I fixed my gaze more on the number on the door as I strode down, trying to locate room 13. The security man was kind enough to point out their classroom, letting me know most of the teachers were in the building behind the colourful one I stepped into. Only a few stayed back to take care of the children as they went for their break. Though most of the kids were seated in their classes, I could hear sounds coming from the end of the hall. “How may I help you, sir?” I almost jumped out of my skin at the question. With my heart thumping loudly in my chest, I turned to see a young teacher smiling up at me, her brown eyes shining with mirth. She seemed amused by my reactions to her question. “Who are you?” She asked, forgoing her initial question. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she gave me an appraisal, the mirth in them vanishing the more I kept silent. Clearing my throat, while mentally beating myself for being shocked by a youngster, I smiled down at her, noting how young her act
“Oh.” I relaxed back, puzzled at how I reacted to the news. Had I not known better, I would have thought she was mine. Well, she will be, soon. Should everything work out between Nova and me, I will have to adopt the kids as mine. We will be one happy family, a family I will never let go of, regardless of what we encounter in the future. “What are you doing here?” His gentle question caused me to peer down at the cute boy, who had abandoned his painting, and now had his eyes fixed on me. “I came to visit you,” I responded, smiling down at him.“Really?” His eyes sparkled at that, only for his face to morph into a frown as he relaxed back on the bench he was sitting on. “Why are you here? Mum said we shouldn't speak to strangers.” “I'm not a stranger, am I?” I grinned at him, loving the charming gentleman he turned out to be. Nova certainly trained him well. I will give that credit to her. “But I don't know who you are,” he argued, a cute pout coming over his face as he stared at
NOVA“That will be all for today.” I got up from my chair, and checked the time on my wristwatch, frowning at the thoughts of my kids waiting for me to pick them up. Brion travelled to the States this morning and might be back on Friday, or Sunday, depending on how long it took for him to sort things and get his arse back. I only pray it doesn't extend to next week. The others rose with me, smiling as they walked to the exit, conversing with each other. It had been an overall good day, with the tour around the gallery and our lunch break in an eatery across the road. Miss Benita, the new intern in the design department, was the one who suggested the studio when she heard of the meeting, and it helped a lot. Getting the position was difficult, but I pulled it through with some connections. Working for Dashiell had some advantages, and that included getting away with most things. Not like my feelings for Dashiell had changed or anything. I just stating facts. In this city, all you ne
“Mum!” River ran over to me the moment I walked into the school. They were sitting in the waiting area with the proprietress when I stepped into the school with an eager Benita in tow. “Darling.” I squatted to carry him in my arms, placing a kiss as I grinned. “Did you miss Mum?” I patted his hair. “Of course! You were supposed to come pick us up ages ago. Why didn't you do that?” Pouting, he stared down at me, accusingly, his eyes narrowing as he watched me. “I'm sorry, darling.” Grinning, I got up, leaving Benita to gush over him like the fan girl she was. She sounded as if she had seen an angel with the way she squealed. Shaking my head at how childish she looked, I walked over to my darling. Willow sat next to the proprietress, with her arms folded and a pout on her face. “Darling?” I approached with care, realizing I had to thread carefully else I would get my head bitten off by my daughter, who hated it whenever I delayed taking them back, especially on days that I promi
“What do you need help with?” Folding my arms, I regarded him with a suspicious look. "Missing files.” He gestured once more to his desk. “My system had a minor problem and most of my work disappeared. I just need your help in regaining them. I believe they are somewhere. it's just..." He rubbed the back of his neck, peering at me helplessly.“As a software engineer?” I frowned, wondering if he hit his head somewhere. “You could have called the company's software engineer. Why will you call me when I have limited knowledge about this?” Despite my words, I walked over to his desk to check on the issue. "Because I know I can trust you,” his reply was filled with pride. Glaring, I plopped down on his armchair, grumbling as I checked his system. " I don't even know why you think I can do this. Computer systems are different from jewellery designs!" I glared at him. "I know they are different, and also how capable of this you are," he stated, his gaze fixed on mine, unwavering. "You ar
“Is it about the kids? I can adopt them as mine,” he hurried to say, thinking that would pave the way for him. “I swear to you I will do whatever you ask. I will go to the end of the world and even climb the highest mountain if that would make you forgive me.”"What if I order you to kill yourself?” I whirled around so I didn't have to look over my shoulders while talking to him. “Will you do that? What if I charge you to give your wealth to me?” I knew he was a proud man. All the promises he made were nothing but empty ones. He just wanted to get in my pants. That was all. He doesn't love me. The only reason he still clung on to me was the thrill of having me succumb. To him, I was nothing but a hard nut to crack, one he would go to every length to overpower, so he could feel like a man. What he was after was the thrill of the chase and nothing more. “If that's what you want.” His tone was resolute. “As long as it will earn your forgiveness, and put a smile on your face, I'm ready t
