Blood spluttered inside the sink, creating a gruesome sight. Riley was hunched over said sink, trying to catch her breath. "No, no, no, please. This can't fucking happen, not now, please." She complained, but her voice was filled with genuine anger instead of pity for herself. She was more concerned about staining her dress, in fact, than the actual ailment that had caused her to throw up. Today was Eron and Frema's wedding and Riley could not let her 'stupid cancer' get in the way if their happiness.A knock resounded on the door of the washroom. "Riles, are you okay?" Her husband's voice came and she shouted back right away,"I'm fine, babe. Honestly, you don't have to look for me every two hours. I just needed to pee." "Oh okay, we'll be heading to the church now with the groom. I'll be expecting you all later, okay?" He said and she replied back with an 'okay', waiting to hear him leave. He finally began to head out and then she turned on the tap, washing every evidence of her b
"I'm pregnant, you assholes! Could you let me out of here first, so I can get this baby out of me?" Kayla yelled, clutching the protectors tightly, even trying to climb it. Titi was in juvenile prison and the truth was, she was almost going crazy without her daughter by her side. No one paid her attention, though and she kept screaming until a figure walked up in front of the cell. The other inmates in the cell, glanced up at the visitor and on seeing who it was, the women sprang up and watched him intently, like he was a favorite snack. Only Kayla shook in fear."We meet again, Kayla." Eron spoke and she shook her head."I'm pregnant, you can't hurt me." She responded. He chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes."You think I'm here to hurt you? What are the guards for, then?" He queried and she didn't reply, just stared at him. He continued, "Wow. Never thought I'd see the day where you'd finally shut up." She scoffed now, replying nonchalantly,"Well, surprise surprise." She b
EPILOGUETHREE YEARS LATER"She was such a beautiful young woman, she did not deserve to die." Someone murmured behind Frema, but she couldn't bring herself to turn and feed her curiosity by seeing who it was. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and at this point, she truly had no tears left to cry. All she could think of them, was the fact that Riley had promised. How could she not keep her promise afterward? She'd obviously not been there for her friend enough, she hadn't even guessed that Riley would lose her life so soon. She died in the most painful way to her—chatted with her all night and then slept, never waking up after. How could she not notice the emptiness in her friend's eyes? How could she have missed the pain?"I'm sorry, Riles. I'm so sorry." She muttered weakly, staring at Riley's immobile figure. Her beautiful face and body stayed stiff now, . She could not count the amount of times she'd looked around, hoping for a miracle—just like what had happened with Eron, b
Frema Turning the sign of the restaurant to closed, I couldn't help but sigh in relief. "Let's go, Riley, I could really use some sleep right now." I said, rubbing my forehead as I felt a headache kicking in."You're such a fucking sloth sometimes," Riley grunted, and I ignored her, heading for my BMW.Feeling tired, I tossed the key to my best friend, flashing her an apologetic smile as she glared at me. Soon enough, she got to her house and I had to drive my lazy butt home."I don't get you sometimes, bitch," Riley started and I raised a brow. "Your dad owns a fucking company earning over millions in one fucking month, and your mom runs half of their parents' company. How the hell are you working?" She asked for probably the hundredth time and I groaned."Can we talk about this tomorrow? I need sleep like a baby needs her lollipop." I said, opening the door and signalling her to get out. She rolled her eyes at me and got out anyway, swaying her thin hips just too spite me.I chuc
Eron"Stop being grumpy, man. We didn't lose everything, we still have —""We don't have anything, Liam! We couldn't close such a simple deal! Do you know how hard I've worked for it? I was totally embarrassed in that board room. Even my father looked very disappointed in me." I spat, loosening my tie as I kept pacing around."Yeah, your dad looked pretty disappointed but you closed three deals in two weeks now. This one might be one of the biggest but I believe everything happens for a reason. Come on, man. Okay, how about we go out to eat? At Kimmy's palace? I really loved their food the last time." Liam proposed and my brow raised."How is eating supposed to make me feel better?" I questioned. Liam shrugged."We could look at some beautiful waitresses.." I laughed. "You like a waitress there?" "You can't blame me. She looks different." Liam stated, shrugging."Wait. Like like, or under the sheets obsession?" Liam rolled his eyes. "I just met her once, man. Of course I haven't de
FremaHe was looking over at us like we were fresh meat. It freaked me out but I maintained eye contact. Willing myself not to chicken out. Arsen stared directly at him too, as confused as I was. How can a person have so much hatred in his eyes?Suddenly, he stood up abruptly and hastily left the restaurant. I looked over to Liam. He avoided my gaze and wrote a cheque for the meal, sliding it on the table."Liam.." I started.He finally looked at me and gave a half assed smile, leaving the restaurant as well."Who's that?" Arsen asked."I don't really know. He's creepy, right? And he's grumpy too. This is the second time he's been here. His name is.. Eron." I explained. He sighed."This is why you have to resign, Frem.""I will, in three days time. That's when I have to go back to college."Arsen rolled his eyes. "I don't get why you even have to work. Dad is like, bastardly rich.. we don't have to lift a finger if we don't want to.""But you're working.""For dad. There's a differen
