"An allergy...?" Her stepmother trailed off. "I thought she tried to—" her father seemed unable to complete his words. And his eyes turned to Chloe who ducked her head as if trying to hide her presence. "But her sister was a witness. Even Hailey—" "Hailey was not aware I'm allergic to onions... Does that count as a sin?" The Butler coughed from behind and Hailey could sense the other servants' movement. Even Chloe had lifted her head and given him a shocked look, her expression matching her parents'Hailey was frozen stilled and she only came back to her senses when Kendrick chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He drew her close until her body collided to his side, his eyes fixed straight at the couple. "Hailey is my wife," he said flatly. "It is a wasted assumption to think she would try to poison me. Now, I will appreciate if this rumor dies here tonight." He rose to his feet and faced the servants. "Because, anyone that attempts tainting her reputation, is as well
The next morning, while Hailey was taking a walk to the garden, her phone rang and she glanced down at it to find out it was her sister. Luckily, the two guards didn't follow her. They had instantly backed off the moment she gave them a glare. Even the maids, their sudden change in attitude had left her in disbelief. Apart from waiting obediently for her to finish her breakfast, they had lingered and bombarded her with like a thousand questions about what she would like next. Even the Butler had buttered her up all morning, and hovered around her like a ghost. Another stroke of luck, Kendrick was nowhere to be seen. He must have left for work very early. His face was the last thing she would like to see on this peaceful morning. After speaking with her grandfather, some of her spirits had returned. "Sister." Came Chloe's voice after she answered the phone. "About last night... I hope you're alright," she said in a soft tone. Hailey sighed. She didn't want to be reminded of last n
"What nonsense is this?" Kendrick gritted out. Hailey could hear Rob's voice calling her name and her heart started pounding. "G–Give me back my phone," she demanded, but Kendrick raised the phone out of her reach and brutally cut it off. "You don't have any right to do that!" Hailey screamed, her anger on par with the storm in his eyes. "Oh, really?" Kendrick taunted and shoved the phone inside his pants pocket before grabbing her wrist. "Let me go." Hailey panicked. But he didn't let her go and scooped her into his arms when she started struggling. "You're out of your mind, Kendrick. If you don't put me down, I'll scream." Hailey beat at his chest as he walked straight into the house. "Kendrick—" "Shut up," Kendrick muttered under his breath while striding up the stairs. When he reached her room, he pushed the door open with his leg and dropped her on the bed. Hailey sat up and met his glare as he towered above her. "I thought I have made myself clear enough that you're no
*****Inside a penthouse that overlooked a construction site, Kendrick sat on a sofa, his eyes fixed on the glass windows. Amidst the loud rave of engines and the laughter and chatters of the men at work, his head was only filled with thoughts. Thoughts of whatever was she doing at the moment.The Butler had reassured him on the phone that she took her meals. However, heaven knew what she was up to. It had been three days, three days since she threw that fit. After that, she hadn't said a word to him, nor had he got a glimpse of her. Silence... Was all that she gave him.Even when he knocked at her door every morning, or at night when he went back home, her only response was no response at all. It didn't settle with him, living her all day by herself. She had threatened him with the baby's life. Well, technically it wasn't really that much of a threat but she was trying so hard to provoke him. He wondered what else she would do. Why couldn't she quit being stubborn and cooperate?H
"That won't help anything," Kendrick muttered. "I don't see why not." Devon frowned. "I mean... since she's now your wife. Letting her know will make her realize what's at stake." Kendrick let out a chuckle with a shake of his head. Telling her was the same thing as baring himself naked for an ultimate attack. She wouldn't think twice before utilizing that one weapon to her advantage. "I need your advice." He finally brought it up, maintaining his blank expression. But he failed, as Devon's eyes lit up. He knew it. "Advice?" Devon raised a brow. "Advice with what?" He asked as his lips curled up.Kendrick ignored his taunting look and took in a long drag of the air. "I need her to come back to her senses, for the baby's wellbeing. Tell me how to make her happy." "Wow, this is like the sweetest request I've ever heard. I can't believe the all-mighty Mr. Reid is asking for my advice." Devon tried to stifle his laughter but failed. And Kendrick was losing it. "Alright, alright." De
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was laced with anger and he could see that familiar fire making its way into her eyes. That fire he yearned so much to douse. It wasn't good for the baby. "What does it look like I'm doing here?" He let his eyes soften, trying to keep his voice as light as he could. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, the thing he noticed she liked to do in his presence. "There's no use fighting, Hailey." He closed the distance she made. "I want you to relax, getting angry will do us no good."Either she understood the context of his words, or something else had invaded her thoughts. She closed her eyes and her chest heaved up and down evenly, as if she was trying to control her breathing. And keeping a control of her emotion. "Good." Kendrick's lips tugged up. "I thought I made it clear that I don't want to see you," She said, looking tired, almost helpless. "That is an impossible request, Hailey." Kendrick let out a throaty chuckle. "Doesn't it even
"B–But, Sir— what about tomorrow?" Rosslyn said quickly."Tomorrow's the weekend," Kendrick reminded her and he heard a gasp. However, it wasn't the assistant. It was Hailey, whose expression had now turned to that of horror. "It will wait till Monday. We'll meet with the architects during the weekend." He finished speaking to the assistant who gave him a reply in a low-spirited voice. After hanging up and shoving the phone back into his pants pockets, Kendrick's eyes narrowed at the girl who seemed to have lost her tongue. Hailey stared at him with a far-off look, as if her mind was not there. And without waiting for her to return to her senses and demanding some ridiculous apology, Kendrick turned around and walked inside the house in large strides. When he got to the living room, the servants were busied around with work. And all turned to look at him in shock, their eyes fixed on his clothes. Even the Butler who was talking to a maid paused in his words and coughed. Treating
Now, he couldn't wait for her to open up. His eyes narrowed. Hailey remained sitting even after none was left for her to eat. She tapped her finger on the table, as if urging him to make haste. And Kendrick let out a small laugh. She cleared her throat when he finally finished his food. "Kendrick," she called out his name in a soft tone, he could barely hear her. Kendrick prodded his hands on the table, granting her his full focus and urging her to go on."I have a request," she continued, while searching into his eyes. Her eyes were so expressive he could see the tiny insecurity in them. "Go on." He rested his cheek on a palm. "Can you not go to work on the weekend?" Her voice came out as a plea. "And tell me why I shouldn't." Kendrick tilted his head. 'Hailey Hailey Hailey, you're a great piece of puzzle.'She broke eye contact with him and poured herself a glass of water, then took a little sip. "Because, I need you to come with me... I— I want us to go somewhere else, toge
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