All her life, she had sworn not to get married because of the kind of relationship her dad and mum had. She didn't want to end up like her mum and so she swore not to married. But she had thought that if she ever gets married, like in her daydreams, it would be in a very beautiful way. Wearing a long white wedding dress, in a beautiful and decorated place. Her groom would wait for her to come on the alter and she would come holding her flower and with a train of her friends behind her.
Now she knew the saying was right, the saying that life is not always a bed of roses and that life does not always go as we expected. Now, she was going to get married and it wasn't going to take place on the alter or in a finely decorated place. They would only sign a few papers and that was it. This wasn't her dream. If and only if dreams come true. How she has been fooled by Anny and her mother. They hid Anny away so she wouldn't get married to the beast. Anny shouldn't have done this. At least she could have told her about her plans so they would have run away together. Well, this was her fate and she has no choice but to accept it and keep looking toward the future.Madeline opened the silver purse that she was holding and her mouth fell open. She thought her phone would be inside the purse since her dad had handed the purse to her this morning. So he was really doing this and taking away everything from her. How long was she going to keep waiting for the groom? It's almost an hour already and he's still not here. She prayed in her heart that he never comes or he had a change of mind and called off the wedding. She would be so happy if that happens. At least, she would have more time to finally run away from home and be free.She removed her eyes from the entrance of the marriage registry which she has been staring at and sighed. "Oh Almighty, please don't let him come," she prayed inwardly, but her fate has other plans for her because unfortunately, as soon as she turned her head to look back at the entrance, a tall masked figure walked in with his hands buried in his pocket."Ahh, young master Johan, you're here," a big-bellied man called. He was the minister for marital affairs and he gestured for him to come forward and sit on the chair close to Madeline.Madeline gasped as he walked closer. So the rumors about him were true? How no one has ever seen his complete face before and how just his eyes upwards are vincible to the world. Was she going to get married to someone she hasn't seen his face before? A masked man. How would her father set her up with such a mysterious person? What if he was a serial killer or a criminal? Gosh. She felt him sit on the chair next to her and he asked the minister to bring the required papers for him to sign.Madeline was ready to stand up from the chair and walk out, but when she stared at the entrance and saw her father looking at her with warning eyes, she relaxed her shoulders in defeat and her face clearly showed how dejected and sad she was. She stared at the masked man and saw how indifferent he behaved as he took the documents and swiftly signed them as if all of these doesn't matter to him.He turn to look at her and her heart almost flew out of her chest. Those foreign blue cold eyes were staring at her. He looked at her and then at the pen and documents in front of her, telling her with his eyes that she should pick up the pen and sign on the papers. She blinked as her eyes fell on the pen and documents and her shaky hand slowly moved to pick up the pen.She stared at the entrance of the registry again and used her eyes to beg the man who in turn used his eyes to warn her. No words were being spoken but the air around them was so tense that Madeline could feel goosebumps on her skin making her shiver."You have to sign here ma'am," the registry minister informed, pointing to a horizontal line on the paper.Madeline held the pen to the line and tried to control her shaky hands and beating heart but her efforts were futile as the pen soon dropped from her hands. Her hands were sweaty and her face was also starting to get sweaty. She tried to pick up the pen again but her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Then, she felt the masked man bring his body closer to her as he held her hand with the pen in it. He brought it to the horizontal line and signaled her to sign the documents. She tried to retract her hand but he tightly held it and pressed it back to the line. She stared at the document and signed it and a drop of her tears fell on the paper.The minister brought two other documents and she signed them the same way as the former with his hands on hers. They signed all the documents and Madeline walked out of the registry to where her father was standing."Now, you look more like my daughter. This would save my company from crumbling. You are now Mrs. Elias Johan," Mr. Crayon said as he Pat his daughter's hair, showing her his whole set of teeth stained with tobacco. Madeline stared at her father with hatred. A wedding with just papers means nothing to her and that name her father just called her wasn't hers and she was never going to accept it. This wedding was nothing. She gave him a last look before she walked to their car but before she could open the door, she heard his rough voice from behind."Madeline, what are you doing?" Mr. Crayon asked roughly."It's obvious. I want to go home.""My mansion is no longer your home. You belong with him. That is your home," he said, pointing to the masked man who was resting his back on his black car with his hands folded under his chest."You are now married to him and you are no longer welcome in my home. I'll