Right. They had a guest in the house. Hailey had almost forgotten about his so-called cousin. The dining table came into view and Hailey's gaze wandered between the two people.Kendrick was seated at his usual chair. And Sharon was on the chair close to Kendrick's. Hailey's chair. The chair was even moved closer to his. Too close.Hailey rolled her eyes. She didn't know if she should be annoyed or happy. Happy that she didn't have to be forced to sit close to him. Or annoyed that Sharon was wearing too little again. The black satin nightgown was even worse than what she wore earlier. It was transparent and barely covered any of her assets. Her hair was also in an updo, and her long neck was left for all to see. She did nothing to conceal her cleavage. Hailey's eyes darted again between the girl and Kendrick whose attention was on his food. He didn't seem to be listening to whatever she was saying. And why was he eating already? Hailey let out a scoff. He didn't even wait for he
Hailey took in a deep breath then smiled. "Do we still have Ice cream left?" She inquired and the maid looked puzzled. "I– I think we don't have any left," the maid stuttered. "It's the last one I gave to Ma'am Sharon."Sharon. Hailey didn't want to hear her name. She walked inside the kitchen anyways and found out that all the ice creams were gone. But she spotted a chilled yogurt. That would do. The maid came inside and Hailey dismissed her. She still wondered why Kendrick had to put the poor girls to the task of following her around. Did he think she would suddenly wake up one day and disappear? How despicable. Hailey opened the lid and poured the creamy liquid into a large cup. She sat on the counter and took her time to sip it. The moment the chillness hit her system, her senses relaxed and the heat in her heart was instantly cooled. She was lost in savoring the liquid, completely lost in her own world. But her happiness was short-lived and she was snapped out of her fan
The pillows were huge, so she couldn't even see his face. She could only hear his steady breathing. Was he asleep already? She frowned. Just when she was still wondering, his voice echoed in the room and she almost jumped. "I don't want you to get into a fight with Sharon." Hailey scoffed, she almost rolled her eyes. Sharon was the last person she wanted to remember before drifting off to sleep. "Who's Sharon?" She muttered lazily as she stifled a yawn. She might as well pretend the girl didn't exist. "Hailey, I'm serious." Kendrick's voice came again."Maybe you should tell her to stay out of my way." Hailey yawned again. She very much wished he would just remain silent."She won't get into your way." Was he defending her now? Hailey rolled her eyes. Maybe he didn't know his cousin much or he was just covering for her. Either way. It didn't matter to her. "Hailey.""I'm sleepy." Hailey waived him off. And miraculously, he didn't continue. Or maybe he did. But she was alre
That only left her, Kara, and the two staff. She had told them to invite their families who must have arrived already, as she heard voices from outside. She didn't invite Rob, well because of many things. First, she didn't have any means to communicate with him anymore. And Kendrick's guard, Rick, who was always following her around. Even now, the guy was sitting outside in the diner. She was sure his eyes were glued to the kitchen. "I think the cakes are done," Kara said as she opened the oven. She brought out the cupcakes and set them all on a tray. Hailey stood up to apply the fondants on them while Kara went back to the dishes. The two staff came to join them after some minutes and they were soon done. They all packed the delicacies to the diner and Hailey marveled at the number of people that had come. "Did they invite the neighborhood?" She whispered to Kara. Kara laughed and nodded, "Seems like we don't need to worry about putting up billboards." Hailey laughed along
When it was time to throw the actual party, Rick followed her around inside the crowd. She wasn't even allowed to dance or stand for too long. 'Urgh!' the guy was a nuisance. She ended up sitting behind the counter and watched the fun longingly. Kara was dancing and laughing and drinking, and the once tidy diner was now a mess. The crowd kept increasing, and even the passers-by came inside to have a look. Thanks to Kara's loud music, the place became filled to the brim with people. All had joined in the celebration, it was entertaining to watch all those people partying. The diner was instantly turned into a minibar, with more drinks and even more people. Kara was right. They might not even need to put up billboards. "Have a drink, Madam." Rick brought her a glass of juice and Hailey accepted it without any qualm. She wasn't tasty, but she was tired of arguing with him all day. So she sipped slowly on her drink, while her eyes were fixed on the fun. When the party was over,
"Hailey, stop it." Kara tightened her hug as Hailey's sobs increased. "You'll hurt your baby, stop thinking about it."Hailey forced herself to calm down and placed both hands on her stomach, to quell the baby's movement. She didn't want to hurt her baby. At least, she wasn't a bad mother. Kara pulled out a hankie and started dabbing at her tears. "Today is your happy day, Girl. you can't let your celebration come to an end with a heartbreaking sob. Don't mind those silly girls, they didn't know the impact of their words. Don't you see how everyone is worried? Even robot Rick looks worried. We all love you, Hailey. We want to see you happy." She continued mumbling soothing words while carefully wiping the tears on her face. Hailey couldn't help the small laugh that left her lips. "That's it, Girl. You should see how beautiful you look when you smile. Your beauty is blinding. Even poor girls like me aren't immune to it. Even your gorgeous husband will only hold a candle for you. Al
Hailey looked at the man's extended hands and shook her head. He looked ready to fall any moment from now, there was no way she would take his hand. And for speaking out loud, hadn't he just seen her walk through the door? She continued making her way up the stairs while the Butler lead the way. He took her directly to Kendrick's study room, Hailey was tempted to ask him what was going on.But she doubted if she would even get her answers. The man didn't appear to be himself. He kept looking back now and then, his gaze was mostly on her stomach. As if afraid she would fall. Or maybe the baby would drop any moment. Hailey used both hands to shield her stomach from the man's scrutinizing look. She was uncomfortable enough, she wouldn't let him scare her baby. The Butler halted in front of the doors and pushed them open for her. Hailey entered inside and her gaze was met with Kendrick who was pacing around. He appeared anxious and out of himself. Her confused gaze wandered to the
'Urgh!' she hated to do this. "Kendrick, please listen. It's not what you think. I said I'm fine, even Bella confirmed it. Don't you think you're going overboard by worrying over something this little?" "I won't take any risks." Kendrick glared at her. Hailey leaned back on the couch and pursed her lips. "But the diner's only launched today. Isn't it unprofessional to not see to it that my business prospers? You're a businessman so you should know how important it is." "Nothing is more important than the baby." Kendrick shook his head. "I won't allow you to be careless again." "Kendrick!" Hailey wanted to pull at her hair. She really had the urge to throw her bag at him. She had stepped foot in the realm of her dream, she would not give him the freedom of putting any barrier in her way. "How about this." She kept her voice soft and calm. "I won't go to the diner tomorrow– only tomorrow. I'll take off the whole day and take a rest. Is that okay with you?""No." Kendrick instantly
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