Just like the previous day, Shawn knocks on Neriah’s door at exactly seven forty-five a.m. and she opens it before smiling brightly at him. She’s wearing black skinny jeans and a white T-shirt. Her thick curly hair is packed into a neat bun and there’s a little trace of make-up on her face. She has always been pleasant and mind-blowing with her looks and beholding it makes his day even better. “Good morning, Mr Ola,” she greets, pulling closer to him. He’s wearing a strong, but real nice Cologne and all she wants to do is bury her face in his chest and leave it there. “Good morning, princess.” He says before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to himself. “Did you sleep well?” She bites her lips and nod still smiling brightly at him, “Did you?” “Hmm, of course I did.” He takes her lips between his for a deep and sensual morning kiss. “It was the best because I dreamt of you.” Her eyes spark with excitement. “Really? What was I doing?” He wraps his arms around her w
He’s wearing a black suit and a sky blue shirt inside with a black tie. His hair is black, parted at the side to give his face a defined look, although there’s a thick shade covering his face. The morning sun coming up to shine on his face and illuminates his whole appearance. She will not say she’s surprised to see him because that would be a complete lie. She’d always known he’s been following her. It was also obvious he was the one. The Ferrari he’s in is usually not spotted around this vicinity, which she looks for a house as it looked too classy to be around the rural settlement. She feels infuriated though, at how far he’s willing to go just to see another human being suffer misfortune and pain. If she didn’t know better, she would say he found pleasure in watching her suffer and be miserable, and this is someone with many humanitarian awards. “I hope you’re happy and satisfied now,” she says, glaring at him. He removes the shade he’s been wearing from his face, revealing hi
“The result came in.” this causes her to draw a sharp breath, but he continues, “I know you’re dying, Neriah. And this may sound cliché, but I want to help you.” The door open wider not because Cainan pushes it, but because Neriah lets go and moves aside, allowing Cainan to step in, but once he’s fully in, she surges forward and slaps him hard on his face. She thought that was all there was in her until she strikes again, this time harder than the first. Her first outburst doesn’t surprise Cainan, nor does the second one. He’s, however, surprised she’s been so calm in all of this. “You want to help?” She demands incredibly, scoffing loudly, “Take me back to three months ago when you kicked me out of my apartment when I had so much hope for the little life I had then or a week ago when an eviction notice came and kicked me back to the bottom, or this morning when the last hope I had in life crashed before my very eyes all because you had ruined me completely!” “Neriah, that was—” he
The last words of Shawn rang in her head for days and nights. She wished she could turn back time and go back to three months ago when they first met and make things right and she wishes to go back to three days ago and take back everything that had happened. Though she feels relief that Shawn now knows the truth, the cost thereof seems to have become higher than the truth. Since he walked out of the door three days ago, she had waited for his return. Every day she would wait and pray that he gets a change of heart. She knew what he was going through was hard, but witnessing him go through it, knowing he resented her, was harder. Their relationship had ended, which was what she had initially wanted, but now she resents ever wanting that. Shawn was one of the good things in her life and losing that felt and still felt worse than death itself. She couldn’t turn her heart off and go on as though nothing happened. He was a part of her life and he brought positivity into it every day he ca
Shawn walks down from the door. “Hey,” he says as he gets over to her bedside. Although she’s overwhelmed with surprise, she replies, “Hi,” before turning to look at Cainan. “What did you do?!” Neriah can see mischievousness written all over Cainan’s face even though he hasn’t uttered a word, “Not much, had a long talk with him.” Then she looks back to Shawn, with wide eyes, “Please tell me he didn’t threaten you into doing anything.” “He did,” Shawn answers with a quick nod, “but I needed it.” “Thanks for the flower.” She smiles brightly at him. She hasn’t felt this happy in days now and it is so obvious to Cainan, but she can’t bring herself to care at this point. He beams at her, “You’re welcome.” “I’ll give the both of you room,” Cainan speaks up and Neriah nods before he makes his way out of the ward. Shawn takes a seat in the little space beside her on the bed and he takes her cold left hand into his and gently strokes it. Neriah, seeing the opportunity, she has seized i
“Are you going to stay at the door all day?” Neriah asks, turning from the TV and glancing at Cainan, who’s been at the door since he came to visit her about ten minutes ago. Shawn had to leave last night and told her he wouldn’t be able to visit in the morning because of work, but will definitely come over to spend more time with her once he closed. Cainan comes to visit every day as usual, but there was a difference between him and him as much as possible. He tries to stay off mentally and hopes that somehow help emotionally. “Not really, what’s on?” He asks, walking into the room. Neriah sees a black shopping bag in his hands and as much as she tries to ignore it and focus on the TV, she can’t and she wonders what inside it. “Black Panther,” she answers, looking at the TV before turning to stare at him again. “What’s in your hand?” She asks, her curiosity getting the best of hers. His eyes drop to the bag in his hands and his hands tighten around the handle as though trying to k