deliver your belongings. From today, his home is your home," he informed as he entered his car with his wife and the driver quickly turned on the car and drove out."Dad, dad," Madeline screamed at the retreating car. How can a father do this to his own daughter? Marrying her out without her wish and now leaving her to the mysterious man. No, she wasn't going to cry. She wasn't going to cry because of her father anymore. She'll try and be happy. He left her, he always does. He abandoned her just like he did to her mum and this time, she wasn't going to forgive him. Yes, she had managed to stay with him for the whole 24 years of her life. She has managed to stay with the murderer of her mother. She had let it go but not anymore. She was going to stay strong and fight this battle with her hands. Madeline turned to her back and her eyes met with a pair of blue eyes. They were staring back at her without any expression. She raised her head and straightened her face. She wasn't going to show any form of weakness to this mysterious man. Why isn't he saying anything? He was just staring at her with his hands folded under his chest. "Get into the car,"
"And you, where do you think you're taking her to?" She looked at kate. "M-master asked me to show her to her bedroom,""What bedro..." "Claire!" A deep voice called sending shivers down their body. "Stop it. From today you shall call her sister-in-law, understood? I'll come to look at your drawing later. Now, go to your bedroom," he ordered before walking away. "Sister-in-law my ass. She's not even beautiful. Hmph!" She said and abruptly turned and walked away. Madeline stood still with her mouth agape. Did a little girl just call her shameless and a mistress? Goodness! Why was she finding all of this funny? Her whole life was funny. She has been facing all sorts of disrespect for the past week and the most painful part was the part of this little girl. Strange how much the maids were scared of her. She saw how Kate stuttered and shivered when she was answering her question. A little girl yield that much brattiness. Seems like someone needs to teach the spoiled girl some manners.
Elias stared coldly at her, how dare she take his mask off and she wasn't feeling remorseful about it. The only people he let see his full face were his family. His dad and his sister, then a few of his workers. No one else has ever seen his complete face ever since he took over his dad's company. And now, a stranger whom he only met today dares to take off his mask and looked at his face. He honestly felt like strangling her to death right now, but he wouldn't do that. If he makes any mistake now, it would ruin the whole of his plans and that would be so bad for him."Can't you hear me? I asked you a question," he heard her ask and his anger rose to the brim. He stretched his hand to the back of her head and clenched part of her hair in his hand, bringing her head closer to him, causing her to flinch in pain. "Don't you ever dare speak to me that way, understood?" He asked releasing her hair from his hold. "This is my room and you have no right to ask me why I'm here.""Y..you mean,
~At Claire's Room~Claire was lying on her bed and dialing a number on her phone and she put it close to her ears. "Come on, pick up your phone Lisa, damn it," she muttered as she sat up on the bed. The phone went through for some seconds before it went off, indicating that the person on the other line, failed to pick up the call. She dialed the number again, put it on speaker, and placed it on the bed. The phone ranged three times before the person on the other line answered."Claire... What the hell? Why are you disturbing me at this time of the night? *Yawn* I was actually having a good night's rest," the person on the other line said."Shut up, Lisa. Everything is a mess here and you're busy sleeping like a log while I'm trying to fix things," Claire scolded. "What's the mess that's making you call me at this time umm? You know how much I fancy my beauty sleep right?" "You just keep quiet before I get angry at you and say something wrong," Claire warned angrily, and Lisa gasp at
Madeline walked downstairs, heading towards the main door in hurry but she halted when she found Elias seated on the couch. She thought he had left the mansion and gone to his company or wherever he works. "Where do you think you're going?" She heard him ask."I thought you already left.""That's not what I asked. Was it?""I...I'm leaving for work. I'm late," Madeline answered. "I was never informed that you work. I thought only your sister works in your father's company. Tell me, where do you work?" He asked in confusion and Madeline narrowed her eyes. He wants to know everything about her which she doesn't feel like telling him."You don't have to care about where I work just like I don't care where you work. We should learn to respect each other's privacy." Elias stood up and walked closer to her. He bent until he was the same height as her and whispered coldly into her ears. "Only I am allowed to have privacy in this mansion. Nothing is private here. Now, tell me where you work
Madeline sighed as she fiercely swerved around to face him. What the hell? How did he know she was going to go out, that he had to lock the door? Wait! It wasn't locked from the inside, it was locked from the outside, which means..."What is this? How did the door got locked from the outside?""I told you before, right? Only my orders work here and no one else. If I ask anyone to dance, they will, and if I ask them to jump into the sea, they will. I believe you've gotten why it's locked from the outside. If you still don't get it, then forget it," Elias said and Madeline could only stare at him with hateful eyes. "Now, go into the room and come down to have breakfast whenever you feel like it. Everything you want would be given to you. So there's no use owning a little restaurant. Get it?" he asked and walked out of the mansion not forgetting to lock the door behind him. Madeline dropped her bag on the floor and looked up in defeat. She felt her tears flow freely from her eyes as she
