RUBBY'S POV It was painful watching Alex say those hurtful words to his mom. Yet, I understood him. Who keeps such a secret away from their son? And to think that he had gotten a wind of it from the media made it worse. His outburst was justified, and so was his mother's reason.Then I thought, what if it was the same kind of heart break I had encountered? What if the man had slept with her best friend, and she chose not to forgive him?I shook my head as though it would shake off the thought that had suddenly enveloped it.I had seen that man a hundred times. He was always around the premises, even when I still dated Nolan. Now it made more sense to me how I kept bumping into him every time. I was running away from either Alex or that squirrel."What if he is no longer there?" Alex suddenly asked."Then we look elsewhere," I simply replied."What if he still doesn't want me, what if...""Enough of the what-ifs, Alex," I shunned him, rolling my eyes.His shoulders dropped in relief
RUBBY'S POV I laid up, curled in Alex's arm, as he stroked my hair continuously.As I would always say, this was what I wanted and more, for the past three years, I had begged to be loved, to be seen, to be understood, but here it was in abundance, everything I had wished for and more. Nature really had its way of blessing its own; my good had somehow returned to me."Thank you," I whispered.He lifted his brow, obviously wondering why I Suddenly said thank you."Thank you for what?""For everything. For protecting me, for standing with me, for loving me, for making me feel heard and seen, for filling the gap, for...."Before I could finish, he drew me closer and cupped my chin in his hand."Rubby," he murmured. "I should be the one saying all of these things. Thank you for loving me the way I do not deserve, the....""Shush," I whispered. "Don't say that, you deserve everything, the whole of me.""What can I say?" He shifted a strand of stray hair from my face."If I had known, we w
RUBBY'S POV I sat up and curled up on the couch as I kept replaying the video. My life and that of those around me had been quite chaotic for some time. The Trisha I had once called best friend thought of murdering me. I felt hurt, even more than the woman whose wrist she slit, but then, hearing the raw terror in her voice made me feel what I wasn't supposed to feel.I felt so heartbroken seeing her at Nolan's mercy. She deserved better.I should have felt satisfied and pleased. Yes! After everything she did to me, After all the Pains she had caused, all the tears I shed because of her, I should have felt some sense of justice, but instead, all I felt was pity and an unbearable ache in my chest.I pressed my hands to my lips, hoping and trying so hard to process everything. Where had I really gone wrong? I had loved her like the sister I never had."Is it something to think about?" Alexander's deep voice broke the silence.I turned my head and found him standing near the fireplace.
RUBBY'S POV The next few days were filled with activities. It seemed as though I was finally experiencing peace. Another team of police officers had been assigned Mirabelle's case, so Alex was free to an extent, Nolan no longer stalked me, he was probably missing Trisha, though he wouldn't admit it, and Josh was making underground moves, I knew for sure he wouldn't just be quiet.But I was happy; I had experienced peace, and I wished it lasted longer.Mom had been so thrilled when I informed her of the grand opening, she had even promised to bring some of her friends to show off.Like every other day, the D-day arrived. Alex chose a dress for me, and all I could say was that it was breathtaking and expensive.I had also made sure he looked super hot and classy, what I didn't know was that the enemy was about to strike again.That morning, the atmosphere was filled with energy and laughter. I had invited the matron from the other orphanage, and she had brought the kids with her. I w
RUBBY'S POV I sat close to my Dad on his hospital bed, staring closely at him as if my eyes could bring back his memory.Though he was awake, he wasn't with me. He kept staring past me, as though nothing had ever connected us before.How had I been so careless not to have noticed?I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat and reached for his hand again."It's me, dad. Rubby, your daughter, your only daughter," I whispered with a trembling voice."How can you not remember me?"In response, he painstakingly tilted his head in the opposite direction.A fresh wave of pain flooded me. This wasn't happening. Today was meant to be one of the happiest days of my year, yet it had turned into the worst.I gently squeezed his hand, forcing a smile through my tears. "Did you remember the first journal I sent you on your birthday? I drew you; you laughed so hard because you thought it was..." I paused hoping he would complete the statement, but I didn't get any response.I bit my lips so ha
ALEXANDER'S POV After my driver had dropped Rubby at the hospital, I called my mother to inform her of the recent developments.I stood by the window with my phone pressed to my ear as my mother spoke."You've got nothing to fear, even if the board is already divided, I'm sure there are still good board members with with conscience. "Your father's hands are tied, or so it seems, but I trust you would do well."I exhaled deeply, rubbing the bridge of my nose, while my heart pounded violently inside my chest."Mom, faith won't count votes; Josh has been pulling strings I didn't even know existed; he's been working behind the scenes for God knows how long; I don't even know what I'm up against; I don't even know what battle I'm fighting. I wouldn't even be surprised if half the board was in his hands already,""Then focus and fight for the half that isn't in his hands. Just don't let him win.""But why am I fighting for this mother?" "That's the only thing to your name, fight for it. T
