HAROLDI glanced at my watch, and I was tapping my foot on the floor impatiently. I looked around the congregation, and the chorus of mumblings was heard.It's time for her to come, isn't it?"Impatient, are we??" Dylan whispered from behind.I heaved a sigh and nodded. Dylan was my best man today.Dylan chuckled,"Even I want to be in your place someday." He said while glancing at Gwen, who was standing down the altar."You will!!" I smiled.Again, my eyes traveled to the huge door of the church. And then again, I glanced at my watch.She is late, like always.Again, I sighed.A small boy with brown hair and grey eyes approached me. He was wearing a small, cute tuxedo. He stood in front of me and handed me a white rose and note, with that he walked away and I glanced at his back.Did Naomi send him to me??I smiled and opened the note.Congratulations on your spectacular wedding and a lifetime of love and happiness ahead if I let you have it ;) Mia cara..Love, Your one and only fath
6 years later:NAOMIMy life has been way better in the past six years of my life. I had Harold and my sweet baby with me all the time. Many things happened in the past six years. Some happy and some tragic. Happy: I had the love of my life with me and tragic: I lost my parents in a car accident. I never spent a lot of time with them as I disobeyed and disappointed them. But I'm glad I was with them during their last times. I've been miserable after their death, but luckily, I had Harold, who cried along with me and was also a comfort to me.My life can never be any better without him. As the day passes by, our love for each other grows even more. How can I not love such an adorable being.And along with him I had my sweet..."Mom!! Feeling alright?" I was snapped out of my trance as I heard my sweet little girl's voice.Nadia Helen Kingston.."Yes, honey." I replied with a smile as she nodded and resumed her game with Jaxon Scott.Dylan and Gwen's son. Who apparently is two years you
NAOMIIt was already night, and we three were in our room. I was sitting on the bed with my back rested on the headboard, and my little Nadia was on the bed, giving me her daily massage. Harold was on the other side of the bed with his eyes glued onto his phone."Mom, how are Hayden and Hazel gonna come out of your tummy??" She asked with a cute frown.Harold's head peaked up in interest as he glanced at Nadia and then at me with a smirk"Um.."I guess for now, the c-section method is fine to tell her."Doctors cut my stomach and take the babies out, and then they stitch my tummy back." I smiled, and Harold snickered before keeping his phone aside."What!!!" A grimace of horror took over her expression as she sat straight and clutched her stomach."Are they going it cut your stomach with the knife?" She asked with a worry laced face."Um.." I quirked my brows as I really didn't have any knowledge about surgeries. "Yeahhh..." I trailed off."OMG!!!" She exclaimed. "I'm never gonna get
HAROLDI frantically tapped my foot on the floor and leaned back on my seat before glancing up at Mrs Evans, who was explaining about the shares that have increased within the month which was quite impressive but I was in no mood to listen and also sit inside the goddammit conference room.I sighed.Nadia was forcefully sent to school, and I was forcefully sent to the office. Naomi is strict as hell.Again, I couldn't help but sigh.When is she going to end the bloody meeting??!!Suddenly I heard my ringtone as I jerked up and looked around the table. But I couldn't find it.Remembered!!! I kept my phone inside the drawer.Surely Naomi is calling!!Maybe she got her labor pain.I warned her about it, but she didn't listen and forced me to attend this stupid meeting!!Before I could pull the drawer beneath me open, Mrs Evans called me."Mr Kingston, do you have any doubt?"I looked up at her and waved my hand. "No!! You continue." I passed her her sheepish smile.And the very next mome
HAROLD"She's with Ron Gusevi!" He sighed as his eyes met mine."Ron Gusevi!!?" I frowned. My mind was not able to comprehend what he was saying as it was messed up due to fear."Yes!! I've warned you so many times about him. They are dangerous...the Russians are dangerous." He exhaled, his eyes glinting in sadness.I took a step back in fear. A shiver ran down my spine at the thoughts of what those cruel beasts could do to my daughter. I was having a panic attack. My breathing ragged as I stood, petrified.I felt a hand on my shoulder as I glanced up at Marcel."She's going to be fine... we'll protect her together!!" He said in a soothing way to comfort me.I pushed him away from me."It's all because of you.." I snarled."If you wouldn't have joined mafia..if you wouldn't have killed Mother..if you would have been good.. everything would have been perfect in my life." My whole body was trembling as I hissed these words out, which has been inside me for so many years.Marcel's demean
NAOMII was lying on the hospital bed after enduring a lot of pain. I glanced at the cradle where Hayden and Hazel were sleeping soundly.I heaved a long sigh and glanced at the wall clock. It has already been two hours, and still, Harold and Nadia are not here.Maybe Harold is stuck in a meeting.But he should have quit his meeting and come to me as he promised. Last time, during Nadia's delivery, Harold was with me the whole time, and it was much easier than this.I exhaled.I wonder where he's stuck and when he is getting Nadia.I can't wait to see both of them, especially Nadia. I want to capture her expression while she sees Hayden and Hazel. She's gonna be so ecstatic."Why are they not here yet??!" I asked Daria, who was sitting on the couch, glancing at the babies.She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in response."I called King an hour ago, and he said he's on his way to Nadia's school, but he's not here yet." She stated in puzzlement."Pass me my phone.." she passed
