Oh, no. Foolish. Foolish. She was so foolish. Maybe she shouldn't have broken the news like that. However, she never expected Kara's reaction to be this big. "Kara." Hailey grabbed her shoulders and shook her rapidly, her eyes darting around helplessly and her heart hammering against her chest. "Kara," she called out again. 'What do I do?' Hailey couldn't gather her thoughts for a short while. Should she go out and get help? But rushing out to the elevator wasn't a great idea. What if she slipped in her panicked state? Then her eyes darted to the empty glass. Hailey picked it up quickly and hurried to the kitchen. She returned with the glass full and sprinkled some water on Kara's face. "Kara?" She called out again. And a huge sigh of relief left her lips as the girl's eyes began fluttering open some seconds later. Hailey helped her sit up and she also simmered on the couch. "That was scary," she breathed out again. "Hailey." Kara held her forehead, her voice drifting. "You're j
Hailey nodded eagerly as she also couldn't contain her joy. Her baby had just moved. For the first time. The apartment was filled with both girls' screams of joy and when they both calmed down finally, Kara's eyes were still glimmering with tears, while Hailey's face was streaked with fresh tears. She couldn't believe her baby had moved, for the first time. The last time Bella visited, she had questioned her about that, worried. And Bella had reassured her with the same words she read in books. Her baby would start kicking, eventually. Well, she finally kicked. Hailey laughed and caressed her bump. She couldn't wait to share this with— Oh, shit!' She halted. Why did she think about the devil all of a sudden? Kendrick was the last person she'd like to think of at this blissful moment of her life. "I'm so happy for you, Hailey." Kara wiped her own tears and hugged her. "You're so lucky to have such an amazing baby. Even the way she kicks is so cute, I can't wait to pamper her and dr
Kara chuckled and patted her back. Then she pulled back and frowned. "Did your husband agree?" She asked, and Hailey gave her a nod. However, that only made her frown deepen. "But won't he like, build you a magnificent hotel?""I prefer the diner." Hailey wiped her tears and chuckled. "You know it has always been my dream to open one." "Our dream, Hailey." Kara laughed. "And I'm glad that you've finally come back to your senses. When you mentioned after graduation that you didn't want to do it again, you don't know how heartbroken I was. However, I had to respect your decisions. I couldn't do it alone without you." "I also can't do it without you, Kara." Hailey laughed amid sobs. "And I'm so lucky that you're willing to take it up with me." "Then, worry not, my dear friend." Kara patted her on the shoulder. "Because I still have the files, safely tucked away in my computer. And I can't wait for us to get started." *****It took Hailey and Kara one week to compile their business pl
"I'm certain you're not a child to not understand things that transpire between married couples." Kendrick went on. "Now tell me why I shouldn't exercise my rights." "K–Kendrick, S-Stay away." Hailey eye's darted everywhere but him. He was too close and her heart rate had picked up. She also didn't like the sound of his tone. "I–It's my body. I– I also have the right to decide whoever c–can touch it. It doesn't matter if we're husband and wife. And I don't see you as my—""You're shaking." Kendrick cut her off. Hailey followed his gaze to her hands which were trembling. She gulped and quickly hid them behind her. "You're not alright, Hailey." He searched her eyes and she could notice a hint of worry in his eyes. "Tell me why you're acting like this."Hailey pressed her lips together and looked away. If he wanted her to open up, then he'd have to dream on. She had to be a fool to not know where this was going. He might as well tell her openly his real intentions. "Just stay away fro
"Come on, look at your hand." The woman held Kendrick's arm. "You even look paler, Ken. I can swear you're not alright. Wait, is it because of the pregnancy? I heard most women pass some symptoms to their husbands." She placed a palm on his forehead, her face contorting with worry. "I didn't experience this with your Dad. We better go to the hospital and—""Mum." Kendrick looked exasperated. Hailey couldn't control herself from laughing this time. The sound of her chuckles caught the two people's attention and the woman's eyes lit up at the sight of her. Kendrick's Mum sprang up to her feet and hurried toward Hailey. "Oh God, you're getting bigger." Her fascinated look was on Hailey's stomach. She placed both her hands on the bump and caressed it, Hailey almost cringed. "It's so good to see you again, Dear." She looked up and cupped Hailey's cheek. "I hope you're taking good care of yourself. You're looking lovely, it's been like ages since I last saw you.""Th–Thank you, it's good
"Good!" The woman patted her shoulder and the smile returned to her face. "We don't want the baby to feel uncomfortable, right? Try to keep a light mood all the time." "Okay." Hailey nodded."Eat more, don't let your food get cold." She placed the tray back on Hailey's lap. After urging her to finish the food, she glanced down at her wristwatch. "I have to go now, Dear. Make sure you take care of yourself. Pinky will be here with you, I'll be rest-assured. If you need anything, make sure you tell me, okay?"Hailey's eyes lingered on the woman's back as she walked upstairs. No servant was in the area, so she took the plates to the kitchen. She leaned against the counter and rubbed her forehead. More headache. If Kendrick's cousin would be living here, she might as well steer clear of her. She didn't want to have anything to do with his family in the first place. When she emerged from the kitchen, she headed to the stairs, as her body had regained its energy. She walked past the st
Where the hell was Kendrick?Hailey headed to the study room where she found Kendrick, just as she expected. He was sitting behind a table and deeply focused on the documents in front of him. When he finally noticed her presence and looked up, surprise flashed in his eyes before he obtained his normal expression. "Do you need anything?" He asked calmly. Hailey strode to his side and folded her hands. When she looked into his eyes, she couldn't help but take a second glance. And her thoughts wandered to his mother's words in the morning. "Hailey." Kendrick's voice yanked her off her trance and Hailey realized she'd been staring too long. She rolled her eyes and scoffed as a smile appeared on his face. "You can keep on looking." Kendrick chuckled. Hailey wanted to face palm herself and she ended up rolling her eyes again. Who said she was gawking? Her vision must have tricked her earlier. He didn't look sick right now. "Your cousin moved in here." She started. Kendrick raised
Sharon sauntered past Hailey without sparing her a glance. She stopped beside Kendrick and Hailey was surprised again when she sat on his chair's armrest. "I heard her speaking of my room, Ken," Sharon said in a whiny voice and spread one arm around his shoulder. "Does she not want me to be here?" "It doesn't matter," Kendrick replied flatly with his eyes fixed again on the documents. He didn't appear to mind how Sharon was sitting too close as if he was used to it. "I very much thought so." Sharon giggled. And although her words were harmless, her hard gaze was fixed on Hailey. "Hailey wouldn't be petty to not want me here. She seems nice." Sharon continued."Yes, she's nice." Kendrick's eyes were still on the documents as he nodded in agreement. Hailey rolled her eyes and scoffed for the umpteenth time. 'Hypocrites,' she grumbled. Both cousins were as cunning as the other, she could very well see that. And each one had their own shade of cunningness. Not wanting to waste ano
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