It feels good to be able to officially call Patricia my woman. Let me not begin to brag about how I asked her to be my woman. I took her out on a date to a five-star restaurant, which I booked just for both of us.“What is that boyfriend of mine thinking about?”“How lucky I am to have you in my life.”“I must be very special then.”“You are. Süsser, have you finally given it a thought?”“Given what a thought?” I ask, feigning ignorance.“You know exactly what I am talking about, babe.”“Jai, don't get me wrong, I want to be seen outside with you, but don't you think a ball where different dignitaries are is too immense for our first appearance as a couple?”“Hence the more reason I want to show you off at such a big event. We've been dating for two weeks now, and having to travel to Shanghai back and forth is never going to give me time to take part in other future events. You know how I had to squeeze out time to attend this ball, and that's because I'm one of the sponsors.”“We are
The sun rises as the day for the ball has finally come upon us. I had to get an outfit at the last minute, along with a fascinator. My hair is being styled at the moment, while the makeup artist is on standby waiting for the hairstylist to be done. I had my manicure and pedicure done yesterday after I was done with chores. The makeup artist applies my makeup, choosing faint, smoky eyes and a bold red lip to complement the classic look I'm going for. My fingers are adorned with a few pieces of knuckle rings and my neck with pearls, making sure every detail is perfect.Once they are both through, my heart races with anticipation as I walk to my bedroom mirror, my reflection staring right back at me like a vision of timeless elegance. The evening Jordan has been eagerly awaiting—the grand ball where he wants to showcase me to the world. I admire myself in the mirror; my reflection is a testament to my careful preparation, regardless of whether it was a last-minute preparation.The gown
"Brittney, thank God you are here. I almost thought I wouldn't survive tonight, but your presence assures me.”“I'm glad you are here too. Every time I see you, you never seem to be out of style. You look so lovely, and the outfit is great. I love how you added the fascinator; it gives a bit of mystery woman. I can only imagine the headlines on so many blogs tomorrow. “Who's the mystery woman behind the veil?" she says as she bursts out laughing and immediately lowers her laughter as a few heads turn towards us.“Thank you very much. Although I used it as a gimmick to hide,"“I see. Anyway, I want one of those. Preferably black too. Why are you hiding, if I may ask, any skeletons in your cupboard? Because, girl, you have a big thing coming. Trust this jobless set of people to dig it out.”“Can you see the swam of paparazzi buzzing all over Jordan and me? To me, that's more than a thousand reasons to flee into hiding.”“You’ll get used to it eventually. Where is he, though?”“Somewhere
“Ray, you are going to be late for school if you don’t hurry up.” I say, picking up her school's Dr. Martens low-cut boot."I can’t wait for the weekend again so we can go out this time,” Ray says, and I nod, agreeing."Don't worry, it will be the weekend soon." I reassure“Alright, anyway, I’m excited to go to class today.”“Anything special happening?”“No, just that we get to share stories of what we were up to during the weekend.""Alright, that sounds fun. Let’s get you downstairs for breakfast."We go downstairs, and Ray makes herself a bowl of cereal. As soon as she’s done eating, she packs up her plate and drops it in the dishwasher."Is the young lady ready for school?” Mr. Daniel, the driver, asks, walking into the kitchen."Yes, I am." Ray answers“Alright, have a great day at school." I kiss her goodbye before she leaves.“So you’re just going to leave without giving me my kiss?” Jordan asks, appearing in the kitchen, and Ray laughs. She gives him a hug, and he carries her
As the days go by, I pray for courage and resilience to withstand whatever these trolls bring my way."Süsser, is Bryan hitting you up?” Jordan says, handing me my phone.“Let me see." I respond, wondering what he wants from me.“You seem fazed."Why is he sending me tonnes of messages?It must be good to sleep on a water bed and on a pillow made of feathers.Tables turn. The mystery lady is the talk of the city.A well-watered rose blooms, but the one that isn't falls to the ground and withers away. It is soon forgotten as the days go by.I saw that photo of you in the park. It reminds me of when we would play in the park until late in the evening. It was one of your favourite things. Mi amor.What in the world are all these weird text messages?“You haven't answered my question, sweet?” He asks, his tone a bit louder this time."Jordan, give me a break, please. I'm just processing it too. I ended things with him and deleted his number. You saw the messages. Did you see any previous
I can't help but notice Jordan's somewhat tense demeanour as we settle into the living room. The evening progresses with laughter and courteous exchanges, but it seemed like we were all dancing around the biggest problem in the room. Jordan and I pretend to be the ideal hosts, with him cuddling up to me and fixing our guests' needs while keeping our actual emotions under wraps and opting to be friendly in their presence.The Brooks, oblivious to our underlying argument, chat enthusiastically about their recent travels and share stories from their own lives. I nod, smile, and laugh in all the right places, but my mind keeps wandering back to the unresolved issues between me and Jordan.Dinner is a finely prepared meal made by me. The table is set impeccably, with candles casting a warm, flickering glow."Thank you for dinner; it was wonderful,” Jimmy Brooks compliments."Thank you very much." I respond, curtsying."We'll definitely host you the next time,” Samantha Brooks adds.“Thank