NAOMI"Mom.." I heard her whisper from behind, and I immediately spun around to face her.I sucked in a deep breath as I saw her face. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were watery, and her nose was puffed. Her clothes were half torn. There was a dark red mark on her cheek. Someone slapped her hard."Nadia.." I lost my breath, seeing her condition. All my tears were flowing down uncontrollably knowing that my baby had to go through all of this.Again, a sharp pain coursed through me as I collapsed on the ground."Mom!!" Nadia exclaimed and limped towards me.I glanced at her feet, which had a bad burn. A little flesh was also out.I crawled towards her and checked her feet. Her sole was burnt partially. I glanced up at her. "Who did this to...--" I was cut off as she hugged me tight and started crying."Mom!!" Her voice echoed as she cried loud."Shh.." I mumbled. "I'm here.... we'll get out of here, baby." I whispered."Shh.... I know they hurt you, and your dad will surely kill them
NAOMI"NO!!!!!" My voice echoed throughout the room as a loud cry escaped my lips as triggers were pulled.A bodyguard pulled the trigger, aiming the gun at Ron's chest, and Ron pulled the trigger, aiming at Nadia's head from back. Both did that at the same time."NADIA!!!!" Harold and I screamed simultaneously as the bullets were shot.Ron body fell on the floor with blood oozing out, followed by a loud groan of pain."MOM...--" That was the last scream that escaped from Nadia's mouth. I gasped and cried aloud as I saw Nadia collapsing on the floor with blood flowing all around her hair."NADIA!!!" I screamed and clutched my paining stomach before crawling towards her.Her blue eyes were wide open, her eyelashes were wet, her cheeks were tear stained and red. A continuous flow of blood was coming out of her head, bathing her hair with blood."Nadi... baby.." I took her head gently and placed it on top of my lap. My hands and clothes were covered with her blood.I tapped her cheeks sl
EMILYThat evening, I returned to work, going about my shift at the hospital as though nothing had happened the night before, answering my coworkers' questions about the time I'd spent with my sister but not mentioning to them that I had stolen her identity and ended up at a party that was more amazing than any- thing I had ever experienced before.I ran through my list of patients, taking care of each one as needed. Each person I took care of only served as a reminder of the path I had chosen in life. Sure, I was pleased with my career, and I found it incredibly fulfilling what I could do in the lives of others.But, when it came down to it, I was feeling incredibly envious of my sister. I wanted her life. I wanted to be invited to those parties and to meet those men. I wanted to be the one everyone knew from the cover of a magazine. I wanted to be wanted once again. Try as I may, there was no way I could get Kyle Cun- ningham out of my mind, and each time his face appeared in the ba
KYLEI left early that morning, letting Emily sleep in. I didn't know much about her, and I didn't want to break the spell of the night we'd spent together by talking about things that we didn't need to talk about. All too often, I would wake up next to a woman only to hear how she was getting back at her ex-boyfriend, or that she was doing something to bring drama into some relationship she was having.There were those who were lonely, and those who merely wanted to get a taste of what it would be like to be with a man like me. Sure, they were all intended to be one-night stands on my end, too, and I hadn't ever formed any real opinion about any one of them. But, at the same time, I didn't want the woman cur- rently in my bed to wake up and tell me something about herself that would change the way I felt about her.That thought filled me with confusion.I liked doing what I did and splitting the next day. It was the ego boost I needed; a modicum of fulfillment in a life that I wasn't
."Maddie please, don't do this." He sighed raising his hands in the air in a defence position taking another step forward.I opened my mouth and met out a piercing scream, it lasted for around twenty seconds. Long enough for Dylan to back away from me and the lady around the till to come rushing around.It felt as if the next few moments were played out in slow motion the women had barley reached me when I heard the door of the cafe slam open the impact a lot larger than mine that it caused the glass on the door to shatter.My eyes shot to the doorway which was being took up by Fours large stance who's whole body was clenched his chest heaving up and down his golden eyes set on me before flickering to Dylan.My eyes widened as he took no time before he stalked over his long legs carrying him to my side where he reached out grabbing ahold of my arm pulling my into his large chest blocking my view from the rest of the cafe.I felt heat radiating of his body as his chest huffed and puff
