I knew Aurelia wasn't bluffing. She was definitely going to come for me after what happened to her daughter. I watched Hailey closely with tears in my eyes. My bullet had gone straight to her left leg, and it was making her leap.‘’Aurelia, just listen to me,’’ I said to my stepsister in a pleading tone, ‘’I really didn't mean for that to happen. I mean, I love Hailey so much like my own daughter,’’She scoffed at my words, clicking her tongue as she bit down her lips in anger. I was the one who wanted to get back at them at all costs, but here I was, pleading and begging the ones who had done nothing but made my life miserable from the start.‘’I know I wronged you, Ivy,” Aurelia sounded like she was about to cry, and I could feel my tears forming too as she spoke to me, ‘’But, never will I even have the thoughts of hurting your own children. Hailey did nothing to you. I pleaded with you to not hurt her, but you broke your promise. You almost took the life of my only child!’’ My tea
I ran at speed to meet Tristan in the car. Aurelia had threatened to get back at me by using my kids as a bait, and I needed to stop her before she did as she wanted.‘’Tristan,’’ my voice conveyed the distress and uneasiness I was feeling, ‘’Kyle and Khloe. We need to protect them,’’He stared at me with eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. I opened the passenger's seat hurriedly and threw myself in to sit.‘’What happened?’’‘’It's Aurelia,’’ I was almost out of breath with my reply, ‘’She wants to get back at me for what I did to Hailey. Kyle and Khloe are in danger. We need to stop her,’’His eyebrows furrowed in concern, with his right hand turning on the car to drive off. He knew better than to discuss our plans while in front of the enemy's house.‘’Just calm down, Valerie,’’ he tried pacifying me, with his tone soothing and calm, but my heartbeat was already faster than normal. I was trying to find a way out, but I couldn't think of anything to do. I had not even a single idea abou
I walked with fear into the building. Everywhere was dark and quiet. As I walked, my heels made a tapping noise that echoed through the abandoned building.Tristan held me firmly by the hand, trying to calm me through my fears as we walked side by side. But, I was more than horrified at the thought of what Aurelia was planning. I scanned the area in search of her. Yet, it seemed like Tristan and I were the only ones there.‘’Do you think she's up to something terrible?’’ I inquired from Tristan, like he knew the answer to my question while my eyes scanned the whole place. We had gotten to almost half of the building, yet Aurelia wasn't in sight. Instead of uttering a word, he squeezed my hand gently, making my fears reappear.I took my phone out of my purse, and tried dialing the number Aurelia had called me with. The fact that she wanted me to meet her where I had a gun to her head earlier made me feel chills all over my body. It rang at the first dial, and her shrill voice answered
‘’Emily?’’ The emotion in my tone was indescribable. I wasn't that shocked to see her. The only thing that baffled me was why she was conniving to hurt the same children she had taken care of from birth. And to think that she had been fighting tooth and nail to get custody of them? Then this? She was going to join hands with Aurelia to hurt them?‘’I… I can't believe this,’’ I stuttered, suddenly feeling dizzy, but thanks to Tristan, who was standing solidly behind me. He caught me just in time before I crashed to the floor.‘’Surprised?’’ Emily's voice was annoying to my ears. It sounded so unpleasant to hear, and the annoying smile on her lips made it even worse. I was burning with rage.‘’How dare you do this to my kids?’’ I was feeling shaky, but I still managed to grit my teeth at her, ‘’You're trying to hurt the very children you claim to love?’’She kept clicking her tongue as she shaked her head in pity. I didn't know how much longer I could take in all that was happening. I
I shuddered at the sound of the gunshot as Tristan held me in his hands tightly. And, for a brief moment, I had my eyes shut tightly. I just could not bring myself to see what had happened.‘’How dare you!’’ hearing those words from Aurelia caused me to open my eyes for confirmation. A gasp escaped my lips when I saw her. She was bleeding from her left shoulder. Emily had shot her!‘’I’m sorry to turn the tables, Aurelia,’’ Emily uttered with a naughty smile on her lips as she slowly faced the gun on the floor, ‘’But, I can't let you hurt my kids,’’‘’What… what's happening?’’ my voice was shaky. Nothing was making sense to me. I thought Emily and Aurelia were on the same page? Why did Emily pull the trigger on her?‘’It's so stupid of you to think I'd actually hurt the twins,’’ Emily spat at her, still holding the gun in her possession, ‘’For goodness's sake, I raised them!’’Aurelia scoffed while using her right hand to hold her bruised shoulder. I didn't even know what to say, and
Just as Emily was about to pull the trigger, a voice rang out from the doorway. "Emily, what's going on here?" Jordan, my ex-husband, stood there, his eyes fixed on the scene before him.Emily halted, her gun still raised to my head. Aurelia, meanwhile, tried to act innocent, her eyes wide with fear. "Jordan, thank God you're here," she said, her voice trembling. "Valerie shot me!"Jordan's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to my face. "Valerie, what's going on?" he demanded.But before I could answer, Tristan suddenly reappeared, Kyle and Khloe by his side. "Mom!" they exclaimed, running to me.I hugged them tightly, tears of relief streaming down my face. "I'm so glad you're safe," I whispered.But my relief was short-lived. Jordan suddenly walked over to me, his face twisted in anger. "You're a monster, Valerie," he spat. "You'd shoot your own sister?"And with that, he slapped me across the face. I felt a stinging pain, my eyes wide with shock."Jordan, what are you doing?" Tristan
