AIDEN"Her fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, so if we are to take up the case she is going to turn up as a prime suspect," Axel explained as I thought deeply about his word.Selena wasn't at the crime scene, so it was obvious her fingerprints had been gotten somehow and placed on the murder weapon to implicate her in the case because the bastard old fool knew we would come for him once we started investigating and connected the missing lines.I had to commend him for playing his game well, with this newfound information there was no way we could take up the case because the last thing I wanted was for Selena to get arrested and spend a few hours in an interrogation room. I didn't want her to have to go through that trauma. The best I could do right now was to think out of the box, to think of a way I could deal with that old fool and get the justice that Brianna and her unborn child deserved."He seemed to have outsmarted us," I admitted to Axel as he nodded his head in a
THIRD PERSON'S POV• FRAZIER'S MANSION •Natalia waited patiently in the living room as she looked around the house, she remembered how Aiden had promised to bring her to see his family and introduce her as his woman, she knew that what he meant was marriage, if she had known better, she shouldn't have chickened out but have accepted it.She had ruined their relationship with her own hands just because of her modeling career and now she couldn't even keep the modeling career going, the competition was getting high each day, and without the support of someone influential, her name was slowly starting to fade in the industry."I am so sorry for keeping you waiting, I was discussing over the phone with a client," Astrid apologized as she rushed down the stairs to meet Natalia. When a maid had come to inform her that Natalia was here to see her, she was shocked but told them to let her in."It's fine," Natalia smiled as Astrid closed the distance between them giving her a peck on both che
SELENA"What is she doing here?" Mrs Frazier asked as she rose to her feet glaring at me angrily while Aiden held on to my hand. His show of affection didn't go unnoticed by Natalia who I didn't expect to be here. Our eyes met briefly but I looked away not minding her, I could only wonder what she was doing here. Earlier in the day, Aiden had informed me that he planned on visiting his mum and I thought it best to follow him since his mother was ill but now as I stood before her I wasn't sure I had made the right decision by coming here. She didn't like me one bit and she wasn't planning on hiding how much she hated me. "I can see you have recovered well," Aiden replied. "I am sorry Ma, I....We came to see after we heard that you were sick," I managed to speak to her, I still remembered how she had slapped my mother and insulted me but I tried to overlook that moment for Aiden's sake. "Does it look like I care?" Mrs Frazier asked. "Is this what it has come to Aiden? You don't eve
SELENAAs we climbed into the back seat of the car, the cool leather embracing our weary bodies, I couldn't help but notice the distant look in Aiden's eyes. I could tell he was upset by what had transpired inside, I was also in shock at how he had spoken to his mother, he had every right to be mad at her for everything that she had done but if I was a mother and my son called me a whore, I wasn't sure I could take it.Concern washed over me as I stared at him, it seemed apart from their little argument something else was bothering him and I felt compelled to ask him if everything was alright."Hey," I began softly, my voice laced with genuine worry, "are you okay?"Aiden turned towards me, his expression a mix of uncertainty. With a small, forced smile, he nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Max take us home."Max nodded his head starting the engine and turning into the main street. I kept staring at him, there was something about the way he averted his gaze, fidgeting slightly with
AIDEN"How is she, doctor?" I asked pulling the doctor aside as we spoke in a low tone. "I will advise we admit her as soon as possible, I understand your desire to have her under your care but she needs to be in the hospital where she can....""I can have my men provide you with whatever equipment you need to keep her stable as well as to treat her cancer," I interrupted the doctor. I couldn't risk taking her to the hospital, not after what had happened to Brianna, I didn't want Selena to have to go through that trauma yet again. "Then we will need to change some things in her room to make her more comfortable, and she will also need a stand-by maid in case something like this happens again.""Very well, whatever she needs I will provide, just make sure she is stable," I said. She was all Selena had right now, I couldn't imagine Selena losing her mother too, I had just lost the man I thought was my father all these years, and even though in my eyes I didn't take him as my father, a
• PART TWO •~ SELENA'S APARTMENT ~Selena carefully guided her mother to the nearest chair, helping her settle into a comfortable position.Taking a deep breath, Selena spoke softly to her mother. "Once I'm finished unpacking, I'll prepare lunch for us. Okay?" She paused for a moment, searching her mother's eyes for any signs of reassurance, but found only worry and skepticism.However, her mother couldn't hold her tongue any longer. A furrow formed between her brows, and she couldn't help but ask the question that had been plaguing her mind since they left Aiden's mansion. "Are you sure, Selena? About divorcing Aiden and moving into this one-room apartment? It's such a drastic change, my dear."Selena's heart sank as she listened to her mother's disapproval. She knew she had made this decision without asking about her opinion but she couldn't spend one more second in that mansion. Aiden had hidden something from her yet again and she feared there was more he wasn't telling her, she
