Chapter 71Derek sat on the rock, stealing glances in the direction he had seen the silhouettes, searching for signs of SmithVille men. He had seen two shadows move in that area the night before, not like he was supposed to, but years in battle came with it’s own advantages- and disadvantages. He quickly pushed the afterthought behind his mind and tried to focus on the task ahead. He was hiding too, away from the hunting house just outside Berkha, where his men were now camping. His extra vigilance and his restlessness these past days had rewarded him greatly. He liked having something to work on, and right now was one of those times, when he had to be extra vigilant and observant to pick out his unsuspecting enemy.The sooner this chicken chase ended, the better for them. They had managed to call a truce between Ludaville and SmithVille three days ago, after a blood bath just outside the little village, the one which the two Settlements were struggling to snatch from each other. Tha
Chapter 72 The aroma of food filled the air, but with it came the familiar nausea that took over Nancy’s guts and left her raw with emotions and mixed feelings. She carefully closed the door the moment she entered, feeling an urgent need to use the bathroom. The setting rays of the sun sneaked into the room through the window, she had asked them to be left open for some air while she waited in the parlor for either Daniel or his wife to show up. When she came out of the bathroom, Nancy took a sip from the mug on the table since Mitchelle took it upon herself to make sure the portion in the cup was always available wherever Nancy went. This particular pot of the portion was left in the bedroom for special needs such as this one. She was particularly grateful for Mitchelle's portion because it somehow helped to reduce her nausea. She could barely understand her emotions now, it only got worse with each day. Today, she woke up feeling like her bladder was just a sac filled with water
Trigger Warning ⛔️ This chapter and the chapters that follow might be upsetting to some people as it includes possible threat to a child’s life and the ill treatment of a pregnant woman ❗️Chapter 73Phil entered through the main entrance, he saw her first, she was cradling her cat in her hands while her eyes focused on the door. Even though she was looking directly at him as she entered, she appeared so lost in her own thoughts that she did not even notice that someone had entered the room. He took a moment to stand there and just watch her, Victory was sound asleep in her hands. Her eyes looked so dull and so was her mood, she looked like she was going to fall asleep soon.But he didn't want that, so he cleared his throat to get her attention. She did look up expectantly at the hallway, but she saw the expectations on that cute face he adored so much turn to disappointment the moment she sighted him. She carefully sat up, so as not to wake the sleeping cat, her eyes wide with alarm
Chapter 74When Nancy woke up, she was lying on the bare floor in a small room. Victor lay beside her, whimpering softly, there was a bleeding wound in her side. Nancy reached out and picked the cat up, it made sounds of relief and relaxed in her hands. She carefully cleaned the wound with one end of her shawl. Using the shawl as a bandage, she wrapped it around Victory's body. It was only to stop the wound from getting infected, because she knew the journey ahead would be rough, and there was no way she would let the innocent cat suffer without her. Nancy felt a twinge of resentment that Derek had left her here alone to fend for herself. Then she reminded herself that it was not his fault, but hers. She was not his responsibility, just another piece of useless furniture in his house. Had he not told her that himself once? that she was here facing God knows what was her fault. If she hadn't disobeyed Derek in the first place and started working in this stable, Phil would never have g
Chapter 75She didn't know how long she lay passed out inside that box, but by the time she regained consciousness, she could tell that she was on a moving horse. The horse was going at a slow pace, but with each step it took, Nancy could feel her bones shake and the pains that came with the rumbling as the horse came into potholes were something else. She didn't know how far they had gone, but she could only wish they were nearing wherever it was they were taking her, the sooner she got out of the box, the better. "Hold up!" A voice she barely recognized called out and the horse came to an abrupt halt.It was a man's voice, Nancy felt every hair on her body stand straight. She held her breath and waited, praying silently for a miracle. She couldn't shout, any sound made added to her discomfort and increased her pains. She heard footsteps approaching them and waited in anticipation."Philly boy, isn't it?" The man called out again."Yes, Philip it is." She recognized Phil's voice."H
Chapter 76 The men's return to the Lincoln Estate that evening was met with both happiness, sadness and fear. Happiness that their men were finally back safe and sound from the coldness of the outside world, sadness that they had lost a few of them in battle and some were injured, and fear of what the Lord of the house would do and he found out his wife was gone. Derek noticed the pensive looks on the faces of the servants, but he did not think too much of it, so he left his men out there to celebrate their return with their respective families and went straight in. Later, he would go over to his family house to let them know he was back safe, or they might even come to him before then, but right now, he had things to take care of. He was not at all surprised that his own wife was not out there to welcome him like the rest of the women, because he knew she would rather have it that he didn't return at all.He walked briskly into the hall and up the stairs, nodding or shaking his hea
