He took the stairs in quick strides, only allowing himself to stop when he reached the second-floor landing, his chest heaving profusely from exertion and anger.
He took deep breaths to fill his lungs with air, and when he finally got enough, he walked to his grandfather’s room in quick strides. He did not bother to knock. He twisted the knob open and pushed his way in, surprising his grandfather, who was lounging on his settee with a nurse looking after him.
“Cayden, you did not inform me that you are coming.” Noah Ellish, though registering a look of surprise on his face, did not let on as he said in his usual commanding voice. His shoulders tensed when he noted the angry expression on his grandson's face.
“You wanted to say something.” Cayden folded his hands and placed them atop the table before focusing his gaze on his best friend.James mimicked his friend’s pose and asked confidentially, “Supposing Wyoming is pregnant, who will you choose?” James watched as contradicting emotions flitted on Cayden’s face. He looked conflicted, but after a while, his best friend shook his head no and looked him squarely in the eye.“Don’t try to muddle my mind with what ifs. It could not take another beating. It had been battered enough since finding out about Tori’s condition and how grandpa drove her off.” Cayden told James earlier about what he learned - how his grandfather used his money to pay off Tori to leave.“Besides, it would be too early to tell if Wyoming is pregnant,” Cayden said as if convincing himself of the impossibility of getting Wy
Wyoming woke up feeling like a truck ran her over. She wanted to sleep some more, but could not ignore her bladder’s call for release.She groaned in protest when she forced herself to get up from bed, trudging her way to the bathroom to relieve herself.She was still half-asleep when she felt a queasy feeling around her stomach, making it lurch. Bile rose through her throat. She quickly put her panties on and went to the sink to throw up.When she felt that she already vomited the entire contents of her stomach, she wiped her mouth and opened the tap to gurgle water.Once down, she walked slowly back to the bedroom, feeling tired and spent.She climbed back to bed, noticing that the other side hadn’t been slept on. She took her phone and looked at the time. It’s two o’clock in the morning. She then swiped her messages and checked whether Cayden sent her a message, but there was non
Marcus told Alicia about the confrontation between Noah and Cayden, causing the former another trip to the emergency room for chest pains. Noah informed Marcus earlier that Cayden was determined to marry Tori at all costs. Now, he’s telling her. “What about my daughter?” Alicia asked, her face full of concern.She got off Marcus’s embrace and paced the floor, guilty for throwing her daughter to Cayden and worried, too. Maybe if she did not put Wyoming’s name on the list of eligible ladies to become Cayden’s replacement bride, Cayden would not choose her. Her daughter would not suffer this heartache.“I shouldn’t have done that.” Regret laced her voice.Marcus stood up and tenderly wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist in a silent offer of comfort, which the latter accepted without complaints.Alicia took strength from Marcus
It took Cayden an hour before he reached their home.When he got inside their room, Wyoming was already waiting for him. She was looking outside the window, her back to the door.When she heard the knob turn, she did not immediately turn around. Only when Cayden walked to her back and dropped a kiss on her cheek did she finally have the courage to face him.“Where have you been?” She asked and instantly saw the guilty look in his eyes.Cayden did not incline to answer. He did not know why but he felt that he was not ready to tell her things concerning Tori.He remembered James’s point-blank quest
Cayden stirred, glancing accidentally to his left. When his gaze focused on the clock hanging on the wall of the living room, he scrambled out of the couch, where he dozed off. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” He asked Tori, who was sitting on the other couch accusingly, wiping his face off the vestiges of sleep as he did so. Tori glanced at him, roused from her stupor, and smiled apologetically.“You looked exhausted. I do not have the heart to wake you up.” “But you should have. It’s late. I have to go home.” Cayden muttered, running his fingers to his hair as he did so. He looked around him for his phone and key fob and stepped out without throwing another glance at Tori.“Can’t you stay the night? It is already late. It is safer if you stay here.” Tori said, following behind. She was hoping he would sleep in the master bedroom with her. Cayden never does that. As always, when he needed to watch over her, he would sleep on the couch.He stopped to unlock the main door. “I
“Cayden, where are you?” Cayden met the question in stoic silence. If it weren’t for its continuous ringing, disturbing him from his sleep, he would not have answered the d*mn call. Impatience crossed his unkempt features, but he did not utter a word, remaining silent on his end of the line. Even if he wanted to answer, he couldn’t because his mouth felt like cotton. He rubbed a finger to his bloodshot eyes and sighed. He looked around his room - the bedroom he shared with Wyoming and saw beer cans scattered all over the floor. He rose from the floor. In his drunkenness, he was not able to transfer to the bed before sleep claimed him. He tripped on an empty bottle of Whisky and it rolled off the floor. Cayden stumbled but quickly pressed his palms on the wall for support, groaning in pain. He kicked the other cans that littered the path to the bathroom and swore under his breath. If Wyoming could have seen this mess, he bet he would get a thorough scolding. But she could not see
Wyoming felt her pulse quicken as beads of sweat dotted her forehead. With eyes closed, she shook her head, as if the action could help her block out the danger coming her way. Then she stirred. Something jolted her to consciousness and realized she was having a nightmare. Panting, she desperately bent her head, her hands gently caressing her slightly bulged tummy, and gasped in a sigh as relief gushed over her. A sob escaped her lips when she realized her baby was safe.She thought she had lost her. Wyoming whimpered, blocking out that irascible thought from her mind. She does not want to think about that possibility. Her hand searched the bed for her pillow. When she found it, she clutched it protectively to her front like a shield while in her mind's eye, a blurred image played in recollection of her dreams. She shuddered as fear gripped her body. She dreamt her baby had been taken away from her. A shadow glazed her dull eyes. She thought it was real. It felt too real. She
“We are here, Mr. Ellish.” Cayden’s driver told him after the car ground to a halt. Cayden opened his eyes and lifted his head from slumping on the backrest. Straightening his body to an upright position, Cayden turned his head to look out the tinted side window to check his surroundings. He noticed that his driver stopped the car outside the hospital’s main entrance. He got out of the car and walked sluggishly to the main lobby to find his parents waiting for him. He faltered in his steps. Surprise registered on his face at the sight of his parents. Though at the back of his mind, seeing them there shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him. Knowing Alicia, whatever conflicts they may have in the family, he knew she would insist on coming here. She would be there to support him. He looked away, suddenly feeling guilty, but before he turned his head around to pretend he did not see him, he saw Alicia’s eyes light up in recognition. It was Alicia who first saw him. She