LachlanThe dining hall immediately became quiet. I wasn't sure if it was as a result of me finally having the audacity to talk back to my father during his “lecture times," even though I was only trying to defend myself, or if it was because of the shock from the news I had just announced.I waited for a bit, all eyes on me. Even my mother was looking at me strangely. Nina looked more shocked, while Christopher had a placid look.“What did you just say?” My mother asked me, and I gulped nervously. Her expression was looking terrifying right now, and I was beginning to understand why even my father would be afraid of her.“I said Amelia is pregnant. With my child.”My mother turned to look at my father, and I saw his hand tremble a bit before quickly returning to normal.He ignored my mother's piercing gaze and turned to look at me with scrutinizing eyes. A surge of anger welled up within me. On my heart, I announced that my wife was pregnant, and they felt sad about it.“If she is pre
Eric“What happened? Are you alright? Is Amelia alright? How did it happen? When did it happen?” Aunty Bailey snapped on the phone.She was too elderly for this kind of worry.“Calm down, aunt; everything is okay for now.”“Hope she didn't fall with her belly.”“No, the doctor said she had a mild concussion; maybe that was why she fell.”“Any physical injury?”“No, but the doctor said she had a sprained ankle. She is fine.” I assured her that I would calm her down. I heard her breathe a sigh of relief.“What about the baby?”“They are both fine. The doctor said he'll keep monitoring for any signs of complications, but for now, we can rest assured.”“That's good. I'm on shift right now, but once I'm done, I'll be sure to head over.”“There's no need for that; I'm here with her."“No. I must be there. Amelia had been through a lot this past week; this is already her second time in the hospital in just one week. She needs all the support she can get. Even if I can only be there for a few
Amelia.I felt wet on my forehead as I woke up.I didn't need to think of where I was to know where this was. It was definitely a hospital.I could smell the antiseptics; their thick smell was all over the place, and it made me feel nauseous. Even worse was the familiar smell of drugs. Then there was the white light and painting that assaulted my senses and made it hard for me to open my eyes fully.I tried to recall what happened, but it seemed to get lost on me. I could tell that I had not forgotten, not totally. It was there; I just needed time to figure it out. My heart raced as I thought of what could possibly take me to the hospital. I scanned the room, and I found out I was alone. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes. “You are awake! That's great. I was worried you'd been sleeping for too long. How are you feeling?”His voice jolted me out of my reverie; I wasn't alone.I didn't know when, but I suddenly felt hot streams pouring down my eyes towards my cheek. It poured out in
LachlanAs I sped through the asphalt road, heading nowhere in particular, more scenes of that cursed day flashed by. I could remember that day well; after all, it was the day I was doomed to live with that wretched Amelia.I argued with him, asking him why he didn't allow Christopher to marry Amelia instead.“You are the CEO and the eldest of my children; you need to have an heir as soon as possible.” He said.He claimed that if I waited for the one I loved, then it would take too long for me to have an heir and relieve him of his duties.That day, my love life was ruined.I sat there in the meeting as they, my father and Amelia's wretched father, finalized the deal. The man gave the condition that his daughter couldn't be divorced and could only divorce me, in which case she would receive a sum of a million dollars.I found it ridiculous, but my father agreed to the silly condition. His condition was that the man didn't receive his company back but instead came to work under the Mall
Chapter 16CassieMy eyes narrowed as I looked at the sky.Tch! I should have brought an umbrella. Luckily, I'm going to that person's house.I hurried out of the restaurant and rushed into my car. A red Ferrari. I love the colour red; it signifies beauty and danger, like a rose filled with thorns.I looked outside the window, and I could see pedestrians rushing to their destinations as the cloud began to pour. I couldn't help but smile as I took in their helplessness.Look at them—poor and disgusting. They can't even afford a car so as not to get beaten by the rain. Tch! If you are poor, marry someone rich!I hate poor people. What's the use of being poor? If you can't get something you want when you want it, then how do you even live with yourself?I ignored them, focusing on the asphalt road, when I saw a vehicle drive past. My heart thumped in my chest; it was a grey Bentley, the latest model.I sped up, giving chase, but soon I stopped as I realised it was not who I thought it wa
Christopher I watched as Cassie left the room. My eyes narrowed. She looked extremely seductive in her outfit, and her sultry voice turned me on a lot. But I knew that it was just a pretence, all of it.Cassie was an entitled bratty gold digger who was rude and spoiled and only cared about being rich. Which was why I was extra weary of her.For someone like her to behave in such a way towards me, she was up to something.What a witch.I chuckled at the thought of what she might be up to. I stared at the door coldly, my jaw clenched.If she dares to pull anything funny, I'll be sure to make quick work of her.I got up from the bed and entered the bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror, staring into my reflection. I hated myself.My face, my eyes, my body—everything reminded me of that damn elder brother of mine and, most of all, that careless father of mine.After sending me to boarding school and making decisions for my life to direct them the way he wants, now he doesn't want to g