Tina was happy that her boss has finally left her father's house where the mother and daughter duo are. It's a good thing she's married and that too to the son of the Johan family. That family was so powerful and influential that only the name Johan could make a grown man pee on himself. With this power and influence, she was sure no one would dare to bully Madeline, not her sister, not her mother, and not even her father. She was safe from those bullies. "I'm not interested and I don't want to know what men like. Thank you for taking care of the restaurant in my absence. I really appreciate it," Madeline appreciated."It's fine Mrs. Johan. It's my job and I'm being paid for it. B...but we have only one problem," Tina informed."What? What's the problem?""One of our workers stole money from the restaurant,""Omo. Really? Who did?" Madeline asked in shock. There has never been any case of stealing in her restaurant before. All her workers were always screened every day and she made s
Evelyn felt the air around her become tense and she spat out more words. "I...It's claire. She told me that you suddenly brought a woman home and you told her to call her sister-in-law. S...she also told me that you let her sleep in your room and then you al...""Stop it, now. I'm not interested in hearing all of those things," Elias snapped. "But why did you get married to someone else? What did she have that I don't? I'm more beautiful, we've known each other the longest, and I love you too. So much that I can do anything you say. If you ask me to jump down a five-floor, I...I might do it," Evelyn said in a sweet and sorrowful voice as she pushed herself closer to him, trying to touch his chest. Elias abruptly dragged himself away from her and he almost fell but managed to keep himself stable."What the fuck are you doing, Evelyn?" He asked. "I'm sorry I tried to touch you without permission, but you can't do this to me. Please, I love you so much.""You can keep dreaming. I'm ou
She searched Elias’s eyes for truth but found nothing. She doesn't know if to believe him or not. “Is she alright, doctor?” Elias asked. “Ahh, yes. Everything is fine.” The doctors decided to leave the couple alone and walked out of the hospital room. “Stop crying okay? Adalyn is alright.”“I'll stop crying.”“I'll bring her to you, hmm? Don't cry anymore.”He cleaned her tears before getting off the bed and walking to the other side of the room where little Adalyn lay with her eyes closed. She was obviously asleep. He carried her carefully in his arms and brought her to Madeline who readied her hands to carry her baby as tears of joy filled her eyes. “You’ll fall sick if you keep crying like this sweetheart.” Before she could take the baby from him, he retracted his hands. “Elias, give me my baby,” she whined. She was so eager to carry her baby in her arms knowing that she was fine and everything would return to normal. “Not until you stop crying. Clean your tears and I'll give
They all stopped at the realization that a cliff was right behind Anny and one step from her and she would be gone along with the little baby girl in her arms. Madeline almost fainted at the sight in front of her. She could feel her tears flowing freely and her eyes closing on her. If Genevieve wasn't holding her right now, she would have dropped on her knees as her legs were weak. “Anny please, don't do this,” she begged. Anny swallowed. Behind her was a cliff. She might die if she makes one wrong move. The thing is that, whether she gives them the can't or not, she was going to die. If she gives them the baby, Elias surely won't let her be. He was going to make her life a living hell for daring to kidnap his half day old baby. If she didn't give them the baby, she was also going to die as her feet were at the end of the cliff. One move and she was gone. She wasn't going to die alone. If at all she does here, this baby was dying before her. They must feel pain for their baby and re
“If you move any further, then I won't hesitate to shoot you,” Elias warned. He watched as the woman stood still as he pointed his gun at her while moving slowly closer to her. Abruptly, she turned the situation around and placed her hands on the child's neck while staring at Elias causing his eyes to widen. “Move any further and I will not hesitate to kill you daughter,” she warned. The child was crying very loudly by now and Elias stopped at her warning. Abby laughed at that. Now he would know who was the boss here. She was holding his crying daughter and that made her the one with the upper hand. Any move of his now, she was going to throw the baby to a side and while their focus was on the baby, she would run away. At least to save herself.“Who are you and what do you want?” Elias asked. “I guess you can’t recognize me. Look deeply. Stare at me for minutes and you would know who I am. I was really so close to you guys. Look, come on.”Elias’s mouth fell open as he did as she