I tried to pull the trigger on Aurelia, but Tristan stepped in, his hand grasping my wrist. "Valerie, no!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with urgency.I struggled with him, my anger and rage boiling over. "Let me go, Tristan!" I yelled, trying to shake off his grip. But he held firm, his fingers like a vice around my wrist.Finally, he overpowered me, and I felt the gun being pulled from my hand. He threw it to the ground, and I lunged at him, my fists clenched. "You fool, Tristan!" I shouted. "You're protecting a monster!"Jordan rushed over to Aurelia's side, his eyes fixed on her with concern. "Aurelia, are you okay?" he asked, helping her up.But I was too engrossed in my argument with Tristan to notice Aurelia picking up the gun from the floor. It wasn't until I heard Jordan's voice, pleading with Aurelia, that I turned around."Aurelia, please, don't do this," Jordan said, his eyes filled with desperation. "Let Khloe go."But Aurelia just laughed, her eyes gleaming with malice. "
That was the end for me. It was over. I had lost my only son, Kyle, to the cold hands of death, and nothing had ever hurt this much.I kept crying my eyes out. It was too much for me to bear. Emily had taken Khloe to move in with her, and this time, I thought it was the right thing to do.Aurelia had finally taken down my son. She had gotten the revenge she wanted for her daughter even after all the pleadings from me. But, now, it was my turn!I wanted nothing but peace after Hailey had gotten hurt. I was willing to forgive them all after everything they had done to me. I had tried to forget the fact that they had my father killed, and instead, blamed me for his death. But, they wanted none of that.It was time to show them that I wasn't going to take this one lightly. A life had been taken, and for me, I had lost a child I suffered to bring into the world and hide from my enemies.I stood there, my eyes fixed on the spot where Kyle's lifeless body had lain, my mind racing with though
The ice cream cones were a sweet symbol of our newfound understanding. Hailey's giggles filled the room as she licked her cone, her eyes shining with happiness. Jordan and I exchanged a soft smile, our hearts still tender from the emotional storm we'd weathered.As we sat there, the tension between us began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of hope and renewal. We chatted quietly, our words gentle and conciliatory, as we began to rebuild the bridges we'd burned.Hailey's joy was infectious, and soon we were all laughing and smiling together. Jordan reached out and took my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine in a soft, loving grasp."Let's start fresh, Val," he said, his eyes shining with sincerity. "Let's work together to build a better future for our family."I nodded, my heart full of hope. "I'd like that, Jordan. Let's do it together."As we sat there, hands clasped, our hearts full of love and determination, I knew that we were on the path to healing and redemption. We were s
I stood my ground, my eyes locked on Jordan's. "I'm going to find him," I repeated. "I'm going to find Tristan, no matter what."Jordan's face twisted in anger, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination. "You're making a mistake, Valerie," he said. "You're making a mistake that will tear our family apart."I felt a surge of fear, my heart racing with emotion. But I refused to back down. I knew that I had to find Tristan, had to know if he was alive."I'm willing to take that risk," I said. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to find him."Jordan's eyes narrowed, his face hardening. "Then so be it," he said. "But don't expect me to be here when you get back. I won't be waiting for you, Valerie. I won't be waiting for you to come crawling back when you realize you've made a mistake."I felt a pang of pain, my heart aching. But I refused to back down. I knew that I had to find Tristan, had to know if he was alive."Goodbye, Jordan," I said. "I'll be back when I find Tristan."And wi
As I stood there, phone still in hand, my mind raced with a mix of emotions. Disbelief, hope, fear, and uncertainty swirled inside me like a maelstrom. Tristan, alive? The possibility was both exhilarating and terrifying. I felt like I was standing on the precipice of a cliff, staring into an unknown abyss.My heart, once heavy with grief, now raced with a glimmer of hope. I had thought I had closure, that I had begun to heal. But Julia's words had ripped open the wound, and I was bleeding again.I looked at Hailey, my beautiful daughter, who was watching me with concern. Her eyes were wide with questions, but I couldn't answer them yet. I couldn't voice the hope that was rising inside me.And then there was Jordan, my rock, my confidant. He had been my support system, my partner in every sense of the word. But now, as I looked at him, I saw fear in his eyes. Fear of losing me, of losing what we had built together.I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I was carrying his child. A child
