If Jeffrey turned out to be Azriel's son, I swear I wouldn't be surprised
“W-what did you just say?” asked a still bemused Zia Scott with her brows furrowed more deeply. “No,” corrected Jeffrey Williams. “You have no right to refuse. This is an order…” He pointed at her. “I command you to marry me.” She couldn't help but palm her face as she breathed deeply. “Do you even hear yourself?” His brows were slightly knitted followed by a sure expression. “Our family as well as my ancestors have no medical records of auditory impairment if that is what you’re asking.” She grunted, which made him add, “I can have my men collect the necessary data regarding my family background if that is what’s stopping you from agreeing to our betrothal.” She furtively glanced at him from behind her hand. He seemed serious. After composing herself, she took another wooden ladle from the base drawers. “Why did you suddenly get the urge to want to marry me?” She continued mixing the mashed potatoes in the mixing bowl. “That.” He pointed at the mixing bowl she was holding on he
“E-edward?” stammered Zia Scott when her eyes met with Edward’s bemused facial expression. His eyes swiveled in between the two kids in front of him, then he turned to Zia. “Is he your friend?” He approached them in the kitchen. “What happened to him? Why is he crying?” She fiddled with her thumbs as her lips would go back from closing themselves to parting again, contemplating on what right words to say so she wouldn’t look bad in front of her fiance—not that Edward knew it was Zia he was talking to and not Sophia. He turned to the little boy sobbing across from Zia. “Are you okay?” he said delicately. Instead of answering, Jeffrey merely glared at him then stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door hard behind him. Edward glanced at Zia, bewilderment flitting across his features. “Who was that boy?” “Uhh..” In order to avoid making contact with his eyes, Zia kept herself preoccupied with transferring the mashed potatoes in a serving bowl. “He came here looking for Azriel b
This was the time when Gray Stewart had just left the apartment building. Having impulsively decided to go out just to get away from her obnoxious brother, she actually had no destination in mind. Dawdling in front of the building, she heard footsteps coming from the elevator and when she looked back, it was Azriel on his way out. She immediately hid a certain distance beside the building, hoping to conceal her presence behind a tree while eying the main door. “Why am I even hiding?” she thought to herself, furtively looking, locking her eyes at the door. “I don’t know.” A few minutes later, a silver Aston Martin Rapide pulled over in front of the building. A man wearing a suit came out from the driver’s seat, turned from behind the car and opened the back passenger’s side door. Just as well, Azriel came out of the door as if waiting for the man and after exchanging words with the man in a suit that appeared to be his chaperone, Azriel finally went inside. The man closed the door
Gray Stewart casted her trembling eyes at the man who also bore the same expression as her—just as stupefied. After meeting her eye-to-eye and seeing her pained expression, the man lowered his gaze and finally noticed his hand still gripping on the hilt of the knife impaled on her stomach. Although the oozing blood was not apparent through her black buttoned shirt, when the warm blood touched and imprinted itself on the edge of the man’s gripping hand, it made him let go in trepidation. He finally realized what he had done. “I…I…” the man cried, his wobbly legs slowly stepping back. Gray, on the other hand, just followed him with the orbs of her eyes, her mouth gaping in unutterable pain. Unable to notice the rock behind the man, he tripped over it and fell down as he continuously stepped back. “I-it’s not my fault!” he barked as he crawled his way out of their sight. Belinda, who was hiding herself behind Gray, finally spoke. “God,” she sighed. “That was really scary just now.” S
After taking off the blood stained shirt with the hole on it, Gray Stewart hung it on a hook behind the door of a toilet cubicle she was in. Rummaging inside a paper bag, she took out a black buttoned shirt, identical to the one she took off. Tearing off the tag, she then changed into it. When she raised both arms slightly over her shoulders to slide in the sleeves, she felt a pang on her stomach. “Damn that woman,” she mumbled to herself as she slowly buttoned her shirt, all the while glaring at the blood stained shirt in front of her. “Well, it’s not like she asked you for help.” However, even having said that, she could still not be mollified. She took out her long hair that had been tucked in the shirt on her back. “Has she always been like that?” And with that thought, her head refreshed the day she first had an interaction with her. It was at the time when Edward had been hospitalized after his car accident. Gray and Zia were both in the hospital, substituting Martha. A knock
As the two got inside, Zia stared at the little girl. Blonde hair and fair skinned. She immediately realized who the little girl was. And as the two moved beside Edward's bed, Zia walked backwards, beside Gray who was near the door. "Do I look like her from behind?" she asked Gray. "I don't know." Gray moved back a little behind her and tilted her head. "Yeah, I guess," she said, then stood back beside her. "What do you think they're doing?" "Uhh..." Gray stared at the two for a while. "Reciting an incantation to buff his mana points?" "What is she, a cleric player?" "I don't know, I don't play video games." "Then why do you know those terms?" "Author looked them up." "I...I see..." Gray glanced at her. "Hey, how are you feeling?" "Better, I guess." Zia sighed. "Thanks for making me realize." "Just stating the obvious." As they were chattering, Teresa approached them. The whites of her eyes were light red and hints of teardrops were left on her cheeks. "T-thank you so mu
Gray Stewart grabbed her blood stained shirt and put it on the paper bag. She then turned the knob open on the toilet cubicle she was in. However, before going out, she paused. She glanced at the paper bag. Suddenly, it reminded her of another memory she had that also involved the vile woman. It was the time when Zia had forced her to go shopping and they were on their way home that night. “God, I’m exhausted,” said Zia as Gray put all their shopping bags in the trunk. “Really?” said Gray sarcastically and slammed the tailgate shut. They arrived at the shopping mall in the morning and now that they were leaving, stars were already visible from the sky. Gray climbed on the driver’s seat, and Zia on the passenger’s seat beside her. Gray started driving and when they reached the main road, there was heavy traffic. “I think we got caught in the evening rush hour,” said Zia, looking at the jam-packed road and vehicles surrounding them. “You think?” said Gray dryly, annoyance flitting
As the waitress found the four a vacant bigger table, she moved their food and utensils along with the help of other staff. Meanwhile, Gray silently glared at Belinda sitting across from her on the table while she stabbed her food and brought it to her mouth. Meanwhile, Zia and Edward were having a pleasant conversation. It was like spring on one side of the table and winter on the other. “So, how are your legs now, uncle Edward?” asked Zia. “They’re finally healed I guess,” answered Edward. “You can walk now?” “I can walk now.” “You can jump now?” He softly chuckled. “Yes, I think I can jump and run now.” She slightly tilted her head to the side. “You can run now?” “I didn’t try that yet but I think I’m fine with running now.” “Then you’re completely healed.” She beamed a wide smile. “Yeah, I guess I already am.” He broke into a smile. A waiter approached Zia’s side and set down a bowl of sorbet. “Melon sorbet for the young lady,” he said. Then he went over to Gray’s side