REBECCA“You're three weeks pregnant,” the nurse confirmed my suspicion but that didn't lessen the situation.I was yet to come to a decision and it worried me if I'll even come to one soon before it becomes too late.So I truly was pregnant. I had cried so much yesterday that I didn't know how to feel today. Do I cry my eyes out again?"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she apologised. "I was told not to yet that it would be shocking." she tried to explain but what was the point of it? She couldn't disobey the higher power and once again, I'm reminded who holds the upper hand here.The ones with wealth, money and power. Influence was a weapon used against the poor and the weak. It didn't matter what was in my account, I was part of the masses.Living in a fancy house didn't make me rich. It only reminded me of what I was and I could never be again.I just wanted to leave after all this mess was sorted out. If only she could recover faster… but it's no use trying to rush the process. I ca
REBECCA"Hey," I hung up the phone and tried to contain my smile while he searched my face with a worried gaze."Your eyes… Did you cry?""Yes. I got so overwhelmed thinking about my own problem," I admitted and tried to shake it off, make him worry less but that didn't seem to work."Have you had breakfast yet?" I changed the subject quickly."I grabbed some at a restaurant before coming. I don't think I can eat anymore.""Bummer. My mom made breakfast and it was really lovely. I'm glad she remembers her recipe and her favourite hobby besides gardening, of course." We walked down the hall and ended up in my room."I could try some one of these days. Are you feeling okay?" he asked again."I'm fine, Theo. I promise. I just needed to cry," I felt guilty but I couldn't tell him just yet, besides, I still didn't know what I wanted to do about this. It was a tough decision to make. I'd have to endure with raising a kid by myself. That was the last thing I ever thought I'd do.I guess one
OLIVER I flipped through the documents with my sleeves rolled as I glanced at every single word trying to understand but all I saw was her face. The broken look as she stared at me and cried- hell, my cheek still stung from her slap and I could still remember it. I was so shocked when I heard the news of her pregnancy. Instead of happiness, I was worried and afraid. A baby in this mess was like giving the old man something to chew on and he was already coming in hot these past few days. He was reaching out to the board and trying to cause me setbacks that could get me removed. All that was left was to convince more than half of the board to vote me out and that was the end of it. Luckily for me, they couldn't just get rid of me that easily. They saw what I brought to the table, they were pleased with their income and the company's success rate. Everything was working to my advantage but he still persisted and thought to ruin me. He was trying to teach me a lesson. "Oliver," Vic
OLIVER I drove down to the mansion like a mad man, ignoring all the traffic rules and luckily for me, I got out unharmed as well as everyone I almost hit. I slammed the door and rushed into the house just in time to see Theo. I grabbed him by the collar with anger rippling through me as I snarled in his face, "Where were you when this happened? Where the fuck were you?" The guards peeled me off him but that didn't stop me from throwing a punch to his jaw. I flexed my fingers from the contact of his hard jaw and he spat out blood. He made no attempt to retaliate like I thought he would. He looked broken and sad, like this had hurt him more and was hurting him more than it hurt me. The idiot had clearly fallen for her but he had her fooled. If she thought he was any different, she'd be shocked to find out he was also in a mess with my grandfather. As long as he continued to hide his mother and remain in this city, he was a threat. "I put you all here to watch over her but every dam
OLIVER I was sent with a mission; to poison the Hoffman's down to their little girl. The old man was heartless but what did I care, it was a chance to be accepted and not to be thrown out to the streets once more.But that night, I picked up all my stuff and chose to run away for their own safety.I'd go to a river somewhere and drown because returning to the orphanage would only put the other kids in trouble and I didn't want to cause more trouble for anyone.A black van pulled up to me and I wasn't surprised to see my father's men. One of them grabbed me before I could bolt.“Pay up,” they said, one to the other. “I told you he couldn't do it.”“Look at him. He's a desperate little thing with no guts. You can't live a good life by being weak, you imbecile!” they smacked my head and tossed me about, laughing as they had fun.“I'll call them that I have the boy,” one of them said and took out his phone-“No!” I tried to reach for it but I was knocked down before I even knew what hit
REBECCA I've been bedridden for a few days. I took the rest of my exams online with a supervisor assigned to me. It went smoothly despite the chaos of a few days but I didn't want anything to weigh me down.If I wasn't reading, I caught myself staring into space, thinking of my child and how he managed to survive.“I guess this one is really stubborn, isn't he?” I thought to myself. Just like his damn daddy. At least that was one way to know the baby was Oliver's.Despite seeing my condition, he still kept his mouth shut.Most nights I woke up from a nightmare, screaming the house down. It was always the same scene, only this time instead of the strange man who stabbed me, it was Oliver's grandfather while I watched Oliver stand at a distance with either his sealed or he rendered endless apologies instead.I was sick of hearing him apologise. I was tired of it. It burned in my memory and now whenever I thought about him, it was always about him saying sorry.Funny how he used to do f