EMILY"Now, tell me absolutely everything. I'm shocked that you even went, and I want to hear how you held up with the rest of the crowd." Maddy said as she walked in through the door.I smiled and shook my head, also unsure of how I had managed to do so well with the situation I had put myself in. I wouldn't have said that I'd handled things perfectly, but I had certainly held my own in the club. "You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked as the two of us walked into the kitchen.Maddy laughed."I have to admit, I thought it was a little strange when you hopped into myride but when you didn't answer my call, I figured you knew what you were doing." She shook her head with a mischievous grin and I smiled, too. I still felt the ex-citement in my chest, and I was eager to relate to her what had happened.Maddy took a seat at the counter and I handed her a glass of iced tea beforegrabbing my own glass and settling in to begin."Well, as you know, we arrived at that mansion up on the hil
EMILYlopened my eyes, slowly blinking as I looked around the room. I had a headache from the champagne the night before, and it took me a moment to remember where I was exactly. Slowly, the events of the previous day came to mind, and I began to piece together what today would hold.I remembered having the disagreement with my sister, and began searching for my phone. I then remembered that I had dropped my clutch out in the living room, and figured my phone must be inside. Looking around the room, I could see that Kyle was already gone, having gotten dressed while I was still asleep.I hurried out to the living room in nothing but my underwear and, sure enough, found my phone inside my clutch. Kyle had been kind enough to pick it up off the floor and leave it sitting on the coffee table for me, and I ignored the feeling of embarrassment that threatened to swell up in me.I was a grown woman, and I was allowed to do anything I wanted-includinghaving a one-night stand with a person t
KYLEIhad to admit, I wasn't entirely sure what had come over me. I'd had many one- night stands in my life. In fact, it was my preferred way of doing things— get the girl in bed, have fun, then get away from her as fast as possible. Miss Shadows, on the other hand, had piqued my interest.I hadn't had any real expectations when I'd taken her up to the party upstairs, but seeing her reaction first to those who were enjoying each other, then seeing her in bed with me, sparked an interest in me that I had never experienced be- fore. I had no intention of committing to her or making any kind of promises that I would ever see her again, but I did wish to get to know her body a littlebetter and that wouldn't be possible if we stayed at the Gathering. There was a little voice inside my head that warned me to be careful taking any woman home, especially one like Emily. Not only did I feel a connection to her, but I could sense that she was feeling a connection to me.It had become easy for
EMILYIwalked quickly and silently next to Kyle as we made our way through the hall. I wasn't sure how he knew the rooms in the house, but I trusted he knew what he was doing, and he wasn't going to take me anywhere I wouldn't feel safe. The rooms were all dark, with some dim lights lining the hallway.It was clear that, though there were many people in the room behind us, it wasn't entirely encouraged for people to be in these back rooms. I didn't even know for sure who owned the house, nor what their connection was to my sis- ter. For a moment, I hoped I wasn't doing anything that was going to get her in trouble. The feeling was a brief one, however, as Kyle kept his hand on my back, guiding me past room after room.The sounds that came from inside several dark corners revealed that we weren't the only two people to have this idea, but it was clear that Kyle didn't have any intention of exploring my body in the shadows of a doorway like some high- schooler. He wanted to take me some
KYLEIkept my palm on the small of Emily's back as we headed for the staircase, fresh drinks in hand. There were a few men and women scattered along the way- some engrossed in conversation, some busy watching the events on the dance floor.As for me, I had come to the conclusion that if you've seen the dance floor once, you've seen it a thousand times, and I felt I wasn't missing out on anything tak- ing her away from itI knew this was her first time at the Gathering, but Emily seemed to be enjoyingherself, in spite of the nerves she must be feeling. I had to hand it to her, shedid manage to fit in with the rest of the guests, though it was evident she hadn't done anything of this sort before. I could feel a slight tremble in each step she took as we mounted the stairs, and I added gentle pressure to my palm on her back. There was no doubt in my mind that she was going to be fun in bed, but Ididn't want her to feel nervous taking this next step in her night. She was sobeautiful,
EMILY"Please, call me Kyle."The man they'd introduced as Mr. Cunningham sat at the bar next to me, sip- ping on his whiskey and smiling at me as though I were the only girl in the room. Every now and then, he would turn his attention to the other guests, but I never felt like he was focusing on anything but our conversation."But that really is enough about me. I'd love to hear about you; I don't recall see-ing you here—or in any other club around here for that matter," he said, look-ing down at me as he lifted his glass to his lips and took a drink.I immediately felt flustered and began stumbling over my words. I had kept upmy sister's identity throughout the entire evening, but now that I was with aman who not only found me attractive, but didn't recognize me as my sister, I felt I had the opportunity to drop the act and tell him the truth."My name is Emily Shadows. I'm a model." So much for telling him the truth.Kyle looked at me for a moment with raised eyebrows, as thoug