...What he was going to do with her? Hailey heard his question loud and clear. He didn't sound enraged like the previous times. In fact, he sounded helpless. She didn't know how many hours had passed by. She didn't even know when morning came. Even now as she lay in his embrace, those words echoed in her mind.And she was going to give him her reply when he opened his eyes. She was going to tell him what she wanted him to do with her. But did she want him to open his eyes soon? Hailey brought her hand up to his hair and ran her fingers through it. Almost serene, he looked harmless when he slept. She tried to compare his angry face to the calm one, there was a big contrast between them.This was the kind of face she knew in her dreams. His calm expression, the subtle smile on his lips– that was what she imagined in those blurry images in her dreams. She glanced at the window, rays of the morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. The sky was blue and bright up above.A perf
Hailey's frown deepened. "And your sister..." Kendrick went on. "She has also left the city."How could they both leave the city at once? Were they still together? And had she been worried for nothing that Rob was looking for her?But his visit to the diner."Hailey." Kendrick dragged her attention. She stared up at him, he looked calm. "That day that you lost consciousness in your car," he paused and dropped his spoon. "It was confirmed that a truck did pass through that area in that afternoon."Hailey lowered her head. She didn't know if to be sad or happy at the moment. He'd confirmed that she wasn't lying after all. But the remembrance of that also brought grief to her heart. And she couldn't help her hand from wandering to her stomach. "Then... How can they carry on with the investigation?" When she looked up again, she found his eyes on her hand, or more correctly, he was staring at her stomach. "The investigation will go on." Kendrick looked away from her stomach and resume
"What a surprise visit."Sharelene was sitting on one of the couches in the living room, and Hailey placed the tray on a small table beside it then shifted it close to her."Unfortunately, Ken is not back yet. I bet you're here to see him.""Oh, don't worry about Ken. He knows I'm here." Sharelene waved a dismissive hand and laughed softly. "Hailey, I'm here to see you."'Huh?' Hailey masked her confusion with a smile on her face. Sharelene gestured her to sit down and she sat beside her on the couch then poured her a juice glass. "You shouldn't have troubled yourself. You could just ask for me to come to your place.""That would be troubling you," Sharelene said and sipped the juice. "By the way." Hailey cleared her throat. "I haven't thanked you well enough for your help last time. If you don't mind, I'd like to cook you dinner as a token of my appreciation before you leave.""Oh, that's so nice of you." Sharelene dropped the juice glass. "I would love to taste your meals, but l
"I can grant you whatever favor you ask for, as long as it is in my power." Sharelene gave her a regretful look. "But I no longer have the power to cancel the engagement, neither does Ken. Besides, Ken and I need each other.""Hailey." She smiled. "I'm not asking you to let go of him. You're a sweet person, and I couldn't think of anyone else that will attend to Ken's needs.""What do you mean?""I'm willing to share," Sharelene said. "As I've told you, Ken and I are busy people. But he's a man; they claim they're more controlled than us women, but I don't believe so. If you can attend to Ken's needs and keep him away from other women, I'll be glad to share."Share? Attend to his needs? Was Sharelene implying that..."Hailey." Sharelene pulled her attention. "Being a mistress isn't a bad thing. I can sense your desperation for Ken which is why I proposed this. I won't do this for other women, you just happen to have a soft spot in my heart."A mistress? That was the word Hailey dreade
Kendrick was rigid. He never lifted his hands to hug her back. He only lifted his hands to pull her away slightly, staring into her eyes. "The engagement can't be canceled," he said it as a matter of fact. "I won't beat around the bush, Hailey. I no longer have a say in this."He no longer had a say. Weren't his words similar to what Sharelene told her? "I can't be your mistress." Hailey shook her head. That word sounded so bitter on her tongue that she detested saying it. "I'm your legal wife, Ken. I can never be your mistress.""I thought we've been over that." Kendrick used both thumbs to wipe her tears. "This is the reality now, Hailey."The reality?"I told you I didn't sign those papers. I'm still your wife. Don't tell me there's no way you can't cancel this engagement. Unless you don't want to.""Yes." Kendrick dropped his hands and nodded. "I don't want to cancel this engagement, Hailey."The hurt was deeper than before. Hailey wanted to pinpoint its source. The emotions wer
~~~But one week passed by in a flash. No matter what she did, no matter the number of times she brought the topic up, Kendrick turned her down without thinking twice. He had made up his mind. And with every day that passed by, Hailey's devastation increased. The helplessness became multifold. She threw tantrums more than twice, but Kendrick only treated her as air. He made it clear that things were not going to change. He didn't want to argue, and he no longer raised his voice at her. Hailey couldn't even keep a smile on her face. She couldn't pretend she was happy while she wasn't.She'd call Kara and acted as if everything was fine. She would speak with her mother and assure her that she was alright. Yet, as the days approached, her lies were not going to last. Kara and her mother would eventually know. The whole world would know eventually that Kendrick had chosen a bride. And that bride wasn't her. She couldn't handle this heartbreak. She couldn't handle the looks that wou
And Hailey's heart pounded. With each step they took, her heart pounded frantically. "W–Why did you bring me here, Ken?""This is where I come... In the night." Kendrick glanced at her. This was where he usually came? To do what?"You'll see in a while, Hailey." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as if understanding her thoughts. And he looked hesitant as they resumed walking deep into the cemetery. Hailey's hair stood on end. She had to keep a hand on her chest to control her heartbeat. A bad premonition was building up in her heart. The kind of premonition that she didn't know its source.And instead of him gripping her hand reassuringly the way he was doing now, she also found herself recoiling into his embrace.The creepy feeling was uncomfortable. And the premonition only kept increasing. Kendrick walked her deeper into the cemetery, he was silent all the way. They passed by several graves. Some were old, some were new, and Hailey brought her hands up and wrapped them aroun
***She was never going to be okay doing that. Hailey couldn't lie to herself. The future ahead was already clear, as clear as the day.The next morning, Kendrick had left home, certainly not going to his office. Today was the day. And once he returned in the night, if he ever did, he was never going to be hers alone anymore. Another woman would be his fiancee and up to the time they'd get married, she would forever remain his mistress. Could she carry on with the hurt? Was this ache in her heart ever going to heal? Wouldn't it send her to her demise?Sharelene had claimed that she was busy. She and Kendrick would probably barely have any time for each other. They would both be on their own while Sharelene was his legal wife.But she had forgotten one thing. Sharelene had forgotten that she was a woman. Hearts can change as well as decisions. No matter how long it took, she might need his comfort eventually. And she would have the right anywhere that he was her husband.That mornin
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