Christopher“Mr. Mallory, this is the file you requested, and the contract also. The guests are also in meeting room 201.”I raised my head, my eyes locking with the secretary. He was a young man, probably my mate or a few years younger. He had white hair and grey eyes. I hate him.He stood out a lot, and he kissed my ass just a bit too much. He was also gay, and this wasn't just my speculation but my personal experience. He has made more than one advance on me.While I'm flattered by the fact that I'm just so good-looking and I attract both genders, I also feel belittled because the guy is not good-looking.Why can't my secretary be a hot female? Thankfully, I have my meeting with Cassie, and now I have my eyes on Thalia. If not, I would probably die from love deprivation, if that's even a thing.I nodded my head as he placed the files down. My face contorted a bit as I sniffed his deodorant; it had a condensed smell, and it made me nauseous.“Tell them I'll be with them in a few min
Chapter 27Eric“I'm telling you. Don't you know who my father is? Eric was pleading and begging that I come work for him. He's using my father's prestige to boost his image. How else did you think nobody like him could become so rich and famous?”Eh? What the hell is this? Who's this retard?“Also, you guys might not know, but Eric plays the male games. And he had a crush on me. But he doesn't want others to know; that's why he kept the distance between us at work.”At this point, I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to turn around and leave, but I decided that there was no problem with humiliating him before sacking him.“You really think that if Eric likes guys, he'll go for someone as ugly as you?”All eyes fell on me, and I saw the flashes of shock and anger on their faces. Surprisingly, a few of them had satisfied expressions of their own.“Who the hell are you?” The guy who had just been narrating the story asked. His face was contorted, and he looked like he had stepped on sh*
LachlanI nodded at the bouncers as I walked into the Torquay Bar. My nose scrunched up a bit as the smell of various perfumes, probably with a bit of aphrodisiac mixed within, wafted into my nose.I looked around the red-hued space, and I could see a few groups already drinking. The bartender was very lively as he mixed various drinks for customers.At least someone is glad to be here so early in the morning. Sigh, why the hell did this detective want to see me so early? And why the hell are those fools drinking by this time?I walked to the counter and took an empty seat.“What can I get you, sir?” The man asked with a smile, and I had to control myself well not to frown. I hated his positive energy.“Water.”The bartender left, and just a moment later, he arrived just as another figure sat beside me.“You better have good news for me, detective.”“Good morning, Mr. Mallory. How was your night?”“Do I look like I'm in a good mood? Do I look like I enjoyed my night?”“Well, I'm sorry
Amelia “Amelia!” I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, I was startled. “Oh, Bailey”I guess she must have been calling my name but I was too deep in thought for me to even notice. “I'm so sorry I startled you…what is it that you're thinking that made you so lost? I've called you more than twice but you didn't hear me”I was embarrassed. I've promised her never to worry again but here I am, thinking through what is even irrelevant at the moment. “Uhmm, I'm sorry…I just suddenly remembered something that's why” I just hope this is strong enough for a defense. I know Bailey too well, she won't succumb to that. “You suddenly remembered something? C'mon dear, you don't have to put yourself through any stress at all. It's not good for your health and that of your baby, you really need to consider the child a great deal” Bailey hasn't just been a solid support whenever I needed her, she's been a mother and a sister, in fact…she's my entire family all in one person and I'm grateful I met
Amelia“We'd be back in a jiffy…just give us some minutes and we'd be out.” Bailey said to the driver, as he parked the vehicle in the parking space provided. “It's really nice here…I love the atmosphere.”“I told you that it's nice here and you were going to like it.”I laughed. It's quite funny how Bailey was doing her best to sell this place, making me like it by force. “It's quite beautiful just the way you said it, I'd also like to see what it really looks like inside.”“Alright then, let's take a walk around the mall.” We went in and I was astonished! The mall was built just to match the wonderful ultra modern style. The walls were built in a unique style similar to the Greeks and it was worth all the time. “I'm sure you'd want to come back here again.” Bailey whispered in my ears. All this is just in a bid to make me come out often and exercise my body, for the health of my baby, that's all. “Maybe, let's watch and see if I'd be interested in coming again.” I said, dashi
Lachlan My heartbeat paused for a second. I could feel my blood run cold. It felt like everything was put on freeze at that instant. Was I also feeling my body floating, cos I couldn’t feel my legs anymore? Probably I didn’t hear correctly. Nina didn’t just mention her meeting Amelia, right? Like did she….I don’t even know again. “Wha….Wha…What. did. You say?” I stuttered after I had recovered from the shock. Oh no! Now I’m stuttering like that bitch. A bitch I didn’t seem to get over. A bitch who’s carrying my child and playing a silly hide-and-seek game with me. A bitch who’s been driving me crazy for months all because of her whereabouts. Oh, I hope Nina meant what she said. For her sake, I hope this isn’t a prank. Or by God, she’d regret having me for a brother. “What do you mean what did I say? I just told you I bumped into your handbag here at the mall. And why didn’t you tell us that the bastard had divorced your silly ass? Too ashamed to admit she dumped you for someone f