EricI stood up and stepped out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel to wipe myself with. I walked out of the bathroom and into my room, opening my closet to pick out a dress.Today's the day Amelia gets discharged; I must look my best.After almost ten minutes of contemplation, I finally settled on an old money soft boy outfit. A white polo, a black sweater, and a pair of khakis.I got dressed and stood in front of the mirror to adjust my look. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to give it that look that says casual but is not too casual.I smirked after a while when I saw that I had it just the way I wanted it. I looked to the left and right, checking out all angles. I knew I was good-looking; I didn't need anyone to tell me that.I opened the drawer beneath the mirror, where my jewellery was. I scrolled through, settling on an Armani watch and two silver finger rings.I decided not to use any necklaces.When I was done, I nodded my head in approval at the man in the mirror. I looked
ChristopherI watched the detective take a seat in front of me. He didn't bother to remove his trench coat and hat, sitting down and minding his business like he didn't stick out like a sore thumb.I wonder how he is coping in this heat.It was almost two o'clock in the afternoon, and during this time of the year, the heat was something else. For a man to be dressed in not just a thick trench coat but a hat to join, that was just overkill.The detective chuckled as he looked up from the menu in his hand.“It's due to the nature of business. I can't take off my coat because it will reveal my holster, and the hat is to hide my face. I'm not only a detective after all.”I nodded my head in enlightenment, but my mind was on something else the entire time.The menu!Has that always been there? If that's the case, then I must have looked like a fool in front of the waitress, being indecisive and all. I could have at least pretended to know what I was talking about.As if in cue, I heard a d
LACHLANThe fluorescent lights of the police station buzzed faintly as I walked through the doors, my mind heavily held down by a mixture of dread and determination. Matthew trailed just behind me, his expression stoic but his eyes alert. The station gave a stench of stale coffee mixed with frustration, a combination I’d grown accustomed to during these past few chaotic days. The detective in charge of the case called in earlier today that there have been some findings about the whereabouts of the assailants. It was good news, yes, but there was more, and they couldn’t tell me over the phone, so I had to come down here myself. Detective Harper greeted me with a curt nod. “Mr. Mallory, thank you for coming in. Let’s talk in my office.”I followed her into a small, cluttered room. Matthew remained close. If anyone could recognise Amelia’s attackers, it was him. Which was why I had brought him along with me again. Harper motioned for us to sit, her lips pressed into a grim line.“We fou
CHRISI stumbled into my apartment, half-drunk, exhausted, and honestly just wanting to sleep off the buzz from the club. It was nearly 3 a.m., and I’d lost track of how many rounds I’d downed with all those hot women. All I could think about was peeling off these clothes, getting under a scalding shower, and letting the water wash off the night.As I turned on the shower, the bathroom mirror fogged up, and I closed my eyes, letting the water pour over my blonde hair. But as soon as I stepped out and grabbed a towel, my phone vibrated on the counter, lighting up the dim room. Cassandra.I groaned, but something in the back of my mind told me to pick up. She wouldn’t call at this hour without a reason. So I dried off quickly, yanked on some pants, and slid the green icon.“Cassandra, I was wondering when I’d hear from you again.”I heard her take in a shaky breath. “Chris… I need your help.”I frowned, and my voice softened with a hint of sympathy. “Rough day, I take it?”“You could sa
AMELIA I woke up slowly, my mind drifting through a thick haze, like I was trying to wade through fog. For a moment, everything was blurry, and a tightness settled in my chest. Where was I? Was I still at the hospital?Then I felt the warmth of a hand over mine, firm but gentle, and everything came rushing back. Blinking, I looked up to see Lachlan sitting beside me, his face tense but softening as he noticed I was awake. The sight of him washed away the last traces of fear, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding.“Lachlan…” My voice was barely a whisper, but his expression shifted, relief flooding his eyes.“I’m right here, love,” he said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.I wanted to tell him everything I was feeling—how scared I’d been, how grateful I was that he was here now—but the words felt tangled in my throat. Before I could even try, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in a white coat stepped in. He had a kind face, with just a hint of greying at the