"Excuse me, I need to pick this call," Selena said letting go of her mother as Sofia nodded her head, she walked to the side of the house picking the call and bringing it to her ear. "I did as you asked, I want all the details," she said on the first beep. "You really don't think I did buy into that Selena," Vincent's voice came on. "For all I know, this could be a plot between you and Aiden to set me up and get me arrested.""What are you insinuating?" Selena asked. "We should meet and for your own good come alone," Vincent replied. "I will send the address, you should be there in an hour or I might change my mind.""You can't just go about telling...hello...hello.." Selena removed the phone from her ear angrily as she realized Vincent had disconnected the call before she could tell him that she didn't want to meet him up in a restaurant. She turned to stare at her mother who was already sited while Sofia hurried to get her bags and arrange the contents in place, she placed her h
"What nonsense are you on about?" Selena asked eyes widened, was this his plan all along to lure her out of Aiden's mansion and get her to agree to something so stupid? Did he think that she was gullible? She leaned back into her seat suddenly bursting into laughter as Vincent stared at her perplexed by her reaction. "What is funny?""I used to think that you were stupid but now I can see that you are not only stupid but foolish as well, if this is why you called me here then you must be wasting your time," Selena said rising to her feet as Vincent got on his feet quickly grabbing her wrist. "Your mother is a murderer, do you know that?""Let go of my hand," Selena yelled at him, she had been so stupid to have come here in the first place, Aiden was right about Vincent, there was nothing good about him. He was just filled with lies and stupidity. "I have proof," Vincent chuckled letting go of her hand not to create a scene as other people in the restaurant were starting to look at
~ TWO YEAR LATER ~ As the sun peeked through the stained glass windows of the quaint church, casting a warm glow on the pews and aisle, an air of excitement and anticipation filled the atmosphere. Today was a special day for Axel and Claire, as they were about to embark on a journey of love and commitment in front of family and friends. The delicate scent of flowers wafted through the air, adorning every corner of the church with their vibrant colors. The essence of love was palpable, adding an extra layer of magic to the already enchanting ambiance. Soft music played gently in the background, setting the perfect mood for the upcoming union. As the guests started to fill the pews, their eyes filled with joy and enthusiasm at the sight of loved ones coming together to celebrate the union of Axel and Claire. Aiden, Selena, and their son, Alex, and daughter Brianna alongside Astrid and her boyfriend Tom sat on one side, beaming with pride and excitement. Guests were the extended f
"Her water just broke," Aiden announced. They all got on their feet, Claire and Astrid rushed to her side helping her stand up as they could see the pain etched on her face, while the men ran to get the car ready. It didn't take long when they arrived at the hospital and she was taken to the theater in excruciating pain, Aiden remained outside the reception with Claire, Astrid, Axel, and Tom before the doctor informed him that he could join his wife."Everything is going to be alright," Aiden reassured her when he entered the ward to find her lying on the bed, her hand extended for him to come hold her. "It hurts so bad," Selena cried out. "Sorry," Aiden replied holding her hand in his firmly and planting a kiss on her forehead. He didn't know how else to comfort her, he could see the pain in her eyes and could only hope the delivery would happen sooner.After hours of labor pain, Aiden holding her hand and trying to soothe her pain with reassuring words, delivery began.Aiden had
"You are serious?" Claire asked just to be sure Axel wasn't joking around.He barely nodded his head to sign yes when she pulled him in for a hug, of course, she was going to move in with him and travel to another country if that was what he wanted.Everything seemed to be moving too fast when it came to how they felt for each other but for the first time in many years, she felt loved. She didn't feel like she was forcing herself on Axel like she had forced Luke to love her.Axel loved her and she could see it."I am happy for you guys," Astrid squeaked with joy, it had been a while since she last saw Axel looking at a woman the way he looked at Claire. It was like she and Selena weren't even in the room."By the way, there is something I was going to tell you, Axel, I hope I am not ruining the mood," Selena said. "I already told Claire and Astrid yesterday that -""Selena is pregnant," Astrid took the word right out of her mouth. "Are you sure you are not the one who is pregnant?" C
