But the money was going to charity, and she felt obliged to buy something. However, the problem was that nothing had really caught her attention. Some of the statues were even scary. Otherwise, she could have gotten one to decorate her garden. Hailey yawned and watched with a palm supporting her cheek, as voices rose now and then, each one trying to outbid the other. She glanced down at her wristwatch and stifled another yawn, as the auctioneer continued."Next item on the list, is a fine piece of jewelry. It has been around for ages, firstly worn by the warrior empress across the east sea. Forged from the purest of gems, it was created by the great smith himself. Who traveled across the seven plains. And who here doesn't know their love story?" Well, that caught Hailey's attention. Inside a transparent glass that was just carted to the stage, was the finest jewelry she ever saw. Its sapphire moon-kissed gem sparkled against the light, reflecting the colors of the surrounding. The
No one even had the spirit to bid again, and most of the items were either sold at their second or third prices.Hailey decided to swallow the shame. She wouldn't go home empty-handed. Not when she had come this far. Ah. She raised her card and bid for a strange-looking painting, its name was even weirder. But the design looked unique, her grandfather was going to love it. The painting was sold to her immediately, no one even competed for it. Either they did that out of pity or were simply intimidated, Hailey did not care. Urgh! How could this night get any worse? It was all Kendrick's fault.When the auction was over and her painting was packed for her, Hailey decided to take a trip to the washroom. She washed her face and brought out a powder pallet to retouch her makeup. Noises came from the hallway before the door opened. The three girls from before came inside, and she felt a headache coming."Oh my God, she must be heavily loaded." "Even Sharon was outbid by her, I wonder
It was as if everything was well and thoroughly planned already. That Kendrick. And she was only aware of it just a few minutes ago. Hailey followed behind the uniform man, to the very quiet living room. No one was around. No servants nor bodyguards."Please have a seat, Miss. I will call the Master's attention."The man gestured to the couch, and Hailey sat down.Her eyes wandered around the place once more. Seemed like Kendrick's parents loved luxury. Every piece of furniture in the room looked very neat and expensive. Even the couch was white, and the floor sparkled. Footsteps sounded from the stairs and Hailey looked up. Kendrick's parents walked toward her and although they were in casual clothes, they still emitted that aura of extravagance. They almost seemed intimidating. Especially his father whose face held no expression. Hailey could see where Kendrick got most of his genes from. On the opposite, his mother had a very big smile on. The woman was so beautiful, even her t
Hailey's jaw dropped at the sight of the lady. And she blinked, to make sure she wasn't seeing wrong. "I told you to stop going around with these in your ears." Kendrick's mum stood up to take off the ear pods. "What if you hurt your earbuds," she scolded in a doting manner. The girl she called Pinky, who Hailey didn't actually believe it was her real name, smiled at the woman after taking the ear pods off. When she looked at Hailey, she frowned as if trying to recognize her, then her expression changed."Dear, this is my sister's daughter. She's Ken's cousin. Pinky, meet your new sister-in-law?"Kendrick's mum tried to introduce them. "Oh, so it is true. Ken really got a wife." The lady plastered on a smile and extended her hand to Hailey. "Hello, nice to meet you, again I guess. Don't mind Aunty, you can call me Sharon."Of course, Hailey already knew her real name was Sharon. They just formed a history an hour ago. And she was Kendrick's cousin? What a small world."Nice to mee
Hailey's heart fluttered in delight as she stood facing the long standing mirror inside the closet. That heavy dress must have put weight on her baby. She pursed her lips and caressed her little bump which was now prominent and accentuated by the light material. When she got downstairs, they were all waiting for her. And no one touched their food yet just as Kendrick's Mum had promised. Her eyes met with Kendrick's who sat close to Sharon. Too close. Sharon was telling him something but he didn't appear to be listening to her. Hailey gave him a secret glare and sat beside his mother whose face was all smiling and welcoming. His father had his attention on his phone, and he only looked up when Hailey sat down. As they all ate, the men were silent while Kendrick's mother filled their ears with how much she was excited for Hailey's baby to arrive soon. She kept pouring food on Hailey's plate and would transfer more food now and then to Kendrick's plate. Hailey tried to stop her. Well
The moment she reached the bedroom, Hailey dropped onto the bed to continue wandering in her dreamland. And those familiar memories returned in her dreams. 'You are becoming more like your mother each day. Find something better to do.''You can only dream of becoming a chef. No one's going to notice you.''It's no use trying, you have all you need already.'*****Hailey woke up the next morning to find her cheeks wet. Despite trying so hard, those horrible memories still returned to hunt her in her dreams. "Urgh!" It was all Kendrick's fault. If he had wanted her to meet his parents, wasn't he supposed to make arrangements with her? Because of him, she even had to be reminded of something she had buried deep away in her memories. "You're awake." Kendrick came out of the closet, fully dressed in a business suit. He narrowed his eyes at her, a deep frown settling on his forehead. Then he strode forward and cupped her cheeks. "Why are you crying?""As if you care." Hailey pushed her f
Kendrick frowned and glanced sideways. "I was wondering if you would like to purchase something else. f–for..." Rosslyn trailed off. She must have read the change in his expression, and decided not to go on explaining herself. Women are too sensitive. Kendrick glanced ahead. He should stop ordering her to buy those kinds of things for him. The rumors hadn't cleared yet. No one should be trusted.As they stepped inside the office, Rosslyn dropped the suitcase without making a noise. She walked away and came back seconds later to start reporting what his schedule was for the day. But Kendrick wasn't listening. Not when his mind was on something else. More precisely, his mind was on someone. What was she doing at this moment?The same question that had always invaded his thoughts all day from the very morning he arrived at the office. And now, he had to live with those thoughts till work hours were over. It had become a ritual. In the initial phases, it bugged him. However, he alre
As if reading Kendrick's mind, Devon shrugged his shoulders. "Because you're my best friend." He grinned. "And because I've not yet started working on it. So you see, it's going to be an important and heavy workload to carry.""And you will need some of my staff to work with you?" Kendrick raised a brow. He should have seen this coming. "Good guess." Devon snapped his fingers. Kendrick chuckled and shook his head. "If you're even thinking of making me let you work with my assistant, you can dream on.""Argh! Come on." Devon did not see that coming. "Aren't you supposed to celebrate? You should give me thousands of your employees if I asked for one. Every other company had been eyeing this new idea for so long." Kendrick shook his head and chuckled. Indeed, it was a very tempting offer. One he wouldn't think twice before grabbing. "You're beginning to make me think you're somehow interested in her." Devon raised an annoyed brow. "You have a pregnant wife for speaking out loud." "
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