The middle-aged man gulped and even avoided her eyes. "W-Well, Madam.. th-that— that was nothing. Master and I were just discussing some stuff. If you want to know, I think you should ask Master."With that said, he turned around and took to his heels, leaving Hailey standing there and groaning. 'Urgh.' she should have known better than to even think of asking him. Who was she kidding? Even if they were discussing a football match, there was no way the man would tell her. And this 'stuff' that he said, Hailey snickered. She was now a hundred percent certain that it was something very very secretive. 'Argh!' it was her own fault. She shouldn't be poking her nose in things that had nothing to do with her. Trying to find out would even make her look like a fool.Hailey berated herself again and was about to turn when Sharon's high-pitched voice came from upstairs. "Oh, did I keep you waiting?" Sharon smiled at her sweetly. She was wearing a very tall high-heeled shoes, Hailey was
"Who is it?" Hailey frowned. "The celebrity, your sister." Kara rolled her eyes."Oh." Hailey nodded and let out a helpless sigh. Chloe had been speaking to her these past few days on the phone, she even promised to visit her. She looked at Kara again and wondered why her reaction was this big. But Kara was not done yet. She even shot Hailey an angry look. It was obvious she was mad at Hailey. "You really have some explaining to do here, Girl." She folded her hands and tapped her feet on the floor. "Because not only is your sister here, she also came with that guy– Rob. Didn't you say you're no longer together?""R–Rob." Hailey gasped and instantly covered her mouth. Rob was here? This was bad. Rob wasn't supposed to be here. Why would Chloe bring him? Oh God, she would get into real trouble. She started pacing with a hand in her hair while Kara watched her with raised brows. "Rob, where is he?" She halted and asked. "Is this what you're supposed to ask me?" Kara stared at he
Hailey shook her head and denied. "O–Of course I do. I'm happy to see you." "Good." Rob's eyes squinted with a smile. "Because I'm happy to see you looking fine. You've changed a lot in good ways."Hailey lowered her head and nodded. "And I'm happy that you're now feeling better." He added softly. Hailey smiled and she wanted to nod again. Then she stiffened as a thought came to her mind. Oh, God. Chloe had told him she was sick and on medication. And now that she was better—"Hailey." Rob made her look up by lifting her chin and Hailey could see the worry in his eyes."Are you alright?" He asked with a deep frown. Hailey caught her lower lips between her lips and nodded. "I– I'm fine."Her hands gripped her dress and she dreaded what was coming next. "You look fine now, Hailey. I was wondering when you'll come back to me." Rob went on, his gaze not living her eyes. Hailey swallowed again. And just stared at him. Was this the time to tell him her actual plan? "Hailey." Rob cont
Hailey still couldn't believe Rob was here. He had said he had his ways. Did he know all along that she'd opened this diner?Why didn't he come before now? And why did Chloe have to drag him here? "Hailey."Kara's voice jolted Hailey and she felt another storm coming.When she looked up, her eyes were met with Kara's furious face. The storm in her eyes hadn't subsided even a little. "Would you mind telling me what is happening here, Hailey?" Kara gave her an inquisitive look. "It's not what you're thinking," Hailey tried to explain but she fumbled with her dress when Kara's eyes went wider."Not what I'm thinking!?" Kara flailed her hands. "Hailey, you were just being lovey dovey with Rob moments ago. Even a blind person will know what's going on between you two. I'm getting impatient, Hailey, just spill it out." She folded her hands and started tapping her foot on the floor. Hailey looked up and sighed. Where should she even begin? This wasn't how she'd imagined things to turn ou
"Of course, I do understand." Kara nodded. "I know matters of the heart are beyond human control. I don't have any right to judge who's in your heart."Hailey's lips curled into a smile and she also nodded. Another heavy weight lifted off her heart. She could finally be at ease. "Thank you for understanding," she whispered. "Does that mean you'll give your support?""Hell! No, Hailey." Kara didn't even pause to think. She gave Hailey a wide-eyed look and went on. "As much as your love story is overwhelming, I'm still not comfortable with all this idea. I won't talk you out of anything, even though I still don't like that Rob." She scoffed. "All I want is for you to be happy. Whatever makes you contented, I won't stop you from going for it."Hailey lowered her head and nibbled at her lips. That was enough. She was contented that at least Kara didn't scold her or think she was crazy. It was enough that at least she didn't try to talk her out of it. "I'm afraid I'll only be a bystander
Rob halted and dropped his hand. "Goodbye," he said before Hailey could even move. Then Chloe took his hand and they both walked out. Hailey's eyes followed their back and she staggered with relief. She dropped on a chair and gave Kara a grateful look. But Kara's eyes were fixed on the entrance where the two just left. No, she was glaring in that direction. Hailey shook her head and let her eyes land on Sharon. "I don't see much" Sharon spoke to the customer. She was a woman in her mid-thirties and they were sharing a heated gaze. "It's not hard to guess. Your clothes are average. Your hair looks stuffy. You're a middle-class citizen. You should be honored that I even have the time to pay you attention." "Hailey, I'm going to send her out." Kara turned to Hailey. Hailey waved her hand and said, "Leave them alone." Because the customer was not backing down. She answered Sharon with harsher words and the two continued arguing.Kara sat on a chair beside her and huffed. "Next time
Hailey blinked and gulped. She was still in shock and her widened eyes were fixed on Kendrick's. Hell, she couldn't even look away. It was as if his gaze was pinning her into place. "Eavesdropping are we?" Kendrick's face had on a subtle smile. But Hailey knew better. His eyes were stern and his voice was a lot deeper. Hailey blinked again and took a cautious step back. Urgh! This was so embarrassing. The last thing she wanted was to be caught red-handed. "I– I," she stammered but couldn't even form any word to defend herself.Kendrick gave a dark chuckle and an evil smirk made its way to his face.Hailey's heart almost stopped beating. It had been long since she saw this look on his face. It had been long since he even paid her attention. Had she just poked the devil and woke him from his slumber? And most importantly, was she in trouble?Kendrick broke their eye contact, freeing her from his invisible hold. And he let his gaze fall on somewhere else, her stomach.Hailey used tha
Hailey wasn't ready to listen. No, she wouldn't listen. 'Argh!' she should have seen this coming a long time ago. Now she finally got her answers on why he was acting weird and avoiding her. Shit! He was plotting something big and just waiting for the right time to strike."I told you I don't have any problem, Kendrick. I'm completely in my right mind. Why do I need to see a therapist? Do I look crazy to you?" "You will see her tomorrow.""No, I won't." Hailey gave him a hard stare. Damn! This heartless man, why couldn't he just let her be? Why was he so demanding? Hailey knew what he wanted. Well, she would be a fool to cooperate. "Hailey..."She didn't wait for his next words to reach her ears as she turned around and strode out with clenched fists.It was her fault. Everything was her fault. If she hadn't eavesdropped, maybe he wouldn't have brought this up. But hell, he seemed to have had everything prepared. He even made that phone call. There wasn't any doubt he had asked
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