CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN**"I'm Mr. Cray from the Children protecting agency." The man glanced briefly at the middle-aged-looking woman standing beside him."This is Mrs. Lee, my partner."Faith stared at the ID card that was extended toward her. Faith's eyes bore confusion, she couldn't think of a reason why they would be here to see her. Why were they here to see her? Her eyes immediately wandered to the nurses who were only some distance away, there was something about their stares that made Faith instantly nervous and uncomfortable. They had also behaved suspiciously some minutes ago when they had taken Maya away. Faith had assumed Maya had been taken away because she had been very weak, they took her away in the meantime to take good care of her baby, right? "Without wasting much of our time, let's get down to why we are here!" Mrs. Lee started, her red-coated thin lips pressed in an unappreciative line. "From your lifestyle, I'm sure you already know you are unfit to be a
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT**Faith lowered her eyes back to the ground, her chest tight with dread. She didn't want to acknowledge the possibility that her thoughts were probably right. She took a halting breath against the nervousness that seemed to choke her and keep her body paralyzed.It had to be Sterling Hunter! The man she had tried too hard to forget even though each moment of her pregnancy had reminded her of him. The same man who had carved his very path into her life and soul, then destroyed what she had once thought to be pure. Her idea had been pretty simple. She would hide from him forever and continue to gather the broken pieces of her life back together. She simply wanted a comfortable and happy life with the baby he had wanted so badly. The child she had been manipulated to bear but had managed to become the most important aspect of her life.She loved her child with her whole heart even though she couldn't forget the things her father did.Now, he took Maya away f
CHAPTER FORTY NINE**Faith felt as though an invisible hand was tightly gripping her lungs. The buildings and the scenery felt all too familiar. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the mansion in front of her. This was the place she had dared to call home. To think that it was only a few months ago! The security team had easily permitted her through. Faith couldn't tell if it was because they recognized her as Sterling's ex-wife, or was it Sterling that ordered it because he knew she would come. The thought spread a wave of shiver through her whole body. She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. She was surprised when the door flew open only after the first ring. It wasn't Sterling who was staring right at her. "Mrs. Sterling! Oh goodness! What a pleasant surprise!" It was Mrs. Esther, the housekeeper. Her eyes were wide in astonishment, her lips curving into the brightest of smiles. "H_Hi Mrs. Est__" Faith barely started when she was suddenly enveloped in the woma
CHAPTER FIFTY**"Why do I need to tell you anything? Maya is not your child! You are not her father!!"Sterling's eyes flashed furiously even though he was certain that the words that left her mouth were all fucking lies. The anxious glances she was casting, her nervous stutter, and her pale complexion easily gave it all away. The thought maddened him even more. Why was she was still lying to him even now?She had never wanted him to know, if he hadn't found out, she would never have told him! Maya. That was his child's name! It was a beautiful name just like the little angel.His heart throbbed in a way he'd never felt, it was a different kind of sensation, it was foreign but he welcomed it wholeheartedly. She had existed. The little life he had created. He watched the mother of his child, she was fucking more beautiful than he remembered, the dull ache he had felt in his chest when she had first stormed inside only fueled the rage boiling inside of him. She had fucking d
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE**Faith swallowed the drugs with the glass of water before handing them back to the nurse.She had been unconscious for the whole day! She couldn't help but take a glance at the window, it was sunny and bright outside. The last thing she remembered was fainting in Sterling's house. Her brother must have brought her to this hospital. A quiet sigh escaped her mouth, the aching sensation in her chest wouldn't subside. She would never admit that it wasn't just because of her baby, it was also because of him. Even though he had done so many awful things, there was something she had never seen in his eyes before. Hate. He seemed to deeply loathe her now. He had always been willful, how could he have the heart to tear an infant from her mother? Maya needed her the most at this moment, if he really cared about the baby, he wouldn't have given her to complete strangers only so he could torture her.Faith was uncomfortable both physically. Her breasts felt too hea
CHAPTER FIFTY TWO**Faith was discharged from the hospital three days later. It was simply difficult to comply with the doctor's orders to get sufficient rest, not with Sterling's threats constantly replaying in her head. Her heart managed to leap to her throat each time she recalled his exact words about her not seeing Maya again. He had sounded so confident that she would lose her rights to Maya.It upset and sickened her to think about the deceptive measures he might do to ensure she lost her daughter. She had to be prepared, but his actions like most times were unpredictable. She didn't have a clue what he might do next and it made her nerves squeeze in frustration. She would appear in court in two days after having complied with everything related to the drug testing requirements as was ordered by the judiciary. She had never done drugs in her entire life, the tests result would definitely turn out negative. Her lawyer, Mr. Sullivan had guaranteed her that once the evi