“Someone seems to be glowing really well lately.” Tony says.“You can say that again. Aside from the China project stress, I’ve been eating good food, drinking enough water, and enjoying some good love.”“Good to know. You haven’t told me why we are going to the car dealer. Any new car that tickles your fancy?” He asks, fixing his seatbelts.“None yet. I want to get one for Süsser.”“Hmmm.”“What’s hmmm?”“Nothing.”“Out with it,” I say, taking the next turn.“Why are you buying her a car?”“Because she’s my girlfriend. Why would you ask me such a question?”“I know you too well to know that you gift pretty big or expensive things as a way of apologising. So it’s either three things. She requested for a car, or her previous car got stolen, or you are buying her a car to apologise for God knows what. Which of them is it?”“It irks me that you and Brittney know me too well.”“Too bad. Which is it, though?”“We may have had a heated argument yesterday.”“And you rush to buy her a car?”“
I stand in the driveway of the mansion, a blindfold covering my eyes, my heart pounding with excitement as I anticipate what the surprise could be because, with Jordan, surprises never come small. I feel Jordan’s presence behind me as he gently removes the blindfold."Okay, Patricia," Jordan whispers in anticipation. “You can open your eyes now."I blink and adjust to the sudden light. I can’t believe what is in front of me. Parked in the driveway, glistening in the sunlight, is the latest Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4 Door Coupe, with a ribbon neatly wrapped around it.My eyes widen in surprise as I turn to Jordan. My heart is overwhelmed with immense gratitude and surprise. To think I just mentioned it yesterday, and now it’s here. This feels so surreal. "Jordan, is this...is this for me or am I dreaming?”Jordan chuckles and grins, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Yes, Patricia. It's all yours, and I can pinch you right now just to let you know how real this is.”I couldn't help but let
Epilogue6 months later I tap my fingers on the driving wheel, humming along to the pulse of the road, feeling the beat echo within. Each song becomes a personal concert, and my audience is the world outside my window. With each note, the journey transforms into an adventure full of songs and delight, making every mile unique.The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow as I drive , my pregnant belly gently cradled by the steering wheel as I embark on a journey to pick up Ray from her mother Vanessa's house. The anticipation of seeing Ray radiates through me blending with the rhythmic kicks of the little one in my belly.Arriving at Vanessa's house, I take a moment to steady myself before ringing the doorbell. Vanessa greets me with a warm smile. "Thanks for doing this, Patricia, for allowing Ray spend the weekend even though it wasn’t my week.” Vanessa says her expression soft with gratitude."It's my pleasure. Ray and I have a special bond, and it’s important that she has that type of
“Son, we are so happy for you.” father says super proud “Your father is right and we are glad you are very happy because we see how your face lights up all the time.”“Thanks. I love how both of you show up for me every time and support me. How you guys helped me raise Ray with unwavering love.”“You are our child and she's our granddaughter. It's our duty.” father says.“All the same, thanks again.” “I’ll leave you two to discuss while I check on what's cooking.” mother says excusing us.“So how's work?”“Going smoothly, dad. Thanks for asking.”“Don’t you think it's high time you take a break?”“I was thinking so too. Tony and I are organizing a group trip for our ladies.”“Now that's my boy. How's Ray and how’s she coping with this new chapter?”“Surprisingly good. Vanessa is good with children and I'm wondering what changed.”“People change. You did too.”I nod, father's words sinking in. "Yeah, people do change," I agree, pondering the evolution of myself and those around me."Y
The car hums softly as we embark on the journey back home after an emotional reunion with Ray's birth mother, Vanessa. The air in the car is thick with a mixture of lingering tension and unspoken questions. Ray, sitting in the back seat, stares out of the window, seemingly lost in thought. I wonder how she must be feeling after meeting her mother and if she has any question on her mind. Jordan, his hands steady on the wheel, steals a glance at Ray. Concern etched on his face, he speaks gently, "Ray, how are you feeling?"Ray sighs , her gaze still fixed on the passing scenery. "I don't know, Dad. It's a lot to process." I turn in my seat reaching out to touch Ray's hand. "We're here for you, sweetheart. Whatever you're feeling, it's valid."Ray nods , a small smile playing on her lips. "I appreciate that, Mom." I love it when she calls me mom and the thought of having a little child growing in me that will call me mom as well is so exciting. The car moves in a comfortable silence
