Kara's words were like thunderclaps to Hailey's ears."Shit! That guy didn't even visit you at the hospital when you lost your baby. It turns out he's alright and you're even living with him. Hailey, believe me, Rob is up to no good. You must be wary of him."When she lost her baby?Those words stuck to Hailey's mind and her grief returned. Did this have something to do with that dream?"Kara, how did I lose my baby?""You experienced a shock, Hailey. You almost lost your life and the doctors had to remove your baby. That isn't even long ago."Hailey lifted her cloth and stared down at her stomach. That scar. It glared back at her.And Kara didn't stop speaking. She went on to explain everything that happened in the hospital. How her supposed husband had sent her those divorce papers and how she'd been stubborn not to sign the divorce. If Kara really wasn't in her right mind, how could she have known this much about her? And why did most of the things she said sound the same as that
Her stomach churned in a strange way and one hand wandered to that spot. The spot where the scar rested.Hailey sighed inside as her head was filled with Kara's words. She didn't look up, lest Rob and her sister see the complex emotions in her eyes."Sister," Chloe said after a while. "What do you think it will feel like to have something you desire the most?"What she desired the most?Hailey forced a smile and glanced up. "I should experience the happiest feeling in the world. I'll feel very lucky.""You're brilliant, Sis." Chloe laughed softly. "I think I'll experience that feeling soon.""Oh." Hailey nodded. "Should I congratulate you in advance?""Mm, yeah." Chloe swallowed her food and nodded. "I bet you must congratulate me in advance."Rob ate quietly beside her and Hailey was starkly aware of his presence. "Chloe." Hailey looked at her sister. "About our parents—""Have you forgotten, Sis?" Chloe laughed. "I told you our parents have gone on a vacation on an island. They wo
That building looked familiar. That place, even unrecognizable, Hailey could feel a deep attachment to it. And she watched herself standing in the midst of those men and looking around in confusion. She told them something but they only laughed harder. Her stomach ached as well as her heart.Hailey woke up to an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. She opened her eyes and was met with darkness. And she panted rapidly to catch her heavy breathing. "Rob." She called out his name. Her hand wandered to her side.This dream was scary. The more the dreams surfaced, the more her fears increased.Rob told her that she would be alright if she took her medications. Maybe she should have taken his words more seriously."Rob," Hailey called out again.Her hands met with an empty space and she reached for the bedside lamp. She turned on the light and stared at the empty space beside her. Where was Rob?Hailey sat up on the bed and patted her chest, while her other hand went to her stomach.S
Why did he ask her this? Was she not supposed to remember?Hailey decided to test the waters. She shook her head slowly and Rob's smile widened. "Would you like to catch more sleep, My Love?" Rob asked. Catch more sleep? Sleep was far from Hailey's eyes. And Kara's words came back to her head. She couldn't trust him. She couldn't trust him anymore. Not after seeing him with her sister."W–What happened yesterday?" Hailey struggled to keep her voice normal."Oh, nothing important." Rob got down from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. "We only had some fun in the garden. Don't worry, Love. Your memory will improve soon. The doctor promised that you'll recover fast enough if you take your pills regularly."Hailey watched his back until he disappeared inside the bathroom. And she bit her lips. Fun in the garden?Nothing of that sort happened yesterday. Rob. Had he been lying to her? And why did he think that she'd forgotten everything that happened yesterday? What would mak
When she pushed the door and entered, there was no longer the sound of running water from the bathroom. There was no sign of Rob in the bedroom.Hailey headed straight to the bedside table where she'd hidden her phone. She pulled out the drawer and picked it up. And she hid the phone in her trouser's pocket before walking out of the bedroom. If she was lucky, Rob should have left. She couldn't tell Rob about going to the diner. He hadn't stopped her in the past.But Kara told her to be wary of him. She warned her to be cautious around Rob.What if she asked for his permission and he got suspicious? Didn't he look happy when she claimed that she couldn't remember anything from yesterday?Just how many things did he want her to forget?Thinking back to the doctor's interaction with Rob, Hailey didn't find it comfortable. Even while the two were speaking, they appeared to be communicating with their eyes, as if the doctor was hiding something important.But Hailey had shunned that fac
Hailey ignored her and stood up with a hand on her stomach. She walked to the living room and pulled the curtains apart. Rob must have left the house already. There was no sign of his car in the garage. She looked back at the dining area and also found Chloe closing the kitchen door behind her. And Hailey took in a deep breath before stepping out of the door. This time, she was faster than the way she'd sneaked out of the house to avoid his parents. She was half-running after leaving the gates. And she didn't stop until she reached the big street. There were a lot of cars passing by. And it didn't take her long to find a taxi.Hailey looked out of the car's window after giving the diner's address to the taxi driver. She caressed her stomach to curb that feeling, and she finally relaxed in the backseat when the car neared the diner. If Kara's words were the truth. If it turned out that Rob wasn't her husband, then Hailey did not see any reason why she should return here.Rob mi
"On the phone, you asked me if I had a mother, Kara." So many questions threatened to spill out. Hailey didn't think she could wait until they got to the hospital. "Do I have my own mother? And where is she?""You have your own mother, Hailey," Kara said. "In fact, I've informed her already so she's speeding up her journey. She might arrive today or tomorrow, I'm not sure. But she promised to be here immediately.""Hailey, the most important thing now is you're safe." Kara gave her a reassuring look. "Let's get you to a hospital first and see what the doctors can do. Every other thing can wait."Her questions could wait. Hailey nodded obediently and stared out of the car. The image of Rob and Chloe flashed in her mind. Chloe treated her nicely on the surface, what kind of relationship did they actually have? She breathed a deep sigh and placed a hand on her stomach. Her baby. Was it true that she almost gave birth? Then what went wrong? Why did she lose her baby?If those bad dre
"Aren't those things with Rob?" Kara asked her after hanging up. And Hailey nodded. Those pills were in Rob's house."Damnit!" Kara let out a curse and slapped the steering wheel. "What are we gonna do now, Hailey? How can we retrieve it?" How to retrieve it? Hailey didn't like the idea of going back to Rob's house. But the doctor said that it was important to take the drugs with her so the psychiatrist could see what kind of medication Rob had put her on. That would make it easy for him to analyze a cure for her. "D–Do you think we should tell the authorities?" She looked up and asked."The authorities?" Kara sank into deep thought. "That guy is cunning, Hailey. We can't give him out to the authorities without tangible evidence."Right. They needed evidence. "But don't worry. We'll go to my apartment and figure things out," Kara said. "By the way, there's something I have to show you, Hailey.""Okay." Hailey nodded.And instead of the diner, Kara drove down the city straight to
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