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
"It's nothing serious. I can handle it," Kendrick said before the Butler could continue. "Has she eaten?" He changed the topic. "Yes. Madam ate lunch before leaving for the garden," answered the Butler. Kendrick gave him a nod and went ahead to the garden.When he got there, he could sight her from the glass walls. She was leaning against a pillar with a pot of plant in hand. And two maids stood behind her.Kendrick watched her from a distance. Her happy chatters and laughter floated from the garden. He wasn't sure whether she was talking with the maids or solely speaking with the plant. One among many of her weird habits.She looked normal. Completely her usual self. He had the urge to convince himself that her earlier action this morning and later in the study was an act. But he knew better than anyone else. She had repulsed his touch more than once. It all started a week ago. At first, he was confused, especially when he saw her tears. Then he later convinced himself she was a
Kendrick placed a palm on the door. He was certain she was leaning against it. How many times did he have to repeat the same words? What had gotten into her?"This is your room, Hailey," he stated. If she wanted to be unreasonable enough to go back on her words, Kendrick wasn't ready to buy that. He had an inkling that this had something to do with not touching her thing. She was too stubborn for her own good. If only she could open up. "But I want my room back." Hailey sniffled. Kendrick wished more than anything she wouldn't start crying. Because even if she bawled her eyes out, no way he would allow her have her own room. Not when they'd made this much progress. He needed her here with him. And that realization startled him. "Hailey." He softened his voice. "Talk to me. I know something is bothering you." "You don't know anything about me." Her words came out sharp but Kendrick wasn't naive to not notice the fear in them. She was scared. He could tell that by the look in her
And did she mention pain? For the first time, Kendrick was forced to look away. Her expression didn't lie. However, it was her first time, wasn't it normal?Then why did she look— traumatized? Something finally clicked in his head and he realized that was the word he had been fighting to point his fingers at all along. She looked traumatized. Things were finally fitting into place. If those memories were the cause of her fear, it was only normal for her to act this way. "So you're traumatized?" He looked back at her. Hailey nodded with pursed lips. "And don't ask me why... Because I have no idea. I just don't want you to touch me anymore." She shifted on the bed and stared into his eyes, giving him a pleading look. Kendrick didn't have any questions left. In fact, he was out of questions. The only thing that kept ringing in his head was she was traumatized. And she wasn't lying. An unknown feeling built inside his heart, he didn't waste a second to dismiss it. It wasn't his fau
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
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