yet. He was speaking to the Butler. And Hailey couldn't take her eyes off him, as if time had stopped. Everything else was in her peripheral vision, including the Butler and the other guy who was lounging on one of the couches. Her feet propelled her forward and she ended up in his arms, taking him off balance. "Madam,
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