Amelia The sound of the door closing made me jerk, as I took my seat. My heart was still beating very fast from the encounter I just had with Nina. That hag dared to slap me. I don’t know where the guts to confront her came from but I was more vexed to know that she still had the effrontery to tease me like I was still a part of that stark family. I was vicious. What rights did that idiot think she had over me? Well, do I blame her? I blame the love-deprived man I married who was too starved of love to share with me. By the way, why was she shocked that I had divorced him and moved on? Didn’t that nincompoop of a husband not inform that austere family of his? Okay, I didn’t just insult my husband. My ex-husband. I think I need water. “Can I have a glass of water?” I suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the sitting room as they all watched me like a hawk. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this soft treatment I keep getting from these people who barely knew me but welcomed and
Eric I had ensured she was fast asleep before moving to my room. Aunt Bailey, after ensuring all was well, retired to her house. I stepped out of her room and headed to my study room. I was on my way home from the office after meeting with guests I had regarding the contract. They had canceled on it believing I cheated them and had come to query me on that. I do not blame them. These Mallory do have some guts. I’d have to get them some other way. But first I needed to clear my head. Thomas told me aunt Bailey had gone out with Amelia to go shopping. I don’t know but it just didn’t sit right with me. But then, Amelia did need to step out of the confines of that house. Not just for her own well-being, but the baby's. As I headed home, aunt Bailey called to inform me to head towards Emerald Mall as there was an emergency. I got worried and I asked her what it was. I had expected serious crises apparently regarding Amelia. Only that I didn’t expect to hear her bumping into her sister i
Amelia's POVI breathed softly to make him believe I was asleep, and he did. The only problem was he wasn't going to sleep.We stayed like that. Minutes turned to probably an hour or more, and I was getting tired.The rain had stopped falling, and I was glad. I reached for my phone on the bedside table to check the time. It was nearly 5 am.“What?” Those words left my lips before I could stop myself. I had to leave. I pushed back the bedcovers and turned my leg on the left side. Just as my feet hit the floor, I heard Lachlan stir. “Hey, Amelia,” he said in a low voice. “You okay?”Shit. I turned to face him. “Yes. Just about to head to the bathroom.”I noticed him pinching his eyes. Did he see through the lie? “Are you sure you're okay?” he repeated. “Beaveu you look like you're about to run away.” “I'm fine.” I nearly snapped. Then I immediately rubbed my temples. “Sorry, it's just…”“It's alright.” Lachlan said, looking disappointed. “If you want to get better reception, try d
Lachlan's POVAmelia's fingers brushed mine as she took the cup, and I sucked in a breath. Suddenly, I was yearning for her touch.Awkward silence stretched between us, and I cleared my throat and gestured to the duffle bag near the couch. “Your things are right here.” I said. Amelia glanced at the box and pressed her lips in a thin line. “Thank you.”“You don't have to.” I muttered. “It's the least I could do.”And just like that, we relapsed into silence. I turned to bring out the bag and drop it next to her. “Thanks,” Amelia said, dropping the coffee mug on the tray. “I should go.”“Sure.” I rose to my feet, and so did she. Amelia clutched the duffle bag, looking at me softly. “You look… tired. tTake care of yourself.”Before I could respond, drops of rain tapped against the window. Within minutes, the soft drizzle turned into a full downpour. I looked at the window; the sky had darkened as though it was night. “Damn it. I'm so sorry this happened.”“You're sorry for the rai
Lachlan's POV It wasn't luck that kept me standing.It was Amelia.And now, she is gone.I took the car back to the hospital, hoping I'd bump into Bailey or Amelia. I didn't know what I was thinking driving back, but I knew I had to do it. I had to see Amelia even if it was just a glimpse of her. The car parked in the driveway, and I climbed out of the driver's seat. The smartwatch around my wrist beeped quietly. I had set an alarm for 1 pm for a meeting I had with some investors. Now, that would have to wait. I needed to have a word with Amelia. I walked to the front desk as if on autopilot. There, I met two nurses who recognized me from the night Amelia gave birth. Each of them beamed me a lovely smile and asked why I was back there.“Amelia Mallory? Is she here?” I inquired, looking over my shoulder.“Oh, your wife?”Wife. That's a word I don't think I’d hear in the next decade or years to come.I hesitated for a moment before answering. “Y—yes.”The ginger-haired nurse pushed