Frema"Get up bitch, we're going to a party!" Riley suddenly yelled and I narrowed my eyes at her."What the hell, Riles, I'm bomb ass tired, the least you could do is leave me alone." I said, frowning at my own cuss words."Get. Up., You fucking sloth. Arsen needs me at a party and I'm not going alone. You learned how to cuss, might as well learn how to party too." She said, giving me a pointed look."Arsen? Come on, Riles, you know how my brother is, he's gonna get mad if he sees me at any party." I said reasonably and she bit down at her lip, deep in thought."You know what? I'll handle Arsen. Now get your ass up and let's go to the fucking party." She said, dragging me to the closet."Okay! Okay! I'm going! Stop dragging me around like a pig," I said, and she let go of me, grinning."I promise you'll thank me later, babes." She said and dug into my closet, searching for a dress or whatever.I rolled my eyes and picked out a Jean Bumshort Jumpsuit and a matching jean jacket. She b
FremaI woke up on an extremely soft mattress and I sat up, wondering where I was. Last thing I remember was that I was talking to Arsen and then he went off, mad at me and then a guy.. A guy fucking abducted me!"Where am I?! I want to get out of here!" I screamed, hoping there was someone out there. In a few minutes, the door flew open and I saw him.Eron bloody Castile. In all his Armani god glory."What the-- how are you part of this?" I asked, utterly confused."Oh I'm not part, dear, I'm the mastermind behind everything." He said calmly and my eyes widened a fraction."What the hell, Eron?! This is kidnapping, you know that right?" I snapped and he chuckled deeply.How erotic."Believe me when I say I've done worse, Princesa. Welcome to my world." He said and I almost broke in tears. No. No, I can't be weak right now.. I can't."W-what do you mean?" I managed to ask. His eyes softened as he spoke the next words to me,"It means you're my property now, Princesa." He said with su
EPILOGUETHREE YEARS LATER"She was such a beautiful young woman, she did not deserve to die." Someone murmured behind Frema, but she couldn't bring herself to turn and feed her curiosity by seeing who it was. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and at this point, she truly had no tears left to cry. All she could think of them, was the fact that Riley had promised. How could she not keep her promise afterward? She'd obviously not been there for her friend enough, she hadn't even guessed that Riley would lose her life so soon. She died in the most painful way to her—chatted with her all night and then slept, never waking up after. How could she not notice the emptiness in her friend's eyes? How could she have missed the pain?"I'm sorry, Riles. I'm so sorry." She muttered weakly, staring at Riley's immobile figure. Her beautiful face and body stayed stiff now, . She could not count the amount of times she'd looked around, hoping for a miracle—just like what had happened with Eron, b
"I'm pregnant, you assholes! Could you let me out of here first, so I can get this baby out of me?" Kayla yelled, clutching the protectors tightly, even trying to climb it. Titi was in juvenile prison and the truth was, she was almost going crazy without her daughter by her side. No one paid her attention, though and she kept screaming until a figure walked up in front of the cell. The other inmates in the cell, glanced up at the visitor and on seeing who it was, the women sprang up and watched him intently, like he was a favorite snack. Only Kayla shook in fear."We meet again, Kayla." Eron spoke and she shook her head."I'm pregnant, you can't hurt me." She responded. He chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes."You think I'm here to hurt you? What are the guards for, then?" He queried and she didn't reply, just stared at him. He continued, "Wow. Never thought I'd see the day where you'd finally shut up." She scoffed now, replying nonchalantly,"Well, surprise surprise." She b
Blood spluttered inside the sink, creating a gruesome sight. Riley was hunched over said sink, trying to catch her breath. "No, no, no, please. This can't fucking happen, not now, please." She complained, but her voice was filled with genuine anger instead of pity for herself. She was more concerned about staining her dress, in fact, than the actual ailment that had caused her to throw up. Today was Eron and Frema's wedding and Riley could not let her 'stupid cancer' get in the way if their happiness.A knock resounded on the door of the washroom. "Riles, are you okay?" Her husband's voice came and she shouted back right away,"I'm fine, babe. Honestly, you don't have to look for me every two hours. I just needed to pee." "Oh okay, we'll be heading to the church now with the groom. I'll be expecting you all later, okay?" He said and she replied back with an 'okay', waiting to hear him leave. He finally began to head out and then she turned on the tap, washing every evidence of her b
