And when Hailey was done eating, she sprang to her feet and wiped her mouth. Without a proper goodbye to the nagging Butler, she headed for the door, grateful that she didn't slip. The Butler ran after her, calling out that she should be careful. But Hailey had already jumped into the car. And she ordered Rick to drive fast.Well, Rick didn't obey her command. He mentioned something like if he drove fast, he was afraid she would get sick and throw up. He said that happened once and he wouldn't repeat it, lest he endangered her health. Well, Hailey had even forgotten that incident. But she'd really vomited her stomach out that day. So she no longer argued with the bodyguard, and she kept her eyes on the road while her feet tapped rapidly on the car's carpet.Her eagerness made her didn't want to look away from the window as she counted the buildings and skyscrapers, and the road to the diner had never been longer.The car finally arrived at the diner and Hailey glanced at her wris
"You don't have to worry about that." Hailey smiled at her. "Kendrick won't know a thing about this, I promise.""Okay." Kara nodded weakly and turned for the door. "I hope you make it fast, Hailey. Rick– that guy– he's too alert. I don't think I can hold him up for long." "I will." Hailey followed behind her and they grabbed a chair in a corner where they could get a clear view of the entrance and the customers coming in and out. Rick had entered the diner and he stood beside the counter, his eyes fixed on the device in his eyes. But Hailey knew well that he was watching her. "Let's pretend we're having a nice chat, Hailey. Otherwise, he might suspect something." Kara suggested. "Then I'll distract him when Rob comes in. And you can have your discussion– whatever."Kara still didn't like the idea of her discussing something with Rick. "So, tell me, Hailey." She raised a brow and quirked up her lips. "I'm so busy I barely had time to call you. You don't also give me a call that mu
Kara looked surprised that she'd brought it up."Yes, Hailey." She quickly retained her expression. "Don't worry, she'll no longer return to this place. I made her promise that. You don't have to worry about seeing her."Hailey sighed again and slowly nodded. Yes, she was bothered about seeing her. And she didn't want to. But now, she had to. "Is there a possibility that she might return here someday?" She looked up and asked. "She won't." Kara's tone was affirmative. "Don't you believe me, Hailey? I swear I made her promise never to return."Hailey shook her head and chuckled sadly. She should clarify things with Kara. Maybe she might be of help since she didn't want to tell Kendrick anything yet. If the woman had been close to Kara the few times she came here, Kara should know one or two things about her. Because honestly, Hailey didn't know how she could reach her. And she couldn't ask her grandfather. She didn't want to make him hopeful. "Actually, Kara." She hesitated before
"N–No— No problem." Hailey shook her head and gulped. Then her eyes wandered around the place filled with people. "You said you wanted to see me." Rob seemed to be checking her out. His face held a gentle smile. "Y–Yes." Hailey fiddled with her finger, her eyes darting around. Then Rob moved forward and he lifted his hand, wanting to touch her hair. But Hailey cowered back. The smile in his eyes faded at that. "You seem anxious," he said in a worried tone and followed her gaze to the many customers at the place. Then he sighed and turned to her. "Maybe we should get some privacy." And without waiting for her consent, he took her hand and walked out of the diner— leaving Hailey baffled. "Where— Where are you taking us?" He was very fast and Hailey was half running. "To get some privacy." Rob glanced back and smile. And in no time, they reached the parking lot and he made her enter his car. "We didn't have to come here." Hailey shifted uncomfortably on the seat. They could sp
"Forgive me, Rob." A slight sob left her lips and she couldn't keep on looking at his face. "Please forgive me, I know I've committed a great mistake." "What are you talking about, Hailey." Rob lifted her chin to make her look up. "In my heart, you're the most perfect woman. You can never commit any mistake." He wiped her tears as he said those flattery words. But those were not just flattery words. He'd told her these kinds of words countless times in the past. He never ceases to picture her as the most perfect person he'd ever met. And Hailey had let those words get to her head. She had enjoyed hearing them. Those flattery words made her feel important in all the aspects she thought she was lacking. And she'd gotten used to them so much that she had once pictured herself as the perfect woman. Before Kendrick came. Before everything took a different direction. "I'm so sorry, Rob." She couldn't stop sobbing. "These past few months, I've kept you waiting. I promised you to get the
The car ride was long, Hailey didn't even dare glance down at her wristwatch. And as the place came into full view, her eyes widened and her head snapped to Rob. He had taken a different route heading to their old school. That was why she hadn't known where they were headed. And now that the car was parked in front of the high school, she wondered why he had brought her here. "Take a look, Hailey." Rob stared up at the tall building through the window. "It's been so many years. This place is still the same."Hailey's eyes were also on the building and she couldn't prevent the memories from flooding back. All those happy memories of her naive days. Those days she thought she was only happy because she was dating a guy who was good at almost everything. She had ceased to realize that most of the other students never looked down on her. Even the teachers loved her. She never got bullied by bigger kids. Until now. Until now, she never realized all those things she had overlooked. "Ro
Thinking about it now, maybe she not only admired Rob. She had been obsessed with him. Just like a fan to an idol. It was never love. "Follow me." Rob took her hand again and he took her to many other places. The school was big, but they toured almost every area. They even ended up in the principal's office, who congratulated them. The woman was so ecstatic to know that they were still together. And as it turned out, Rob had been making huge donations to the school. No wonder all the staff remembered him. Even the new ones knew him. And as they walked past each staff, words of congratulations filled her ears. And Hailey felt uncomfortable through it all. "Rob." She tugged at his hand after they left the staff area. "Enough of all these. I want to go back, please take me back to the diner."Rob stopped in his footsteps and tucked her hair to the side. "Are you tired?" He asked in a worried tone. Then he gave her stomach a glance. This was the third time he stared at it. And a heavy
But Hailey never really cared. All she only ever wanted was the smile. Rob did not only walk her to the entrance, but he also entered the door and they stood facing each other. Hailey's hair stood on end. Her heart couldn't stop drumming. The diner seemed to have close already. She couldn't hear the chatters of the customers. And she couldn't look away from Rob because of their current proximity. "Hailey." He gently tucked strands of hair away from her forehead. "Thank you for today. After such a long time, I had a great day." His smile became wider. It was as if only Hailey could feel the tension hanging in the air. Rob was standing in front of her, blocking her view of the diner. Hopefully, Rick was nowhere nearby. If Rick was close to the entrance, there was no doubt he would sight Rob. "O–Okay." Hailey stammered out and gulped. "R–Rob, you can go back now." But Rob didn't appear to hear her. He didn't listen. She even made an attempt to pull him away, but he didn't budge. "
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