DASHIELL “What the damned hell are you doing in my office?” I seethed, turning to confront Lilith, who tried to hold my hand. “Why are you here? What did you say to Nova?” I was barely keeping my anger in check.“I missed you, Dash!” she cried, clinging to my right arm and placing her head on it. “Don't you feel the same?” She peered up, sniffing. "No, I don't.” I removed her hand from mine and placed my palms on either side of her face. “I don't want you to stoop so low as to do something of this nature, Lils. You are more than it. You don't have to let your rage control you.”“But I missed you!” She argued. “Please don't push me away, Dash. I missed you.” She held on to my hand like it was an anchor on a stormy night, sobs wrecking through her body. “We haven't gone this long without seeing each other, and it hurts.” “Lils —” “I'm sorry. I know you broke up with me because I was disturbing you for marriage. I won't do it again. Furthermore, I promise to be a cute little girlfrie
NOVAI stared at my phone for a long time before I placed it on the table, frowning. Puffing out a breath, I relaxed on the sofa and focused my attention on my babies, who were writing their assignments. They refused to complete their homework when I was away, stubbornly telling Mara they would only write it with me. Not that they needed my help. They claimed my presence would help. As if. They just wanted me back. “Are you certain you can do it alone?” Mara, who was sitting next to them, asked, peering at my babies, with their heads bent, writing. She looked like she wanted to help out, but they weren't giving her the chance to do so.“Yeah. We got this.” Their response was confident, like always. Ever since they started school, I doubt they had ever sought my help. They were always positive about their assignments.“Really?” Mara inquired, peering at them. “I won't mind helping you. I just —”“You don't have to worry about us.” River raised his head to look at her, smiling. “If you
Brion was discharged three days later. Unlike the past few days, he could stand now without being tired or helped. The doctors believe he will recover well at home. After getting discharged, I took him and the kids back home. Dashiell was still getting treatments. They would have discharged him with Brion had it not been for his legs. The doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital for a week more, to check on his recovery. I just prayed everything would work out perfectly. Two weeks later, I drove him back home. Amaya came over to stay in the hospital with him so I could return to work. We had been gone for days, and the shareholders were making snide remarks about it, so I had to return to take care of the office while he recovered. The past few weeks have been a busy one for me. There were piles of work waiting on my desk for me when I returned, and I had to also combine it with Dashiell's. Had it not been for Benita's help, I would have drowned in work. She was such a darling, h
The doctor removed the IV drip before I could visit Dashiell. Ben led me by the hand, keeping me steady as he took me over to the room. Brion and the kids hadn't been alerted yet, so they didn't know we were back. My phone was off, so I hadn't gotten a call from him — yet. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before he called the police to report about me.The moment I opened the door, my eyes locked with that of a shocked man. Emerald eyes bore into mine the second I stepped into the room. "Nova?” He whispered, his voice shaky. He looked like he was imagining me because he lifted his right index and rubbed furiously on his eyes before it landed on me. “You are real?”I nodded, as tears rolled down my eyes. Dashiell was a shell of himself. Just a few days in captivity, and he had gotten so lean, I hardly recognized him. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his cheekbones jutted out sharply. I was frozen, staring at my lover, and imagining how much he had suffered to l
When I came to, I was lying on a bed. The scent of disinfectant in the room made me realize where I was. I slowly sat up, grimacing at the pain in my arm. I had a bandage wrapped around my biceps, one that was stained with blood.The monitor next to me beeped as if it could sense my discomfort. Wincing, I leaned on the bed as I looked around the empty room. From the looks of it, Ben took me to the clinic I left Brion in. Heaving out a breath, I closed my eyes as images of the last time I was awake assaulted me. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Snapping my eyes open, I looked towards it as it opened and Ben stepped in. “Thank God you are awake,” he said as he walked over to my bed and sat beside me, relief etched on his face. “Welcome back. You've been out for hours.”"Hours?" rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog. “What of Gabriella?”“Dead. You did a pretty good number on her. The police have agreed to rule it out as self-defence. As she was an offender, it's not