CASSANDRAHow could they fail? I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms as I paced the length of my bedroom, the sour taste of anger mixing with fear. They were supposed to be professionals, discreet. They were supposed to handle everything without it coming back to me. But those idiots let Amelia slip through their fingers. I should have known his chauffeur wasn't normal. Lachlan was onto us now. He was too smart; I’d known this. It was part of why I’d fallen for him in the first place.Well too late for regrets; thanks to their incompetence, I was backed into a corner, and the thought made my skin crawl. The image of him still being by that bitch’s side burnt in my mind, fuelling my jealousy. Why her? Why did he look at her the way he used to look at me? I could have given him so much more if he’d just let me back in.My phone buzzed, and I saw Eric’s name light up the screen. My pulse quickened, a mix of hope and apprehension, but before I could even speak, his voice thund
LACHLANI should have been there. The thought ran circles in my mind, looping through every possible scenario in which I had somehow kept her safe. I was supposed to protect Amelia. But I had left her alone, vulnerable, and now she was in the hospital, recovering from an attack that could’ve cost her life. Worse, our child’s life. I clenched my fists so tight that my knuckles cracked, trying to keep my anger in check. It was mostly anger at myself—a gnawing, bitter frustration that I hadn’t been there when she’d needed me.Matthew sat beside me at the police station, scrolling through images on the detective’s tablet, helping to sort through potential suspects. He was silent but tense, his face a mirror of my own worry. I could see in his eyes that he was as furious as I was about what had happened. If he’d been there earlier, maybe he would have stopped those men. But he wasn’t to blame, and deep down, I knew that. The responsibility fell on me alone.“You don’t have to stay, Matthew
The house felt unusually still as I put away the last of the dishes. Lachlan had left just after dinner, saying he’d be home soon. He was working late again and had just come home during lunch break to spend time with me before he took off again. Lately, “soon” had been stretching longer and longer, but tonight, with the baby restless, I missed his presence more than usual. I sighed, patting my belly gently. “He’ll be home any minute now, my miracle, don't you worry,” I whispered, hoping it would somehow make the time pass faster. Lillian wasn't in the house today. She had gone to her home for her usual medical checkup, so she was sending her daughter to her place. Her name is Rebecca, and she and I have spoken a few times on the phone. She is a really lovely person. So yes, I was all alone in this empty house with nothing else to do but sleep. Which was exactly what I did. Cooking dinner did a number on me. My whole back was aching. Maybe I could ask Lachlan to give me one of thos
LACHLANThis whole week has been nothing but great. I had just closed a million-dollar deal with a company I've been chasing throughout the year. I had my beautiful wife waiting for me at home, and our son or daughter was going to be born soon. Amelia didn't want to find out the gender before the baby was born. She said it would ruin the thrill of having our first child. She wanted it to be a surprise for both of us. I, on the other hand, so badly wanted a daughter. Someone I could pamper, learn how to braid for, buy dresses for because she was my pretty princess, and chase away boys who wanted to come close to her. I didn't realise I was smiling widely until my cheeks started to hurt. I quickly stopped my daydreaming and continued to sign the projects we were supposed to commence with. I was planning on building a few gas stations in Dubai. My friend Abdul Rashad, who lives there, told me it would be a very good investment. Expanding my business was my goal. The whole world would kn
AMELIA I woke up that morning and Lachlan was already out of bed. My hands touched the side of his bed and was met with cold and empty space. Except for a single white rose. A smile spread across my face as I picked up the stalk. I brought the flower to my nose and took a deep inhale into my lungs. It's been 3 weeks since Lachlan and I made up, and ever since that day, he always left a single white rose on the bed next to me every morning. I asked him why he chose a white rose, and he replied with the statement, “It represents your purity. You're the light to my darkness. That's why I chose this particular flower.” I had gotten so emotional I was already a crying mess before he finished his statement. He had called me a crybaby, and I cursed him out, and then we made love over and over again. The new Lachlan was my favourite Lachlan. We had so much fun together and every waking day was so full of love and happiness. Life was getting better. An additional reason why I said so was
CASSANDRAI stared at the crisp white ceiling with a giant chandelier hanging in the middle. Sultry music blasted from the speakers in the room, giving me a massive headache. I've been getting more of those for the past week. No, not last week. Ever since that bitch came back, I've not had a second to rest my brain. Overthinking has become a norm to the point that I wasn't even into whatever Chris was doing to me underneath the sheets. He has had his face buried in between my legs for the past five minutes. He seemed to be enjoying whatever it was he was doing. The truth was, I had zoned out the moment his mouth touched me. I went to see Eric the other day, and he told me our plan flopped. We had to come up with another one, but that prick was acting like I was the only one who was going to benefit from separating those two. I was desperate, yes, but I wouldn't let any man talk to me like I was some retard. He made me feel that way, and to say it pissed me off was an understatement.