A week later, Cainan visits the company. He hadn’t come to work in the last week and he wanted to know how things have been in his absence. He admits he misses work, but he knows he needs this time off as he wouldn’t function properly at work if he was to have turned up this past week. Seth, the manager and the frontman, who has been in charge of running the affairs of the company in his absence, is busy in his office when Cainan walks in and immediately he sees him. He gets up from his seat and walks towards him. “Mr Inferno,” he smiles even as he walks towards him and extends his hand for a shake, “So nice for you to come. Are you done with your relief break?” Cainan receives his hand and shakes it, “I’m close to it, I’ll keep you posted and you’ll be the first to know when I’m coming back, but for now, nice work with the company, I’ve heard some pretty great things from mom and others.” “I’m flattered, but thanks.” Death has been diligent and upfront with his post as an acting C
He knows that goes against almost everything he said he’d do, which is stay away, but Mike’s words had gotten to him. Neriah has only a month to live and maybe even less than that and he knows staying away and hoping she pulls through really isn’t an option anymore. He needed to see her. It’s been a whole damn week of keeping away and what good did that do him? He only lied to himself and told himself he staying away was the best when it wasn’t. He remembers the words Ada had spoken to him about a week ago. ‘A feeling you can’t express is as painful as a heartbreak’ This past week he’d stayed away and he can recall the terrible way his heart ached throughout and he doesn’t want that anymore, he needs to see her and he knows she’s going to have a lot of question regarding his absence in the past week but he doesn’t care, he would be as sincere as he needs to be. As he gets to the door of Neriah’s ward, he knocks softly and when he hears the small voice say “come in”, he pushes the doo
This is a Christmas special chapter. It doesn't go in line with the original book. Just like a stand-alone extra chapter. I hope you all enjoy though. “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~Norman Vincent Peal . "I know you would rather be on your own, but are you ever going to let us change that?" Ada asked, as she steps into Cainan's room and finds him in the bed, covered up with the duvet. This has been his routine, and for months it has been the same. Ada would always find him in his room wrapped in his duvet, either crying, sleeping or just there in silence. "It's Christmas today. Surely there has to be something you want to do than just laying in bed and giving m
The next five weeks that followed were what everyone around Neriah called a miracle because there were unexpected. Contrary to the one week given by the doctors and expected of her to live, Neriah spent four more weeks living, loving, working, and learning. After surviving through the first week, Cainan asked her to marry him and when she said yes, they organised a small wedding in the ward for the both of them to be joined as man and wife and Cainan was the happiest. They released many more sketches and designs as Riá-no Neriah’s clothing brand launched into the world a week after, ranging from children wears to adult wears of all sizes. It paved more way after Cainan announced that 50% of the funding would be given to the fight against cancer campaign to help families and those affected by it. Her unexplainable time extension, her marriage and work brought the attention of not just the media, but the world to her and even though Cainan kept them from getting anywhere in or near h
“You’re quiet,” Neriah points out as she and Cainan make their way back from a close-by church walking. It is a somewhat sunny Sunday and Neriah is sure that it might as well be her last and so she spends every moment like it might be her last. It was a ten minutes’ walk back home, and all Cainan has said since they began walking was “No, thank you” to Shawn, who offered them a ride back home. It was unlike Cainan to be quiet, yet Neriah notices that he was and she worried about him. “I’m sorry,” he apologises, and entwines their hands. She shakes her head and glances at him, “Don’t be, you’ve got every right to be blue and sad over Clara, you might not have been head over heels in love with her anymore, but you still cared.” “I couldn’t help her,” he said, through gritted teeth, “I had everything that could have kept her and the little one safe, but yet I couldn’t.” He says his insecurities showing in his voice. The news of Clara’s death was a sad one, and it was hard on Cainan
