Lachlan.
I was still in pain and hurt. How she was able to beat me at my game baffled me a lot. At some point, I was almost losing it. I think I need therapy.
“I see no reason why you'd always want to keep looking for that miserable bitch. She's not worth all the stress, Lachie; she's not worth it. c'mon”
Cassandra's words were beginning to irritate my ears. I couldn't tell what the reason but it was just irritating.
At this point in time, I don't feel like talking to anyone. I was hell-bent on bringing her back to the house.
If she had left alone, I wouldn't be moved whatsoever, maybe a little though, but she's left with my damn child! My growth, for God's sake! I won't in any way let this go down like that; I never will.
“Look, Cassie, you just have to let me be as we speak; it's not making any sense to me that you're always nagging me to death; please let me think!”
For the very first time, I lashed out at Cassie. Her countenance changed immediately. I shouldn't have shouted at her like that, though; she caused it.
This is a point in time where I needed solutions and not some sort of affection, I smirked.
“Lachie, don't make me feel like you're upset with me... Why are you not happy? Tell me what you still need Amelia for. Talk to me, Lachie, just talk to me.”
Gosh!
If this is how she'd continue to nag, then I feel this is already a red flag. What the hell is her problem?
“Cassie, I'm very sure you have no idea how it feels to be beaten to your own game, and that's the reason why you're so relaxed and not thinking this through.”
My phone rang,
My goddamn father-in-law is calling. What the hell does he want, and why's he calling now?
"Hello,” I said sharply.
“Hey Lachlan, what's the update? Have you heard anything about her yet?”
Is this old man actually thinking through his anus? Your damn daughter left my house to God-knows-where, and you expect me to know of her whereabouts.
I tried hard not to be rude.
“I don't quite understand you, sir. Your daughter, Amelia, left the house yesterday evening, and ever since, I've not seen her, and that's the reason I called earlier on.”
I perceived trying to balance your emotions as a herculean task. It was indeed very annoying. I tried as much as possible not to raise my voice on the phone.
“Okay, but how's it possible that she left your house without prior notice and you can't even place it where she must have been?”
At this point, I was beginning to lose it. What does he mean by I can't place it?
Is this old boy thinking at all?
“Sir, I've said it earlier, and I'm saying it again. I have no idea where your daughter is, and moreso, she left the house yesterday evening without a damn notice. Is that difficult to understand?”
This time, I've had enough. It's way too much for me to actually bear. Why's he acting so insensitive?
You really can't blame him though; this is a whole human you're talking about, and as such, you need to be overly inquisitive, but this is too much, way too much.
“So you want to...”
I didn't wait for him to finish the last statement. I hung up the call immediately. I can't continue to have that conversation before I do something funny. I can't stand someone drawing me back as much as I'm trying to make things very clear.
“Lachie, you're beginning to worry too much. Come take a seat.”
Cassandra is actually being reasonable for the first time in a while. She's been on the nagging side all morning. At least she's considerate now.
“Well, I'd have my seat. Not until I have what I want. I can't take this, not for anything.”
She heaved a sigh of relief. I'm sure she's ready for the handwriting on the wall; she clearly understands that I'm not in the mood for any of her incessant questions.
I continued to check my phone, scrolling from side to side, checking for any messages giving me details of her whereabouts. Still pacing from one end to another, I decided to call my detective again.
“What's good? Have you seen anything suspicious yet?”
I was eager to know what the update was, irrespective of the time frame. All I ever wanted was to find Amelia and make her pay for the stress she's caused me.
“Sir, I've searched frantically. I can't find anything as we speak, sir. If only you could give me some more time, sir.”
Some more time! What the hell is this silly bum taking all my money for? What's his problem? Why can't he just find a way around this little assignment I've given him?
This is so far the highest level of incompetence I've seen in a long time.
“Look, this is in no way funny. It's either I see her or you lose your job; I won't ask you again.”
If it required me to sack all my employees to bring Amelia back, I was ready to do just that.
I never really cared about her anyway; my bone of contention is the growing foetus and nothing more. That's exactly the driving force behind my movements towards finding her. It's either I see her or nothing.
“Sir, it hasn't gotten to this. To be honest, I feel there's a way around this, and the earlier the better. If we can just find a link to her, then it's half done. What do you think, sir?”
What the hell is this man saying? Do I look like a joke to him?