"I cannot believe I'm at Eron's funeral. I've always wanted to meet the man, but not like this, you know." It was yet another fangirl, on the phone with her friend as she passed by Eron's open coffin.Frema stood over the coffin, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she watched him solely.. or better still, what used to be him. She was the only one who stood there now, as she had chosen to be the last to see him again. His body no longer smelt so bad and she realized it must be from the preservatives they'd used on him. She shook her head when more memories of them started to flood in. Her chest was constricting with so much pain and the tears now flowed at their own will but she stood there and let it all out.He had no family member to be here for him and everyone who came were either acquaintances or business partners. And then, her family. Almost everyone walked around nonchalantly, they even looked like they were at a mere business event and the only time she saw them twist t
Frema shook with tears as she caressed her son's hair. Eron had set everything right and the truth was finally out in the open. He had just kept the properties and everything else to multiply everything tenfold. Maybe at first, his plan had been revenge but when he had said he changed, it was actually for real. Everything about him was real and now, it was too late to say sorry. Too late to make anything right. Eron might have died alone, but he'd taken a part of her to his grave while he was at it. A part she was afraid she would never be able to recover. So, the tears flowed down her cheeks until she had to hide her face in her palms as she cried uncontrollably. The boys were asleep, so she tried to be as quiet as possible, but she still got nudged by a small arm after a while. She wiped her eyes frantically and took her time while looking up. Josh spoke first, "Are you okay, mommy?" She nodded immediately, flashing a fake smile in his direction. Josh did not seem convinced. He car
"Mom, I think I'm being followed." Titi complained, breathing heavily as she took out a bottle of water from the fridge and began to down its content. Kayla raised a brow."Followed? Girl, what the hell are you saying? Why would anyone follow us?" She questioned, becoming alert at the same time. Titi finished drinking and tossed the bottle, taking a seat to catch her breath."Hell, if I knew. One minute I'm walking back from this boy's home and the next, a black car—""Hold on, what boy's place?" Kayla snapped, cutting her off, to which Titi rolled her eyes."Stay with me, mom, that's not the problem here. I was being followed. FOLLOWED, by God only knows who, and I was being followed for almost one hour, but since I didn't have money for any Uber, I kept walking faster, hoping I'd lose the creep. I didn't. He only drove past our house when I got here but I swear he was following me." She said and Kayla stared at her daughter some more before grabbing her, only to spin her around to c
Frema tried visiting Riley's ward which was in the same hospital, but she was told that Riley had been discharged. Arsen had actually let her know that Riley was surprisingly getting better and she had a long time to live, according to the doctor. Frema did not want to pay much attention to the announcement of a deadline, so she didn't. If she did, she'd be counting her last days with her bestfriend and even if it seemed like they had some more years, Frema had actually been banking on forever, so it was hard to settle for less.Riley was back in her house, when Frema finally got home and she clapped her new nails in her friend's face as welcome."Your bitch is back." She mouthed and Frema could've burst with joy."Damn right, she is!" She replied, going in to hug her senseless. The two women shook with laughter, and then tears.. but they remained in the same position for long minutes, sapping a feel of comfort from each other. They reluctantly pulled away after a while and Riley cupp
Frema could not help how shame covered her entire skin like a cold blanket. Her flat shoes thankfully produced minimal noise against the tiles of the hospital as she tried to find the ward she'd been directed to. She tried to convince herself that she was only here because of the dream Josh had but it only seemed like she was lying to herself. She had only needed a reason to be here, and upon getting that reason, she called in sick at the ‘new’ place she worked in and prepared herself to see him.On getting to the door of his ward, she pushed it open warily and stepped inside, shutting the door behind her before she looked up at him. Her lips parted in shock at the sorry sight in front of her, and she gripped the door handle for support when she stared on. The person on the hospital bed was anything, but recognizable. The pictures on TV was censored, and did not do him any justice. In real life, he looked like a lost cause. He resembled a corpse, a literal one. He was covered with a f
Monday arrived, three days later and Frema ran around the house again, trying to set everything up for her now ‘three children’. She checked her watch minutes later, while the twins and Halsey ate breakfast quietly. She sat with then too, but she had no appetite to eat.Her phone beeped while she was twirling the contents of the plate around and it made her sigh in relief as she picked up, without bothering to check who it was. She could not have her children know that a woman had called her fat to describe her the other day at the grocery store and a handful of people agreed with her indirectly. She couldn't tell them that. So, she answered with a cheerful voice,"Frema Michelson." "Dad's lawyer called." Arsen's voice resounded from the other end. She sat straighter."What? Why?" She queried, curiosity eating her up already."He refused to tell, but he said it's something very important. You know he stopped talking to dad, right? I'm surprised." Arsen said, sounding as confused as s