“Where is Dashiell?” I asked after a few seconds, still wondering why she hadn't attacked me. I figured all it would take was a little talk before we get down to business. “Dashiell?” She made a face at that before a knowing smirk took over. Getting up, she glanced towards the stairs, which seemed like it had seen better days. The stairs didn't look like they would last for another year before caving in. Just like the rest of the house, it was dying — most times, I always believed houses were entities. She snapped her fingers and three men appeared from a door behind where she stood, their chest bare, showing off muscles that must have taken years to build. My heart skipped as I gripped the pistol in my hoodie tighter. I knew it was about time for the fight. But I doubt I could take the men on. Gabriella alone? I could. “Do you assume the gun you hid in your hoodie will help you, darling?” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the sides. "How?" I was dumbstruck by the question. “How
It looked just like the place someone as shady as Zoey would be. As I approached, I noticed the overgrown yard and weeds sprouting through cracks in the pavement. Nature had reclaimed the property, wrapping vines around the porch pillars. I slowed my pace, my senses on high alert. Something felt off. Though Ben's hidden presence reassured me, my heart continued to thud like a bass drum in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped onto the porch, the wooden boards groaning beneath my feet. The door creaked as I pushed it open, and I called out, “I'm here.” My voice echoed through the empty corridor. At first, nothing happened, until I heard a rather familiar voice asking me to come forward. I looked back at the place Ben was likely hiding in before I fully stepped in and closed the falling door. I shivered as I walked forward, guided by the dim lighting in the hallway before I arrived in the sitting room. A figure sat perched on one of the sofas, the minute I walked in. “Hell
I got dressed for the operation. We didn't return to the hospital because I didn't think it was necessary. Brion would undoubtedly try to talk me out of my plans, which was why I didn't attempt a return there, not until we had gotten everything sorted. Today, I vowed, would be the day I bring Dashiell back home. He had stayed too long with Zoey. It was time for him to return, to his home, to me and the kids.“Ready?” Ben turned to me, lifting a brow, when I stepped out of the motel I checked into to change out of my clothes. I had a bulletproof vest under a hoodie.To cover my guns, I stuffed them into the pockets of my hoodie, waiting until I got an excellent location to conceal them. “Ready,” I confirmed, adjusting my hoodie to ensure the bulletproof vest wasn't visible. “Well, as ready as I can, for a dangerous mission,” I added with a smile. Though I was feeling as nervous as hell, and it felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest, I acted like I was okay. Yeah, perfectly
Suddenly, I was moving, being pulled towards a police car. Officer Maxwell's hands were still on my shoulders, guiding me into the back seat.As we sped away from the scene, I felt like my world was crashing down around me. My thoughts were all over the place. The drive to the hospital seemed like an eternity. It felt as if someone trapped me in a nightmare, one I was unable to wake up from.As we arrived at the hospital, I saw chaos. Police cars and ambulances were everywhere. People were running, shouting.I felt like I was going to throw up.After parking the car in the only space he could find, Officer Maxwell guided me out of the car. I stumbled, my legs weak. I wasn't physically weak, more like my emotions were getting the better of me. Thankfully, Brion was outside. However, my eyes were drawn to the little ones with him. The tears I didn't know I was holding back rolled down my eyes as I rushed towards them, feeling suddenly energetic. I knelt in front of my kids, hugging th
I complied, lying flat on the ground as the officers approached. They quickly subdued the third man, who was still trying to escape, and took the others away. I laid on the ground, thinking of a way out, until I looked up and saw Officer Maxwell walking over to me with a frown on his face. “Is that you, Nova?” He demanded, closing the distance between us. At his approach, the police officers standing around me made way for him, each watching him intently.He reached down and helped me up from the ground, passing a handkerchief to me so I could wipe the dirt. Smiling, I took it from him and started cleaning the dirt on my body. From hiding behind the bush to lying flat on the ground, I looked like a mess, like I barely survived. “Do you know how dangerous your moves were, Nova? You could have gotten yourself hit?!” He yelled at my face the moment I finished cleaning up. “Why are you so damned reckless??!”“I didn't get killed, did I?” I lifted my shoulders in a shrug, acting like I
“Are you really going there alone?” Brion lifted a brow, watching me get dressed for the assignment. Surely you're joking, right? Are you messing with me? I should have known that was what you were doing.”"Not in the slightest. I am heading out solo. I still have my gun with me, remember? If it turns out to be a trap, I will shoot those damned bastards right in their eyes. He must have found the promise in my gaze amusing, as he chuckled and covered his mouth with his right hand. “Though what you said right there is funny, we can't ignore the enormous elephant in the room. That is far too massive for that. You, Nova, aren't going anywhere without informing the police. I don't want to lose you, and I know the kids don't. We still need you, and —”“You are making this sound dramatic.” I rolled my eyes at him as I checked my reflection in the mirror. I didn't dress up. I just changed my style. Instead of the beautiful flowery gown I wore this morning, it was now a black shirt and blac