ALEXANDER'S POV "Cheap!" I muttered to myself.Boarding a taxi to trail me?That's cowardice!I switched lanes again; it did, too. Without thinking, I did a sudden swerve and cut across two lanes, then slammed my brakes, thereby bringing my car to an abrupt stop right in front of the taxi.Other drivers yelled in frustration, and horns blared around me, but I ignored them; I needed to deal with the coward in that taxi.The taxi came to a halt, barely avoiding a collision. As expected, Adrenaline surged through my veins as I stepped out.I rushed towards the taxi with my fist folded, ready for confrontation of any kind. I kept wondering who it was? Josh? One of his men? A journalist? Or who?Finally, the driver's door creaked open, and an elderly man stepped out. He was the opposite of what I had expected. No suit, no polished shoes, nothing. It was just his frail figure in a simple coat. He looked familiar, I could swear that I had seen him a few times."Is this some sort of joke? W
RUBBY'S POV The drive to the hospital was somewhat quiet. I sat beside Alex's driver, humming my favourite song while thinking of the best way to strike up a conversation. The driver had been quiet, which was so unusual of him."How is your sister?" I asked. It was the only way to strike up a conversation with him, though I had asked him that question a thousand times."You are really concerned," he replied, so focused on the road before him. "Yeah, I know what it means to have someone close to you that sick," I muttered a response."Mhmm," he muttered something meaningless as though my question irritated him.Moments later we got to the hospital and headed for my father's ward. Mom was still asleep; I looked at my wristwatch; it was minutes past twelve, afternoon already. I had wasted so much time at home, and Mom, I'm sure she had laid close to him all night in case he needed something."Time to go home, Mom", I whispered, tapping her gently.She stretched dreamily, dragging her f
JOSH'S POV "Will you stay here?" I asked my mom. The Wolfe's mansion was the last place I ever wanted to stay. The sight of Kevin irritated me, and the sight of Alex's mother annoyed me the more."I will stay. Laura is up to something, and I need to know what it is. Besides, the international summit is in less than a month; I want to be sure I see how everything goes.""Right," I nodded my head and walked out. My phone buzzed in my pocket before I got to the driveway."Nolan?" I whispered."That idiot!" How dare he call me after exposing my secret to Kevin, of all persons?"You've got guts, Nolan," I said immediately I answered."Rubby was run over by a truck. I will send you the address of the hospital. Can we work together?"I didn't hear the last thing he said, the only thing I heard was that Rubby had been run over by a truck"What!" I widened my eyes in horror and turned back into the house, straight to Kevin's room.His door was ajar as usual. When I stormed in, he quickly stoo
ALEXANDER'S POV Annie knows who is behind this, I thought as I followed the nurse to the waiting area. I stepped in just as Rubby was wheeled into the operating room. Her body was bandaged and broken, quite similar to my heart, only that my heart had no bandages on it. It was broken and bleeding.For a second I felt this was some kind of joke. A cruel joke maybe. It shouldn't be happening, I thought. But it was, and all I could do was watch and hope she would make it out alive.I had never felt so helpless in my entire life. If only it was possible, I would have switched places with her, but I couldn't, I could only watch from a distance before the door to the operating room was shut."Please wait here," a nurse murmured."Rubby," a sob escaped Rubby's mom's lips. "Why is she so still? She's never been like that, even in her sleep; she always tosses and turns like a restless butterfly. But see..." her voice broke as she pointed towards the room Rubby was wheeled into.Her Father wra
ALEXANDER'S POV Not long after Rubby had gone, my phone buzzed. It was her mom."She's home already?" I muttered before taking the call."Rubby," her mother cried. I felt my heartbeat in my throat. "Rubby, what happened to her?"The only words I heard were hospital and accident."Where," I shouted, panic rising in my chest. "Send me the address!"I wasn't interested in hearing the full story. I left everything I was doing and ran out.I drove like a madman when I got the address. Drivers cussed at me when I switched lanes without prior notice, but I didn't care; all I had in mind was her.When I arrived, the familiar sterile scent of the hospital reminded me there was trouble. It was a scent I never wanted to associate with her, yet she had landed here against my thoughts and wishes for her."Ward 123," the nurse said softly after I had asked her about Rubby without a description.She had seen the panic written all over my face and knew it had to do with the newest almost-dead pati