The imposter ran with all her might away from the hospital when she saw that she was found out and Elias’s guards were coming after her. She ran with all strength in her. If she passed the road, they were going to get hold of her. Worst, the road was kind of secluded that day and cabs were not passing through the road. How was she going to get away from the guards who were almost getting to her? Her legs took her into the bush and she clutched the head of the baby to her chest and ran into the bush that has thick trees and roughy. Her feet moved quickly as she was desperate to get away from the men on her trail. “This damn baby. I should just strangle it to death,” she muttered as she kept on running. “But if I do, I’ll remain broke and won’t make any money. But with this baby, I’ll make a lot of money and pay for my plastic surgery.”Suddenly, she stopped and pulled her wig and face mask that was making her uncomfortable and her eyes hardened. The lady’s head was bald with no inch
“Okay, that's good. Talk to him and call me later.”Elias finished his call and slipped his phone into his pocket before walking back into the hospital room. His eyes scanned the room for the nurse who just came in and he frowned. Where the hell was she? The tray she brought in was there lying on the side of the bed and the nurse was not in the room. These nurses these days were surely lazy. Feeling something off in the room, his footstep accelerated as he walked to the baby’s crib and his eyes widened in shock. “Goodness! Fuck.”He immediately opened the door of the room and asked. “Did the nurse come out?” “No boss, is something wrong?”“Fuck! The baby is missing.” Their eyes widened as they heard what the boss said and immediately, they ran to the room and one of the guards called for backup. “Search every nook and cranny of the room.” Sweat broke out on Elias’s skin as he ran his hands through his hair. How exactly did this happen under his watch? There was no way that he cou
“Adalyn Johan,” the grandfather muttered. The focus of the family was solely on the baby that they didn't notice when Madeline fell asleep after watching them banter about her baby. “Grandfather already fell in love with the baby, I'm sure in years, Adalyn would be running around him.”“That's true. See how carefully he is carrying her.”“Adalyn is so cute that father can't help but love her.”“Grandfather is now a great-grandfather.”The people in the room remarked on the care with which the grandfather held the little girl. He held her like a trophy. A special trophy. He resisted the urge to thank the mother of the baby for giving them such a cute bundle of joy. Adalyn Johan was a bundle of joy that brought the whole family together and ended the animosity between them. Her birth was a blessing. He made a mental note to thank the mother of the baby after this ends. He was going to thank her and ask for forgiveness for his wrongdoings. The baby passed from the grandfather to Elias’
“Date of birth, November 16, 2022. 4:18 pm,” the doctor declared. “Wahhhhhhh, the baby’s cries were the only noise in the room as the nurses cleaned him a little before placing the baby on the chest of the new mother who patted her back and bend her head to stare at her before turning to look at Elias who was smiling at her. Their eyes gave many expressions as they smiled at each other while staring at the baby who had stopped crying. Elias stared at the baby on Madeline’s chest and his heart filled with indescribable emotions. Their princess was here. Their own baby. The baby who they were going to give all their love and affection to. Their very own firstborn. The nurses came to Madeline’s side and took the baby from her to go wash and dress him up. “You did well, sweetheart,” Elias whispered into her ears and cleaned the drop of sweat from her forehead before. He could see that she was tired but still wanted to hold her baby and feed her before succumbing to darkness. “Our bab
“Isn’t it time yet? It’s been hours already,” Madeline cried as she rolled her hips on the big pregnancy ball that helps with childbirth. It’s been a month already and her water broke some hours back when she was sleeping. Elias was the one who noticed it and asked her so they rushed to the hospital. But here they were, fourteen hours already in the hospital but the doctor was still saying that it wasn’t time for her to start labor yet and she still has to wait for a few more contractions. She has been having contractions for fourteen hours now and the doctor still tells her that. The cramps and pains were making her almost go crazy. “Just some more contractions ma’am. It’s not yet time,” the attending nurse answered. Few more? That was what they have been saying for hours now. And this stubborn baby refuses to start coming out. Just as she was about to lash out at the nurse, she saw Elias coming towards her with a can of water in his hands. “Here, have some sweetheart,” he opened
“Want me to show you the gift I got for you?” Elias asked, walking Madeline out of the house, her eyes tied with a white cloth. Their guests were gone already and just the two of them in the condo. Elias held her hands and guided her steps as she couldn't see. “Where are you taking me?”“You'll see.”He guided her to the open garden at the back of the house and stopped. “Ready to see your gift?” “Stop wasting time already and show me the gift.” Her curiosity was top-notch right now and she so much wanted to see what exactly he got her that was different from the others that he had to bring her somewhere apart from inside the house to display. She was so curious to see what it was. “Okay then, are you sure you're ready?”“Elias... I am. Open my eyes already.”“If you say so.” His hands moved to her eyes and removed the white cloth. “That's your gift.”Her eyes widened as she stood frozen on the spot and stared at her gift. Goodness. This was what Elias got? Her mouth opened agape