As I lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Aurelia was finally behind bars, and I was safe. Julia's hand held mine, her grip tight and reassuring.The doctor bustled in, a kind smile on her face. "Welcome back, Valerie. You've had an quite an ordeal. But you're safe now. You and your baby are going to be just fine."I nodded, my throat still dry. "Thank you," I croaked.The doctor nodded. "We'll get you hydrated and comfortable. You've got a long road to recovery ahead of you, but you're going to be okay."As the doctor examined me, Julia filled me in on everything I had missed. The police had found evidence of Aurelia's sinister plans, and she was facing charges for attempted murder and conspiracy.I listened, my mind reeling with the implications. I had been so blind, so trusting. But Julia and Jordan had seen through Aurelia's facade, and they had saved me.As the days passed,
As we stood before Aurelia, her gaze pierced through us like a dagger. Her eyes seemed to bore into our souls, and I could feel her malevolent energy coursing through the air. Jordan's hand tightened around mine, a subtle reminder of our unity and strength.Aurelia's gaze lingered on me, her eyes narrowing as she took in my appearance. And then, her gaze dropped to my stomach. A sly smile spread across her face, and she let out a low, menacing chuckle."Ah, Valerie," she purred. "I see you're carrying a little secret. A tiny life, growing inside you. How quaint."Jordan and I exchanged a shocked glance. How did she know? I had barely begun to show, and only Jordan and I were aware of the pregnancy. I instinctively placed a hand on my stomach, as if shielding my baby from Aurelia's wrath.Aurelia's eyes gleamed with knowledge, and she took a step closer to us. "You think you can keep secrets from me? I have eyes and ears everywhere. I know all about your little family, Valerie. And I w
As we stood frozen in the doorway, the eerie silence was broken only by the creaking of the open door. The air inside was heavy with the scent of vandalism and menace. Jordan's eyes never left the graffiti, his face pale with a mix of fear and anger.I felt a shiver run down my spine as I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of Aurelia's presence. The furniture was overturned, our belongings scattered everywhere, and the windows were open, curtains billowing in the wind. It was as if a tornado had ripped through our home, leaving destruction in its wake.Jordan's voice was low and menacing. "She's been watching us, Valerie. She knows where we live." He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the graffiti. "She's trying to intimidate us, to make us feel vulnerable."I nodded, my heart racing with fear. "We need to call the police," I whispered, my eyes fixed on the graffiti.Jordan nodded, his eyes never leaving the message. "I'll call them. You check the rest of the
As we delved deeper into the planning process, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation. Julia's enthusiasm was infectious, and she had a way of making me feel like everything was going to be okay. But despite her reassurances, I couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty that had been plaguing me since I found out I was pregnant.As we discussed everything from baby names to nursery decor, I couldn't help but think about the future. What kind of mother would I be? Would I be able to provide for my child's needs? And what about Aurelia? Would she continue to pose a threat to me and my baby?Julia seemed to sense my unease and placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Valerie, you're going to be a great mother. You're strong, capable, and loving. Your baby will be lucky to have you."I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Julia's words of encouragement meant a lot to me, and I knew that she was right. I was going to be a good mother, no matter wh
As we drove away from the house, the tension in the air was palpable. I could feel Jordan's eyes on me, his gaze burning with intensity. I knew he was still upset with me for going to the house alone, but I also knew he was relieved that I was safe."Jordan, I'm sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know I shouldn't have gone there alone. But I just needed to see it for myself. I needed to know that Tristan was really gone."Jordan's eyes softened, and he reached out to take my hand. "I know, Valerie," he said. "I understand. But next time, please don't do something like that. You could have been hurt. Or worse."I nodded, feeling a surge of guilt. "I promise, Jordan. I'll be more careful next time. I'll never put myself in danger like that again."Jordan's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze piercing. "You better not," he said. "Because I can't lose you, Valerie. You're the only family I have left."I felt a surge of emotion at his words, and I squeezed his hand. "I love yo
As I turned to exit the house, I suddenly heard footsteps behind me. My heart skipped a beat as I spun around, my eyes scanning the empty hallway. "Who's there?" I called out, my voice shaking slightly. The footsteps grew louder, echoing off the walls. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized I wasn't alone in the house. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios as I called out again, "Who is it? Show yourself!" But there was only silence.The footsteps stopped right behind me, and I could feel a presence looming over me. I slowly turned around, my eyes wide with fear. And then, I saw her. Rebecca, Tristan's ex-wife, standing in front of me with a cold, calculating gaze. Her eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a surge of fear."What are you doing here?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.Rebecca's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a sneer. "I could ask you the same thing, Valerie," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "What are you doing in my house?"I swallowe