RUBBY'S POV "I'm ready to leave," I said while drawing imaginary images on the floor.I couldn't bring myself to look at his face, or else I might be tempted to stay."Already? I just got home.""I know, but I didn't plan on spending the night in the first place, mom might be worried now."Alex tucked his hands into his pockets, with a look of reluctance that carved deep into his expression."But your mom knows you are here; I mean, you told her, didn't you?"I shook my head. "You seem to have forgotten how I ended up in your house for the night," a wave of embarrassment washed over me as I remembered the events of the previous night."Rubby," Alex called out softly again. He just knew how to do it, how to make me change my mind even when I didn't want to. I shook my head, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "Alex please stop. Don't ask again, if I'm forced to stay, I won't be happy."He took a step closer, begging with his eyes more than his words. His lips looked redder than it was las
ALEXANDER'S POV I pulled into the driveway, letting the car engine idle for a few seconds before I stepped out. The house was quiet; I had expected all hell to be let loose since Annie was in the same house with Rubby.The lights were on, which was quite funny because there was no eclipse of the sun or the moon. But it wasn't even the lights that caught my attention, it was Annie. She was seated on the edge of the front steps like her world had come crumbling down. She Looked lost, bitter and even tired.Her shoulders were hunched, while her arms wrapped tightly around her body like a discarded soul waiting to be picked up.I stood still for some minutes watching her. She was so lost in thought that she didn't know that someone was standing there.She swiped her hand across her cheek, not once or twice, but three times. She was crying. She sniffed softly, her back rising and falling faster than it should. She looked behind her again, maybe to be sure Rubby wasn't coming, then swiped
ALEXANDER'S POV "Dad, I didn't wake up dry; I woke up normal," I answered and plastered a fake smile on my face.Dad smiled. "You are a grown boy now."One second, he was smiling, and the next minute, his eyes darkened."BANG!" He slammed his fist against the table so hard that the tea cup beside him rattled and toppled."You thieves!" He suddenly shouted, rage evident in his tone. "You snakes! Backstabbers! You want to take everything from me huh? Sign the documents already, sign them now!"The outburst sent shivers down my spine. I looked at Kevin who had a satisfied grin on his face. He must have found out that anger triggers this outburst and leveraged it to get himself entertained.Josh's mother sat still. Not even once did she blink like she had also waited for that outburst. My mother, on the other hand, looked somewhat confused, yet sat on her seat.Seeing that nobody made any attempt to move, I stood immediately and moved forward."Dad," I muttered. "It's okay. You are safe
ALEXANDER'S POV I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Dad sat at the end of the table, Josh sat with his mother directly opposite me, and Kevin sat two chairs away from me, and my mother was missing still.The room was so quiet, too quiet for a meeting filled with power-hungry men and women.I adjusted my tie for the fourth time, feigning a calmness I didn't feel.My eyes moved to Josh who sat stiff as though he was holding his breath. He hasn't spoken to his mother since I came, and neither has Kevin."Where is your mother?" Dad asked.I shrugged my shoulders, "I have no idea." In his sober state, he was mean to me, in fact, mean to everyone."You have no idea?" He repeated.I nodded and said no extra word."Can't we start without her? Does she hold such an important position in the family that we have to wait for her first?" Kevin suddenly asked.I kissed my teeth, I had no response to his question, and even if I did, Mom was the least person to defend."Kevin, you seem pressured,
RUBBY'S POV "Shit! Not now." I muttered.Annie stepped out, with Alex's mother. They discussed in hush tones, and Alex's mom handed her a door card, Alex's own, I presume.Annie looked scared; I couldn't tell if she was being threatened or if she was scared of Alex's reaction when he met her home.After a few minutes, Alex's mother climbed into the car and drove off, while Annie walked towards the house. I held my breath, ready for any type of confrontation."Click, click," her heels sounded on the tiled floor; soon, I stopped hearing it and assumed she had stopped in the sitting room. I was wrong. Before I could get to the door to Alex's bedroom to lock it, she walked in.She shivered at first as though she had seen a ghost, then her chest fell in relief when she realised it was me."What are you doing here?" She asked and crossed her arms."I should be asking you," I shot back."You are crossing the line, Rubby, or whatever it is you are called.""Yeah, you are right. It's Rubby."
RUBBY'S POV "I honestly do not know," Alex replied rubbing his temples."It's been years now, yet I've not been able to prove that I am innocent. That is why, I am so scared whenever you are around him."I reached out for his hand. "You don't have to be. I know what I want.""Thank you," he muttered and blinked continuously."It's okay. You should learn to cry in my presence."He nodded, biting his teeth hard, and still forcing back the tears."How is your Dad? I should come to see him soon."I curled up against him. "Yeah, Dad is fine. He would be happy to see you. I've been lying to them that everything is fine. Act like it whenever you see them okay?""Okay, understood." We lay in that position for a very long time. He stroked my hair gently, till I felt sleepy again."I will go to my family house tomorrow; I need Dad's saliva. I want to check by myself if Mom is saying the truth now."I raised my face. "Are you sure about that?"He nodded."I think since you doubt Annie, you sho