Vanessa stands there, seemingly untouched by time, her slender figure and unchanged appearance hinting at a timeless beauty. There's a momentary question lingering as to whether she could truly be the mother of the boys following behind, given the absence of any visible resemblance."Vanessa," I call out from the car."Welcome to my home. Jordan and Patricia, thank you very much for this. I do not take it lightly," she acknowledges."Hi, Rachel. It's so lovely to see you. I'm Vanessa.""Hi, Mom," Ray greets warmly.Vanessa's face lights up, glowing with joy like a myriad of stars."Can I give you a hug?""Yes, please," Ray responds, embracing her eagerly."These are my sons, Gabriel and Nathaniel Parker. My husband and their father are late," she announces."Sorry for your loss," we chorus, following the boys' greetings."It's alright. It was a long time ago. Shortly after I got married to him, he took ill and passed. Let's not waste any further time out here. Let's all go in."As we
It's a relief that Jordan and I were able to work through our issues and emerge with a renewed vow to never let secrets ruin our relationship. The lesson acquired from the difficult experience emphasised the critical value of honesty and transparency.What truly surprised me was Jordan's apology for his impulsive decision to ask me to leave without taking the time to process everything. Admittedly, my choice to withhold essential information felt like a significant breach of trust, casting a shadow over our relationship.However, Jordan's perspective on the dynamics of marriage startled me. Despite the hurt caused by my actions, he believed that a successful marriage necessitates navigating such challenges through open communication and forgiveness.At that moment, I felt conflicting emotions—my initial guilt for withholding information, Jordan's surprising apology, and his conviction in the essential aspects of trust and openness in a marriage. It forced me to rethink my concept of t
In the solitude of this past week, amidst the echo of my own thoughts, I've embarked on an odyssey within myself. In the wake of shattered trust, I find myself navigating a labyrinth of emotions, haunted by the echoes of betrayal. Yet, amidst the debris of fractured promises, there's a yearning to rebuild what was once a sanctuary of companionship. The road to reconciliation feels like walking on shards of glass, each step a cautious maneuver to bridge the chasm that divides us. But within this tempest of hurt lies a glimmer of hope, a desire to unearth the truth, to mend the rift, and perhaps forge a stronger bond, weathered yet resilient in the face of adversity.The air in my father's study hangs heavy with the weight of unspoken words and hidden truths. Stepping into this sanctum of memories, the familiar scent of aged books and polished wood offers solace amidst the impending revelation.Mother's absence is a blessing in this moment, sparing her the pain that lingers within the d
The ticking clock echoes in my quiet room, each passing second emphasizing the void left by three days of strained silence. The memory of the argument with Jordan replays in my mind, the pain still fresh, and the weight of regret settling in my chest.My phone lies untouched on the table, its screen devoid of messages or missed calls. I can't bring myself to break the silence, understanding that the wounds from my actions need time to heal. I feel empty without him, unable to eat or sleep properly, spending my days confined in the room, looking like a mess.Regret gnaws at my conscience as I replay the argument in my mind. I had kept a secret, thinking it would be a protective shield for Jordan, only to realize that it has become a barrier between us. Communication truly is key in a relationship; the outcome might have been totally different if I had spoken to him about it as soon as it happened and we had discussed ways on how to go about it. Now I feel like I’ve lost his trust and I
I lay in the hotel bed totally famished and emotionally drained. I don't deserve this. My head is spinning from days of trying to phantom everything that has happened.We were supposed to be on our way to Greece today. I hope she's out when I get back. I need a break from her to be able to think things through. If I'm going to have to get over her which I doubt is possible, I would have to see less of her or her things till I've made a decision. I feel so betrayed!I had to put off my phone because she kept calling non-stop. Only Tony knows my whereabouts and what's going on. I can't bring myself to tell my parents.A knock on my door draws my attention back to my surroundings. That must be room service. I can't let them see me like this.“I'm very busy at the moment, kindly check back later,” I say from behind the door.“It's Tony man.”Arghhhhhh. How do I conceal the wounds on my knuckles?“I'm waiting or else I'll have them bring down this door.”I open the door and resume back to m
The weight of reality hits me hard—I can't believe he found out before I had the chance to tell him. Not that his reaction would have been different, but I wanted to be the one to explain. The door closes behind me, leaving me on the floor, where minutes ago I was pleading with Jordan not to leave.Unable to stand, I remain seated, weeping, and wondering how it came to this. It's only been three months of marriage, and now this. What if he decides on a divorce? I can't lose him; imagining life without him feels unbearable.The gravity of the situation hits me, and I crumble into more tears, my shoulders shaking with the weight of heartache. Realizing I've lost something irreplaceable, coupled with the remorse for not trusting Jordan with the truth, devastates me. I should have mentioned it the very day Bryan sent the message, but I just couldn't. And now, my greatest fear has come true.I don’t know how long I sit crying, but by the time I wake up, it’s past nine. Summoning the courag