Lachlan's POV“I'm not talking about golfing together, dude.” Matthew scoffed. “It's your brother.”“Chris…”“You need to go down to the station. Chris wants to talk to you. Says it's urgent.”“Did he say exactly why?” “No, but he did say it had to be you and was for your ears only.”I thought hard about it. What did Chris want to tell me that he couldn't tell the cops? I didn't have the answers to them; only he could provide answers to that. “Fine. I'll be at the station soon.” I replied. The call ended, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket, hoping I wouldn't regret visiting.I arrived at jail and regretted it immediately.As I stepped through the heavy metallic doors, the stench of steel, sweat, and faint smell of bleach poured out. I nearly pinched my nose, but I had to stop myself. The officer escorting me didn't budge and led me down the corridor in small, graceful steps. “Here.” The officer said, stopping in front of the thick pane of glass divided by a pair of telepho
Amelia's POV“Love is messy, Amelia. That's why we're in this mess. We are both tied down by the people we thought we loved. Love is ugly. It's—”“Real!” My cracked voice echoed in the room. “Love is real, and it's ours.”“You don't understand, Amelia,” Lachlan looked down. “We… we were never going to work out, Amelia. You and I... were…“Doomed from the beginning?” I completed it for him.“Yeah. We were doomed.” He whispered this time. A bitter laugh tore through my lips and I covered my mouth.“Amelia…” Lachlan tried to touch me but I stepped back. “Do you even hear yourself, Lachlan?” I said with a scoff. “Yeah. It's annoying, but it's true. Nothing …” he ran his hand through his hair. “Nothing about us was perfect. It was messy.”“Are you serious? Nothing about us was perfect? If it was, then why did you insist we divorce after the baby is born? Why did you make efforts to win me back? Why— “Don't romanticize what we had, Amelia. It was convenient and not love. You were conven
Amelia's POVI watched Lachlan lower his gaze and apologize in a low voice. “I am so very sorry, Amelia. I want nothing else from you, but I do have a favor to ask.”Favor? What did he want? “What is it?”He hesitated for a moment before he whispered now. “That you forgive me.”“What?” I heard a light knock on the door, and the nurse entered. “Mr. Mallory, the police are waiting.”“Oh.” Lachlan said, then turned to me as if waiting for an answer. I gave him a nod, and he rose off the bed. “Can I come see you later?” He asked in a somber tone.Has Lachlan ever looked this vulnerable? “Yeah.” I replied weakly, leaning against the reclining bed. “Okay.” He turned away from the room and shut the door behind him. I heaved a sigh and closed my eyes. Tonight was a long night. The baby moved in my arms, and I pulled him close, inhaling his clean scent. “What do I do, baby?” I whispered. “What do I do?”The days that followed after that, Lachlan visited me in the hospital. And when he
Lachlan’s POVThe paramedics arrived in time and rushed her to the hospital. I called her father to come wait with us. Even my family arrived at the hospital, and we all waited in the lobby, praying for Amelia's delivery. And just when I thought all hope was lost, I heard the cry of a baby.Now, we were waiting in the sterile waiting room surrounded by our family and everyone else who cared about us—her father, Bailey, Rebecca, hell, even my family showed up. Despite the company, I still felt alone. “Amelia will be fine.” Bailey said, sitting next to me. I looked down at my trembling hands. “She's been through a lot because of me….”“Come on. Don't say that, Lachlan.” Bailey put her arms around my shoulders.I shook my head. “If anything happens to her or the baby, I don't know what I'd—”“Stop!” Rebecca interrupted in a firm voice. “Don't say that! Nothing will happen to them.”My voice cracked as I tried to speak. “But…”“You've made mistakes, Lachlan. I understand, but you're he
Lachlan's POV “So…” Amelia asked quietly. “What happens now?” I ran my hand through my already tousled hair and exhaled softly. “Now?... We move with our lives.” “What do you mean?” Amelia looked at my face now, her brows furrowed in confusion. A shudder escaped my lips, and I replied. “You've given me an heir, Amelia…. The deal was to give me an heir and sign the divorce papers…” As much as it hurt me to admit it, it was the truth. “What?” Her eyes went round, and my heart clenched. The image of her broken expression was like a dagger to my heart, and I looked away. The only thing that mattered was Amelia. I didn't deserve it after hurting her—not once or twice, but over and over again. Her eyes filled the same way they did when she stumbled on Cassie kissing me in the office. It was never my intention for her to see that. Hell, I hadn't even wanted it to happen, but it did, and she had run away like she did before. Suddenly, memories of the incident flickered through my m
Amelia's POVA scream escaped my lips as the sound of gunshot echoed in the cathedral. Eric collapsed to the ground, his brown eyes holding mine as crimson began to grow around his white shirt. I felt a familiar pair of warm arms wrap around me. “Amelia… hey, it's going to be okay.” It was Lachlan. He planted a light kiss on my forehead, cradling me in his arms. “It's going to be okay. I need a medic in here!”Panic ripples through me as I struggle to breath. Each gulp of air was more difficult than the last and sooner, I began to hyperventilate.“Amelia?” Lachlan's voice became muffled in my head and his face became blurry.“Hey, get help! She's not breathing well!” Lachlan yelled, sounding the alarm to the officers.Amidst the panic, I felt a gush of water flood my shoes. A loud cry tore through my lips as I tightened my grip on Lachlan’s shirt. He looked down at me and gasped in shock. “Her water just broke! Amelia's going into labour.”Detective Matthew rushed to our aide with