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE**"Are we ready to begin?" The Judge asked, she was a woman who appeared to be in her early fifties or thereabouts. Faith released the deep breath she had been holding, she met Mr. Sullivan's stare who whispered solemnly."Do you remember all that I've told you? Seeking sympathy will boost your chance to win this case. You don't have to be scared." Faith swallowed nervously, trying to smile but it wobbled off. Mr. Sullivan had reminded her this morning that she might as well do anything that would help her win the case.Tears were her last weapon, he had told her to think about her daughter if she couldn't cry aloud. She didn't think she would be able to survive if she never saw Maya again. Her eyes chose to glance at that particular area of the courtroom. Sterling had arrived more than a few minutes ago after she did. She hated that she looked nervous while he appeared as though this was another business deal for him. Dressed in a charcoal grey suit, hi
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR**Her brain refused to process the words.Faith's eyes remained stuck to the cold smile of her ex-husband. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that the Judge had already left, and most of the people were starting to disappear one after the other until the courtroom was already almost empty. That was when it sank deep into her brain. The court was dismissed. She'd lost. Jerked her fingers that had been grasping Sterling's shirt as though just being near his presence burned her skin. She couldn't lose everything just like this! She spotted Mr. Sullivan already walking towards the exit. Faith forced her legs to move to chase after him. He turned towards her, wearing a weary expression. "You assured me we were going to win! I_ I did exactly what you asked me to do, why did it turn out like this!" She voiced harshly. "I should ask you why you behaved like that earlier! It didn't matter how unfair you feel, you should have composed yourself! There was no need
EPILOGUE**"Ma_ma! Flour!" Maya squealed the moment Faith stepped into the kitchen. Faith was shocked to see that the bowl of flour that was meant for baking was covering her daughter's hair down to her toes. "I leave you alone for just two seconds and what did you do!" She couldn't help but laugh at the sight."I'm a cake now!" Maya giggled. "No, you are not. You need a bath right now__" Faith started and Maya crossed her arms, pouting. "No, I'm cake! Cake don't bathe!" She started to run around the kitchen, spreading flour and making a further mess of the kitchen. "Maya Hunter! What did I tell you about running around? Stop it!""No, Ma_ma chase me." The toddler giggled and ran out of the kitchen, Faith sighed to herself. Maya was already a handful, stubborn as her father, and seemed to only listen to him as well. Was it only yesterday that her baby was still crawling around the house, Faith was still amazed at how rapidly she had grown, it happened right before her eyes "
CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE**“Do you still hate me?” He murmured into her ears, smoothing back her sweaty hair from her face.She met his smug look and muttered.“Yes”Her body was still weak with the after effects of her orgasm.Sterling's laughter was absolutely wicked. “No, you don’t.” She wanted so badly to hate him, he was not good for her and they both knew it, but still, he was unwilling to let her go.He would never change. He was deadly. It didn't matter how much he loved her, he wouldn't hesitate to use any means to ensure that she remained trapped in his world. She was the bunny, and he was the wicked wolf. Could she ever allow herself to completely love a man like that? Not that any of these mattered anymore. She was certain that after what happened tonight, she wouldn't be going anywhere for a very long time, and if he decided to lock her here in his mansion forever___Faith shuddered at the thought. She wouldn't contact the reporter anymore, perhaps it was time she final
CHAPTER SEVENTY**Sterling and Faith, both were still drenched to the skin, they had just returned from the hospital. It turned out that Maya was fine, she had just been asleep and Faith had been too panicked to even realize that. While Faith was relieved, her body still trembled at the thought of what could have easily happened. She glanced at her husband, trying to get a read on his mood.Husband?Where the hell had that thought come from? She wanted to speak, but her mouth was glued shut, she still remembered the horror and panic in his eyes when he first arrived at the accident scene, when he thought she and Maya had been hurt. Now, his guard was up his cold-blooded mask in place. She couldn’t get a read on how furious he was, which made her fearful. "Sterling I__"Sterling walked forward, his eyes staring into Faith's with a strange intensity that had her heart pounding in both fear and excitement.Excitement? Perhaps it was that brief flash of moment when she thought she