REBECCAFrom the front door as I walked into the house to the living room where we used to watch movies and have little date nights, tears filled my eyes as I looked around. I trailed my fingers over the counter top in the kitchen and memories of when he once made my mother's favourite soup waltzed back in my head and I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down.This used to be a home once.Oliver and I were so comfortable around each other that we felt married. Or at least, I had felt that way. Clearly it was a delusion but it was everything to me at one point.I loved waking up to Saturday mornings where he would cook breakfast while I watched sometimes or he served me in bed. Where we both decorated with our favourite colours blending into something beautiful.Oh, I had dreams and he had orchestrated every single one of them. Whether he truly loved me or not, I would never know. Not like I even wanted to anymore. I was calling it quits.I climbed the stairs, remembering how he once
REBECCA"Are you sure?" Theo asked over the phone and I shut the door and turned in the lock."Positive. I heard her discussing with Oliver while I was at his place then saw her pick it up from the ground."How could she have kept something like that away from me? She knew how much I was worried about her. I wanted to leave this damn country and the only reason we stayed back was because of her.I felt betrayed and this one hurt more than anything."Calm down. You're breathing too hard.""I can't help it. She betrayed me-""I'm sure she has her reasons. She wouldn't do that to you-"I tried to tell myself that but it sounded like a big fat lie and I didn’t want to delude myself. How could she trust Oliver more than me, her own daughter? After everything…"I'm gonna steal it," I whispered."What?""I need to know what's in that warehouse and I can't trust the fucking police. Help me, please."He took a while before he responded because he pondered on it-"You're the only one I have rig
REBECCAI put the coffee on the table and looked around.Where was Victor?He called me a few minutes ago that he'd be here.I glanced at the time. It was a few minutes past 6pm. and I had to rush to the grocery store to get groceries for dinner. Mom already sent me a list of things she would need.My phone rang and I quickly picked it up, "Hey, Tania.""Hey, girl. How are you doing?""I'm alright. Just waiting for Victor to show up so I can get home and get some sleep.""That assistant guy? What's he doing over there?" she wondered."He's here on a business trip and he's supposed to give me some documents to sign. Some kind of shares split." Oliver had a big part of Arthur's and my father's share and now he was transferring it back.Well… some."You're splitting it?""He is the adopted son of Arthur and should have Arthur's share.""Didn't they both decide to give it to you?""That was before Oliver came into the picture. Besides, I can't just take it all. He's worked hard for that c
REBECCA:FEW MONTHS LATERI grabbed my coat off the hanger by the side of the door and threw it on, wore my boots and grabbed my bag pack. Gently and quietly, I tried to open the door-"Rebecca Hoffman, you come back here, right now!" my mother screamed from behind me and I yelped, turned around with a racing heart to find her glaring at me. She was still in her pyjamas and had on her hair net."Jesus, Mom! It's 8am. and we have neighbours," I tried to remind her but she only stormed towards me with her face in a pout and grabbed my hands."You're not leaving without breakfast, now sit!" She pulled me to a stool in the kitchen and she took out some pots."I'm going to run late," I whined. "I have class in about an hour and that professor is as strict as they come.""I'll come beat him up if you want."I rolled my eyes as she tried to make something simple and light while I drummed my fingers on the table. I pulled off my jacket and laid it to rest on the counter and scrolled through m
REBECCA"Is that why your mother is heavily guarded?" I wondered, making sense of it now as I took a step closer to him. "You've been associated with him. You used me-"He shook his head-"Say something," anything but of what use was it when the evidence stared me right in the face? He couldn't deny it. Not after what I've heard so clearly."I didn't…" he trailed off. "I didn’t use you… in the beginning, yes, I approached you because I was-""Oh my God!" I gasped and sobbed as the tears spilled over."But that was until I got to know you-""Yadda, yadda, yadda," Richard dismissed. "It's the same damn thing. You used her because she was close to Oliver and wanted to get closer to me. Well congratulations, it worked. You must be pleased with yourself now.""You know, the cops are fortunate to have you. Why don't you come work for me? I'll double-- no, triple your salary and we could start with you getting rid of that boy, Oliver for me. He's my adoptive grandchild and I can do whatever
