Kendrick wouldn't demand something beyond her power, right? "T-Tell me what it is," She stuttered and gripped her bag tighter. She didn't want to appear nervous. She didn't want to give herself out that she was frantic. She tried her best to look calm. Yet, the look on his face was making her have second thoughts. And Hailey wished for him to state whatever it was already. Before she could break down in anticipation and make a fool out of herself. "You have to promise me you'll agree first," Kendrick demanded. Hailey widened her eyes and she sprang to her feet. No way she would allow him to use this kind of trick on her again. Did he think she was a baby or what? "Kendrick, you—""It's either you agree or say goodbye to your diner," he said in a careless manner. Hailey couldn't believe her ears. Now he was even threatening her to shut down her business? What the hell was wrong with him? "You're joking, aren't you?" She looked at him in disbelief. "Does it seem like it?" Kendri
"Madam, your hair looks good today." "Your eyes are more shiny, even your skin is glowing." "It's a miracle that you're still in great shape, Madam. Unlike other women, your bump is a compliment to your outstanding figure." And here they go again. Their normal routine of pestering her with sweet nothings. Hailey wanted to groan. Did Kendrick also put them to this? 'Urgh,' but why would he? Were they this afraid of Kendrick?She gave them a stiff smile and sighed. They weren't lying anyways, her skin glowed too much recently. It must be due to those supplements brought by Kendrick's Mum. And her appetite kept increasing, sometimes she couldn't even spend a whole hour without getting hungry again. Her phone started ringing and she sighed in relief. Finally, something to help her get rid of the maids. "Girls, could you please go and tend to the plants while I take this call?" She asked sweetly.The three maids gave her an eager nod and they all hurried inside the garden. Hailey let
"So, when next will you see Rob?" Chloe asked all of a sudden and Hailey's heart skipped a beat. Memories of what occurred last time returned to her senses and she shuddered. "Chloe, you can't inform Rob again whenever I visit the mansion, okay?" She said quickly. Chloe made a confused noise and asked, "Why." Hailey sighed and summarized everything to her. "So, you see... We can't get him into trouble. It was a narrow escape, I don't want to try something as dangerous as that again." Chloe went silent for a while. "Was it that serious?" She asked and Hailey nodded an answer. "Does it mean brother-in-law got jealous?" "What jealousy?" Hailey scoffed. Kendrick was just acting based on his ego and making her feel miserable. "Rob spoke with me. He told me that he missed you," Chloe went on. "I think he's restless, Hailey. You should find a way to see him." "You know I can't." Hailey smiled sadly. "Please tell him not to be mad. I also wish I could find a way. But I can't." Chlo
"M–Madam, please calm down." The maid sat her down and tried to comfort her. But Hailey was pissed off this time. What if Sharon tainted her babies with her stupid attitude? Her eyes went to her plants and she got up and started caressing them. "From now on, I don't want her to come here," She said to the maids and they all nodded. She took in a long drag of air and breathed out her pent-up anger. She was only here for her babies, Sharon was too small to make her feel down. Her eyes wandered around the place. Her plants were all large and robust. And all riped to be cooked. Hailey had made sure they only received water and had tended to them with utmost care and patience. She couldn't wait to pick them all to the diner. She was going to make sure her customers were served food made from the most delicious and freshest vegetables. *****After taking one day off from the diner, Hailey wasn't as energized as she wanted. First, she had to deal with Sharon's indirect criticisms dur
"Chillax girl. I can't believe you're this scared of him." Afraid of Kendrick? Hailey scoffed. Well, he scared her sometimes but she wasn't afraid of him. The only thing she was afraid of was his cunningness. And then, whenever he got angry. Her body shuddered at the thought of his angry face. And Kara's laughter pulled her back to reality. "Tsk tsk tsk, get a hold of yourself, girl." Kara held her shoulders. "I'm sure he's not as bad as you think." "You won't get it." And Hailey didn't care to explain to her friend. She didn't think Kendrick was bad, she had seen it with her own eyes. "Hailey, are you sure it's not that pregnancy thing?" Kara gave her a thoughtful look. "You know, about some women hating their husbands whenever they were pregnant?" Hailey wanted to deny it. She never even liked Kendrick before. In fact, they never met each other until she got pregnant. She picked up the glass and drank her juice instead. And Kara stared at her looking amused. "Take it easy,
But the Butler took her by surprise by holding her back. "M–Madam, since you're still here, why don't you go upstairs and take some rest? I'm very sure you need it." He even tried to pull her upstairs and Hailey's frown deepened. The Butler was hiding something from her. Hailey was so sure. And was he trying to stop her from going out? What was out there that he didn't want her to see?Before they could reach the stairs, she pried her hand from his and took a step back. "Madam, please listen to me. Master would not want you to go out this early." His words didn't even make sense to Hailey. All she could see was the fear in his eyes. And his expression sent her heart racing. Whatever the Butler was trying to hide from her, Hailey was a hundred percent certain that she was not going to like it. She didn't see any reason why Kendrick wouldn't want her to go out. She hadn't gotten into any trouble with him. She could swear to that. "Madam, listen. Please go upstairs." He came forwa
She hadn't caused any trouble for a long time. However, what if she did?He didn't linger on his thoughts and instantly dismissed the meeting, which left the employees all the more baffled. Kendrick had already left his chair by the time he was tapping into one of the messages. And when he got a glimpse of its content, he left for the parking lot in no time. The bodyguards followed him and they were soon back in the mansion.But the place was quiet, so quiet. When he left his car, there was no servant in sight. Even a bird's sound couldn't be heard. The phone was still in his hand and he strode toward the large door. But something made him halt in his track when his foot touched the tile. His eyes followed the red liquid on the floor and his heart stopped beating for a second. Many things. Many scenarios played inside his head. The phone dropped from his hand and he sprinted inside the house. The Butler appeared in his sight when he got to the leaving room and it didn't take hi
She had been crying. "Hailey." He moved forward but she took a hasty step back. "Don't you dare touch me!" Hailey held out her hand and put a great distance from him. Kendrick paused and dropped his hand. "Remember what the doctor said, Hailey. You can't let yourself be overwhelmed with—""Emotions. I get it!" Hailey yelled. "That is all you know how to say. I shouldn't get mad when you're so keen on provoking me. That isn't enough for you, but you have to bring that sluty girl here to make my life hell. Well, I'm only human. And I have the right to be mad!!!" Fresh tears streamed down her face and Kendrick was lost for words again. "Hailey." He moved forward but knew better not to get too close to her. "Sharon is weak and naive. You can't give in to her. Don't worry, I'll get her to apologize.""I don't want her damn apology. I just want her out of this place." Hailey wiped at her tears. "I've already had enough putting up with you. I can't stand her I'm fed up." "She's not g
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