A week later... “I think your family needs to know and even be here.” Cainan tells Neriah once they walk around the room. Since she got back from the hospital, Cainan moved her into a penthouse he got for her, he told her he rented it for the month, but he bought it in her name but because he knows how Neriah would react to him spending so much money on buying a house, he saved himself that detail. It was larger than her previous apartment, wider and much more sophisticated, and it gave Neriah the chance to move around freely and with less stress. “I will when the time is right,” she says, with a promising tone, just like she said the last time they had the discussion. He rubs his forehead slowly. “When would that be? We talked about it three days ago and you shoved it away, but we both know we don’t have the time. I don’t think it’s fair on them to keep what you’re going through from them,” He tells her. Everyday time gets shorter and as much as it is a gift to have her alive, it
He let go of her hand. “What are you trying to say?” “I’ve known you for almost ten years, Cainan, so I know you’re smart enough to understand what I’m trying to say.” She says in reply. He remembers breaking things off with her over twelve weeks ago but all the while they were together, he really thought that they were safe, she told him to use protection most of the times and she was always on pills because according to her, she couldn’t bear the thought of having Hugo’s child. “It can’t be true,” his eyes drop to her somewhat swollen belly, “how?” He cannot help wanting to know the truth. Clara has never lied to him before and there was no need to lie now, especially when it put her in a dangerous place. “Hugo was on a business trip, probably one of those times in your office when we thought birth control pills were all we needed and you didn’t put on a condom?” She whispers yell at him before adding, “But don’t worry, I’m not forcing you to acknowledge or even accept the child,
Arriving at the hospital, the whole place is quiet and they are both grateful that they are no pressmen and reporters around. Cainan helps set Neriah into her wheelchair and rolls her inside. He opens the door and pushes her into her ward, “Well then, thanks for taking me out.” “Should you be thanking him after everything he’s put you through today?” Shawn asks, bringing their attention to him at the corner of the room. “Shawn!” Neriah says with surprise, “what are you doing here?” Neriah sees a bottle of vodka in his hand, looking almost empty. Shawn has never been one for drinking. In fact, Neriah has never seen him drink since they met and she wonders if she’s the one who has driven him into it. He moves, more of stagger to the centre of the room, still holding the vodka in full grip; “Didn’t realise I needed a reason to visit my girlfriend, besides you’re all over the internet and it’s all thanks to him.” He accuses, pointing to Cainan. “Shawn I —” Cainan tries to speak, but
Cainan realises his mistake, and he runs over to her on the ground, panting and whimpering from regret. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he says, with tears welling up in his eyes. The cameramen don’t stop taking pictures of everything and photographs “Stop doing this, stop taking pictures!” He growls with pure rage, his eyes turning red and all the veins visible on his face. They don’t stop still, but he deals with them later, so he tries to lift her into his hand, but she hit off his hand and as he looks at her she says, “Don’t carry me,” she says. “I swear, I’ll make them pay, all of them. I’ll sue them for everything they’ve got!” He vows through gritted teeth. She smiles amidst her pain, “You can’t use anger to dissolve anger, help me up.” Without question, he does as she says and brings her to her feet. She turns to the cameramen and presses her lips together before looking at every one of the twelve cameramen and reporters and she places her hand on Cainan’s before speaking. “I
“Let’s get you out of this chair and into the car, shall we?” Cainan suggests, offering her his hand. She gives him her hand, and he pulls her up, wrapping his arms around her and holding her firmly and close as he guides her towards the car. His body heats at the contact and he hopes he’s the only one feeling this because it would be unbearable if they are both having an equal reaction from the contact of their bodies. He knows his last thought was crazy as Neriah wouldn’t be one to share equal feelings with him and if she even knew about how he felt, she would try to stop him. “I feel like I’m learning how to walk,” Neriah giggles uncontrollably as she tires of the wobbly feeling in her legs every time she puts a little weight on it. “It’s expected the medication drugs you’re on are powerful. Believe me when I say you wouldn’t have been able to go so far even if you wanted to.” He explains as he guides her close to the front seat. Her legs feel numb and even she has felt it for
He knows that goes against almost everything he said he’d do, which is stay away, but Mike’s words had gotten to him. Neriah has only a month to live and maybe even less than that and he knows staying away and hoping she pulls through really isn’t an option anymore. He needed to see her. It’s been a whole damn week of keeping away and what good did that do him? He only lied to himself and told himself he staying away was the best when it wasn’t. He remembers the words Ada had spoken to him about a week ago. ‘A feeling you can’t express is as painful as a heartbreak’ This past week he’d stayed away and he can recall the terrible way his heart ached throughout and he doesn’t want that anymore, he needs to see her and he knows she’s going to have a lot of question regarding his absence in the past week but he doesn’t care, he would be as sincere as he needs to be. As he gets to the door of Neriah’s ward, he knocks softly and when he hears the small voice say “come in”, he pushes the doo