CHAPTER SIXTY NINE**Faith's lips still tingled from his forceful kiss, her mind was trapped in a turmoil of emotions. The wedding band now encircling her fingers made her certain that this wasn't some nightmare. They were back in his mansion which had never felt so much like a prison to Faith as it did now.Her devastated eyes followed him like a hawk as he prepared Maya for bed, they hadn't uttered a word to each other since he forced her to return with him.His wife_The dreadful word continued to ring in her head like an alarm, she was yet to recover from the shock and still didn't want to believe that he'd won so easily. She was a loser yet again, but if he thought she was going to be 'An obedient little girl__Their gazes clashed briefly, then he completely ignored her as he walked out of the nursery. In his eyes, She was probably no more than a child throwing a tantrum, She fumed at the thought and watched as he disappeared into his room and presumed he went to take a show
CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT**Her eyes were haunting, she trembled, still shaken in disbelief.The court had sent her own copy of the divorce papers after it had been finalized. If those copies weren't from the court then__Sterling had managed to play his crooked game somehow. They were still legally married! She was still his wife__The thought left her cold, the sharp stab of anger and betrayal made her eyes burn with the salty liquid. This was too much, she should be used to his cruelty when he wanted something, but he always left her dumbstruck each time. Faith suddenly recalled the number of times he'd referred to her as his wife, even Rex had called her that.She had been naive to think it was merely a slip of the tongue. She should have known that there was no mistake with Sterling. Why was it that each time she tried to fight him, he was always a thousand steps ahead of the ways he could hurt her? Faith suddenly thought how Sterling knew about her plan, and also the reaso
CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN**Sterling entered the dimly lit building. His eyes glimmered with purpose as he stood tall above the man who was cowering in fear. A deep bruise covered the man's forehead, he tried to stand but his broken bones made him scream in agony. Sterling tapped his chin with his index finger."Now, what am I going to do with you?" He murmured and watched the man's eyes dazzle with fear. "P_please, let me go, I p_promise to stay away from your family, I'll leave, I s_swear!" "I already gave you that chance, didn't I? But what did you do?" Unrestrained anger made Sterling's voice harsher. For the sake of his wife, he'd informed Rex to provide this man enough money to get out of the city and start a new life, but the mother fucker was greedy, he made the mistake to think that Sterling was a pushover and was demanding more money."The biggest mistake in your entire life was that you ever knew my wife, You could've lived the rest of your life peacefully, anyone who come
CHAPTER SIXTY SIX**Faith found it difficult to enter the large building. She hadn't been here in so long, but today, she had to do this. Maya was securely bound to her by the baby carrier. Faith couldn't help but stare around the company she had once worked for, it brought sensations of nostalgia.She greeted some of the familiar employees who seemed shocked to see her. As she headed into Sterling's office, she greeted Rex who greeted her with a broad smile, Stacy by his side. "Long time no see, oh look what we have here." He averted his gaze to Maya who was gawking at the new stranger. "She's beautiful and looks so much like my cousin __and you of course, can I touch her?"Faith didn't realize how hostile her expression was, she still hadn't forgiven him for reporting her pregnancy to Sterling, She might be living peacefully with Maya somewhere, but instead, she was stuck with a crazy man.To her greatest satisfaction, when he lifted his hand to touch Maya, she burst into a fi
CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE**"Where the hell did you go!" Sterling's eyes were a mix of anger and relief the moment she stepped through the door.Faith's eyes wandered across the house, it seemed Stacy had left. She had only been gone for about ten minutes but the whole residence and beyond was crammed with security, all were searching for her. It would be a miracle if Dan managed to escape. Sterling moved quickly, closing the distance between them, his hawk-like eyes scouring her body, looking for signs of her being hurt. "Nowhere!" Faith answered too quickly, his rigid scowl told her he knew she was hiding things from him and that he wasn't liking it one bit. She met his deep frown stubbornly, she didn't want his concern.He had gone too far framing Dan for a crime he never committed, but why did Dan feel that he was entitled to her help?She didn't owe both men anything. Sterling only wanted to control her in the name of love and Dan was just being unreasonable. Any sympathy Faith h
CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR**Faith tried not to wander too far, but she couldn't fight the negative thoughts swimming through her mind about Sterling and Stacy. She should be joyous that he found another woman, he would let go of his obsession with her, wasn't that what she always wanted? Faith sighed quietly wondering if fate was also laughing at her predicament, she was in love with a person who was infatuated with her, but she couldn't be with him because she knew how scheming and dangerous he was, she planned to take over his wealth so she could defend herself and Maya against him but she also didn't want him to be involved with another woman, to forget about her and their daughter which was exactly what she desired in the first place? A loud frustrated groan escaped her mouth, why couldn't life be kinder to her? Buried in her thoughts, Faith didn't hear the movements behind her until it was almost too late.She turned around, but as fast as lightning a hand pressed against her mouth,