***"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
~~~'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
***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
```````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
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
Hailey wiped her hands with a towel and flicked away the sweats on her forehead. Her eyes roamed over her masterpiece on the huge table inside the kitchen. Plates of various cuisines were spread on the enormous table. And they were all cooked by her. She hadn't worked this hard for a long time. But this was a special occasion. Kendrick would return tonight. It had been three months since she saw him last. And three months since her marriage to him. When he had walked out on her on their wedding night, nothing could amount to the joy she felt. A month before that, she never knew she would end up being his wife. It was the most tragic thing that ever happened to her. Just one mistake, from a night of painful pleasure, and the next thing she knew was being forced into an arranged marriage. But all would end tonight."Hailey, are you done?" Chloe entered the kitchen. Her eyes surveyed the table and having confirmed for herself, she locked the door and walked forward. "Here, make sure yo
"Brother-in-law, Hailey has spent several hours in the kitchen preparing these foods, she wouldn't even allow me to help her. I hope you enjoy it," Chloe said in a timid voice. "Really?" His deep voice made Hailey look up and she found his gaze still on her. His eyes softened and she could even notice a hint of smile on his face."Yes." Chloe nodded. "Hailey is so good at cooking, her skill surpasses everyone else's in the family.""Is that true?" He looked at the plates of food, before giving her his full attention, probably demanding an answer from her.Hailey frowned and glanced away. Of course, she wasn't the only one that could cook in the family. There was no need for her sister to help her enter into his good books."Oh, sister caught a cold last week and has been dealing with a sore throat since then. She can't speak properly." Chloe butted in then stood up. She served him the food and said, "The food will turn cold, Brother-in-law. Hailey has put a lot of effort into it."
When the doctor left, the butler made a call, then stood up. Shortly after, one of the guards who had been standing outside the door came inside. He exchanged glances with the butler, before standing at the edge of the bed. The butler let out a sigh and walked out, after glancing at her. Hailey returned her attention to the bed. She wanted to hold his hand again but the guard stopped her. "Sorry, Ma'am. You can't touch Master," he said flatly. Hailey withdrew her hands with a sigh. She kept her eyes glued to the floor and her head will jerk up anytime she sensed him move under the sheet. Several minutes passed by and she was dozing off when the door opened again and the butler walked in, now dressed in a new set of clothes and holding a large bag. He went to the couch and the bodyguard helped him take out boxes of food from the bag. Then he returned with two boxes on a tray and gave her. "I heard from the servants that you didn't eat since last night," said the butler. It was