"Yeah, as friends. I think that would be better for both of us at the moment, I feel there are still a lot of things we don't know about each other and-""Are you joking?" Claire's eyes widened as she adjusted herself on the bed again, her face etched with confusion at Axel's words as her eyes darted from him to his hands on hers."Hey!" Axel placed his hand on her chin raising her head so he could see her face, was she crying? "Claire? I was joking," he laughed out. "I didn't find it funny," Claire smacked his hand off her chin. Axel chuckled at her reaction, "I am sorry, didn't know you were a crybaby.""What? I am not," Claire protested looking away from him. How could he tease her like that? It wasn't her fault that she had thought he was being serious about them being 'just friends' when she was attracted to him. "You look cute when you lie," Axel smirked, he placed his hand on her chin tilting her head gently to face him as he kissed her on the lips. "I will have them bring s
“Where the hell is she?” Axel yelled grabbing him by the collar, he didn’t want to believe that Claire was dead, the time period was too short for them to kill her and her clothes had no sign of blood stain when he pulled it out from the boot. “Let me off and I will tell you, lover boy,” Vincent laughed. Aiden reached for his phone immediately in his pocket, dialing one of the bodyguards who was back at Emily’s house, “Check around the house, she has to be hidden somewhere,” Aiden ordered on the first ring. “We found her boss. Was about to call you, she is unconscious,” the bodyguard replied. “Alright,” Aiden said disconnecting the call and staring at Axel who was holding back on punching Vincent in the face. “She is alright, we might just need to get her to the hospital, quickly.” “You should have stayed in jail,” Axel said to Vincent punching him in the face as Aiden held him by the waist pulling him back. “Let me go Aiden, we need to end him right now so he doesn’t come back t
“Claire,” Axel called out staring at Vincent on the laptop, his hand forming into a fist as he caused under his breath. He hadn’t anticipated seeing Vincent, wasn’t he supposed to be in jail awaiting his death sentence? This was the reason he had been against Claire going to see Emily, he reached for the door ready to hop out as Aiden grabbed him by the wrist.“Our men are already circling the building, he can’t get away with it,” Aiden said.“You want me to sit here and allow Vincent to kill her?” Axel asked shoving Aiden’s hand away, he stared at Selena and Astrid who were in disbelief at the sight of Vincent, he opened the van door and hopped out running down the street to Emily’s house.Axel ran down the street as quickly as his legs could take him, he couldn’t believe that Vincent had escaped from jail and worse Emily was working for him, what was she bound to gain from Vincent? That douchebag! He should have shot him dead a long time ago instead of hoping that the system would
THE NEXT MORNING, Aiden briefed everyone on the plan again in the van a street away from Emily's house, "If you feel uncomfortable at any moment, you just think of an excuse and leave," Aiden reminded Claire."Sure," Claire nodded. Axel walked up to her helping her put on the camera properly over her shirt button, the camera design looked like a button from afar, "this is a recording device," Axel said, placing a pen into the pocket of her shirt. "Axel, can we talk about…" Claire spoke in a low tone. She had been trying to speak to him all morning but he seemed to be avoiding the question, she didn't know why he would just listen to her so she could explain everything to him. "After," Axel cut her off. "Do you have your earbuds on?" He asked instead. "Yeah I do," she nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear so he could see it. "I was going to tell you, believe me," Claire whispered in a low voice. "What part of after don't you understand?"She bit the bottom of her lips, sad by hi
"I was just joking," Claire brushed it off at the puzzled look on Axel's face, she didn't know why she had blurted something out like that to him. Never in a million years had she asked any man that question, she smiled trying to make him see that she was bluffing."Yes.""What?" She gasped. "You… you will be my boyfriend?""Isn't that what you want? Yes, I will," Axel nodded, kissing her on the lips as her eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend that Axel just agreed without any hint of hesitation in his voice.She watched him get out of bed and into the bathroom as she scratched the back of her head, playing back what had just happened in her head. She was about to get out of bed when the door opened with Astrid entering, she dashed out back at the sight of Claire lying naked on the bed."I am so sorry, please I didn't mean to badge in, I am so sorry," Astrid apologized. "Shit," Claire cursed, she could have sworn she used the key when locking the door or was it Axel who locked
"Don't start what you can't finish," Claire whispered. "What?" Axel chuckled. "Don't look at me like that, you just end up stealing kisses when you want to and I think that should stop," Claire said standing up but she soon came crashing into the bed as Axel grabbed her by her wrist. He grabbed her by the waist shoving her on the bed as he hovered over her, "What naughty ideas have you been thinking while I was away?" He asked with a smirk on his face. "Don't flatter yourself, mister.""So, you didn't think about my lips on yours while I was away?" Axel teased. Claire stared at him trying not to give him the benefit of the doubt but her face was suddenly turning red and she could tell from the smile on his face, darn her face.Maybe she had thought about him and she didn't know why exactly, it wasn't like Axel was laying claim on her but he had kissed her like he was, she didn't want to assume his feelings for her, it was best to stop him from kissing her any chance he got but now