REBECCAI stared at Theo in shock as the old man looked beyond pleased staring at him. Betrayed yet again? By everyone surrounding my life. I was betrayed by the one I thought would have my back."Why…?" I trailed off. I couldn't even cry or feel sorry for myself this time. "I trusted you-""You trust the wrong people," the old man said. "I tried to extend a genuine hand to help you but what did you do? You decided to bite a good hand. How does it taste now?" he glared at me but still had that look of triumph because he was clearly enjoying himself and his victory.I failed.Right at the edge of a breakthrough… I… "Why?" I screamed at him and Sophia gasped. I was immediately reminded that the two were still here and now they clung to each other as they trembled in fear."I can't believe I missed this spot," he sighed. "I searched for years and years for this yet you two idiots had this lying under your shop? Do you know what these are!" he screamed at them, instilling more fear and th
REBECCAMy father sure made a fool out of these people for fifteen whole years."Are you sure we're in the right place?" Theo asked again, refusing to believe his eyes and I looked at the picture my mother had confirmed."Yes," it was a coffee shop facing the Wright Company.How interesting was it that they all passed the place every day for fifteen years yet not one of them thought to come here to check."Wow. Okay. Let’s go in and order coffee? Or how does this work?" I looked at the key again and all that was on it was just numbers. "I guess we'll have to go in and find out." I opened the door and stepped out.We walked in together, and we walked right onto the front.The young woman behind the counter smiled, "Hello-" her eyes widened in realisation when she saw me but she was nice enough to shut her mouth and go straight to business. "What would you like to order?""Can I see the manager please?"She arched her brows, "Uhm… may I know why? Do you have a complaint? You can relay
REBECCA"Are you sure?" Theo asked over the phone and I shut the door and turned in the lock."Positive. I heard her discussing with Oliver while I was at his place then saw her pick it up from the ground."How could she have kept something like that away from me? She knew how much I was worried about her. I wanted to leave this damn country and the only reason we stayed back was because of her.I felt betrayed and this one hurt more than anything."Calm down. You're breathing too hard.""I can't help it. She betrayed me-""I'm sure she has her reasons. She wouldn't do that to you-"I tried to tell myself that but it sounded like a big fat lie and I didn’t want to delude myself. How could she trust Oliver more than me, her own daughter? After everything…"I'm gonna steal it," I whispered."What?""I need to know what's in that warehouse and I can't trust the fucking police. Help me, please."He took a while before he responded because he pondered on it-"You're the only one I have rig
REBECCAFrom the front door as I walked into the house to the living room where we used to watch movies and have little date nights, tears filled my eyes as I looked around. I trailed my fingers over the counter top in the kitchen and memories of when he once made my mother's favourite soup waltzed back in my head and I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down.This used to be a home once.Oliver and I were so comfortable around each other that we felt married. Or at least, I had felt that way. Clearly it was a delusion but it was everything to me at one point.I loved waking up to Saturday mornings where he would cook breakfast while I watched sometimes or he served me in bed. Where we both decorated with our favourite colours blending into something beautiful.Oh, I had dreams and he had orchestrated every single one of them. Whether he truly loved me or not, I would never know. Not like I even wanted to anymore. I was calling it quits.I climbed the stairs, remembering how he once
REBECCA I've been bedridden for a few days. I took the rest of my exams online with a supervisor assigned to me. It went smoothly despite the chaos of a few days but I didn't want anything to weigh me down.If I wasn't reading, I caught myself staring into space, thinking of my child and how he managed to survive.“I guess this one is really stubborn, isn't he?” I thought to myself. Just like his damn daddy. At least that was one way to know the baby was Oliver's.Despite seeing my condition, he still kept his mouth shut.Most nights I woke up from a nightmare, screaming the house down. It was always the same scene, only this time instead of the strange man who stabbed me, it was Oliver's grandfather while I watched Oliver stand at a distance with either his sealed or he rendered endless apologies instead.I was sick of hearing him apologise. I was tired of it. It burned in my memory and now whenever I thought about him, it was always about him saying sorry.Funny how he used to do f
OLIVER I was sent with a mission; to poison the Hoffman's down to their little girl. The old man was heartless but what did I care, it was a chance to be accepted and not to be thrown out to the streets once more.But that night, I picked up all my stuff and chose to run away for their own safety.I'd go to a river somewhere and drown because returning to the orphanage would only put the other kids in trouble and I didn't want to cause more trouble for anyone.A black van pulled up to me and I wasn't surprised to see my father's men. One of them grabbed me before I could bolt.“Pay up,” they said, one to the other. “I told you he couldn't do it.”“Look at him. He's a desperate little thing with no guts. You can't live a good life by being weak, you imbecile!” they smacked my head and tossed me about, laughing as they had fun.“I'll call them that I have the boy,” one of them said and took out his phone-“No!” I tried to reach for it but I was knocked down before I even knew what hit