“Look, I'm not going to give you more than twenty-four hours to do what I've asked of you since last night; you know what to do and how to do it. I shouldn't be teaching you your job.”
Amelia I can't tell where the courage to file for divorce came from. I just know how to do it to save myself, and more so for the sake of my mental health. I can't afford to see him and Cassandra all loved up while I sit down to watch their folly.It'd be very stupid and silly for me to still stay there after all the humiliation he has put me through in the last 3 years of our marriage. I had wanted to break the good news of my pregnancy to him. At least you wanted a son all these years, and I was finally giving him one. I had imagined a series of scenarios in my head; all I wanted was for my husband to love me and treat me like the baby girl I've always been. Nirvana's wildest dreams: Did I imagine a day like this coming? Even if I wanted to fight for a divorce, it would not be so soon. I packed my bag as tears flowed down in torrents. I'll look at the pregnancy kits in my hand, reading the meaning of the results you can show me. It's too much to bear to have to leave the home I'v
Amelia I took a deep breath as I looked around. I never expected Bailey to live in such a beautiful house. I mean, she's a nurse for crying out loud. How the hell does someone who spends all day cleaning up vomit and attending to sick patients have the money to afford such a mansion?“You have a beautiful house, ma.” I complimented her as she ushered me into the living room.“You are probably wondering how a nurse like me who spends all day cleaning up after sick people could afford something like this.” She chuckled, and my face went red.How did she know what I was thinking?! It was probably a wild guess.“Don't worry, I can't read your mind. I've been asked a lot of times by people who visit.”Bailey placed my bag down beside the sofa; we argued for almost five minutes before I finally let her carry it for me.Sigh, this woman is a lot.Don't get me wrong, I love how kind she is, but I guess I'm not used to such kindness. Especially with my current situation.I sat down, and Bailey
EricI hung up the phone with Aunt Bailey.“Get me Thomas.” I said this to the maid beside me. I always made sure to have one of them on standby in case I needed something urgently. I can't be shouting in my own house, that minus steeze.The maid left and, a few seconds later, came back with Thomas, my personal assistant and the head of all the workers in my mansion.“I have a guest coming over; prepare one of the guest rooms. The guest is a lady, so prepare accordingly. Also, add a bit of Aunt Bailey style to the room to make it cosy. We both know my aunt is a pro at making someone comfortable.”“Do you want me to arrange a particular room?” Thomas asked.“Nah, just pick whatever.” I shrugged.I just got off the phone with my aunt Bailey, and she told me she was bringing a lady over. I was curious about the kind of lady she was bringing and if she would be my spec. She had been disturbing me for a while, so I showed her a woman who had my heart. Is it the reason she is bringing a stra
Chapter 10Lachlan“Catch!”I threw my key at the valet, walking past him into the house. Mom had called me over for dinner, and as much as I wanted to reject it, I decided to accept.I feel like they might have an inkling of what was happening, but it would be better not to act suspiciously. Knowing my parents, they won't outright ask about it.I just hope Nina and Christopher know nothing about it. I can't really deal with them right now.As I walked into the hall, I messaged my temples a bit. I've been having headaches ever since I found out that Amelia had most likely run off with my unborn child.I looked around, and the house looked the same as usual. My mother's weird sculptures and rare art aesthetics mixed with my father's antiquated style.The house gave off an ancient European/African vibe that sent a shiver down my spine.Sometimes, I wonder how two people with such tastes ended up together. Thankfully, I took their better traits and not this.I suddenly heard footsteps, a
Amelia “Mom, are fairytales real? Can I really become a princess and get carried away by a prince into the sunset?” I looked up at the woman, cradling my head on her lap. Her smile was warm, her gaze gentle, and her beauty immaculate. I have seen many pictures of princesses in storybooks, but none of them; none of their beauty could compare to my mother's. I saw as the gentle honey brown orbs dimmed a bit as Mother pondered for a bit, her smile twitching before blooming once more, lighting up her face. She looked into my eyes, pulling away strands of golden locks and tucking them behind her ears. “Yes Amelia. As long as you believe it with all your heart, then whatever dreams you have will come true. Even fairytales.” I stared deep into her eyes, a shiver running down my spine at the assurance within them. “Amelia, only you can make your life better. You have gone through a lot; this is the time for you to put a stop to your suffering. No one can do it for you except you.” “Ye
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
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