Chapter 77He picked the bag of gifts he bought for her and flung it across the room too, then the portrait followed. It shattered on the wall, but it did not break. He wanted to head for it and make sure it broke this time but he spotted the small book she had referenced in the letter. He scrolled through the pages until he found the writings she had made, then he shook his head after reading the third one and threw the book across the room too. How dare she play him like that? What need would it be if he found her anyway? She was pregnant! She was already pregnant for that foolish boy, right under his nose. Not knowing what else to do, Derek took a bottle from the cellar and drained the bottle in his hand, then he walked out of the room, slamming the door shut as he did. He would order everything within it burned; he wanted no memory of the lying bitch left behind. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with her anymore. He had been stupid enough to believe they could try to make thing
Chapter 78 The next day that followed was hell for Nancy, asides the cold weather in the small empty room which had her shivering do much that she feared she would develop a fever and just drop dead before Phil even had her, the constant fear for whatever lay ahead of her in her little prison kept her up all night. Her constant nausea and the morning sickness that morning was more severe than she had ever experienced in the past weeks since she first conceived. With Mitchelle's tea not available to help her cope with the nausea, Nancy spent more of her time in the small corner that served as a toilet than she did in the empty bed allocated to her. She dreaded the moment when Phil would open the door that morning, but she also looked forward to it, because she knew that this cold was likely going to kill her if she was really to be left in just her undergarments for as long as they thought necessary.She tried her best to keep Victory warm and to keep the wound fresh, feeding the cat
Chapter 102"ls Daisy asleep now?""Yes, My Love," Nancy answered as she crawled into bed to snuggle close to Derek. “I'm sure she sensed that her father was about to trouble her mother for the third time in one night. I bet that was why she woke up." Derek chuckled sweetly and drew her closer to himself, "Her mother loves the trouble." "She doesn't have much of a choice, does she?" Nancy grinned. "I'm afraid not." Derek said and kissed her tenderly, Nancy kissed him back with everything in her. When his hands began to roam down her breast and his kiss deepened, she didn't know when a loud moan escaped her mouth."Shh… you know we should be quiet if we are going to do this." Derek whispered softly.Nancy stopped and said with a frown, "We can always let Lydia keep Daisy or let her stay the night with Mitchelle in her room. You know I don't know how to contain my moans, especially when you touch me the way you do." "I won't let someone else keep Daisy until she is old enough to take
Chapter 101The woman was too old to run and she knew that she had been made, but she wasn't going to give up easily, no, she wouldn't let them catch her. She ran towards the only exit she had had her man make for her, but now that he was dead and she was running through this big house with an infant who won't stop crying, it was more difficult than she thought. She ran back the way she had come, and that was when she saw the guards, by now words had gotten out that the new baby was missing, and the entire house was in jeopardy. Guards were running helter skelter to secure the place, and the hope of her getting out of her was too thin. Hell, she had done this easier twenty four years ago, it had been easier! Old age sure came with it's own disadvantages, and regrets. She had a lot of them, why had she let the opportunity to keep that whiny little girl out of her sight and her hand? She had never thought her dreams would take her this far, back to her roots! Back to the very place sh
Chapter 100Nancy was too scared to breath, her breath was hitching and she was sobbing loudly as they ran through the hall. Derek was beginning to fear for her, but he knew better than to try to stop her from joining them on the search.When they found Scarlett, there was no question as to whether she had a hand in what was happening, the woman was beyond shaken and too scared to even get out any sensible word."What have you done with my child!" Nancy yelled in despair as she grabbed Some by her dress."Nothing! I didn't do anything!"Derek was beyond angry, in his present mood, he knew that he would kill her if he got his hand on her, which was why he maintained his distance and waited for her to say something sensible. "Where is my child, Scarlett?" He asked coldly. "I don't have her!" Scarlett began, hoping that her pity game would work, "Derek, why would you believe I would want anything evil to happen to you?" She tried to go close to him but Nancy dragged her back and gave h
Chapter 99When Scarlett saw Phil being dragged into the house by Derek's men a few minutes after she saw the other man in bounds too, she became alarmed. But that was not the end of her troubles, following closely behind them was a woman who looked too much like Nancy, if she had not seen Nancy leave the room with Derek a few minutes ago, and of she didn't know that the woman had put to bed just yesterday, she would have thought that this woman was really Nancy because the resemblance was uncanny.Scarlett was too scared for herself because Phil did not look like he could withstand pressure. The foolish man had taken too long to finish the task she had sent him to complete, and had nearly lost his own head in the course of it. And now he was being taken by the very same people he was supposed to be running from, Scarlett knew Derek too well, he would not hesitate to kill Phil, or even her if she found out that she had masterminded this whole thing. As she waited behind the shadows f
Chapter 98Nancy stood rooted to the spot, her mouth agape and her eyes widened, she was too shocked to speak, and too stunned to even move. But it appeared she was not the only one who was momentarily paralyzed by the shock in the room, Derek was equally transfixed to the spot, he could definitely not believe his eyes. Lydia on the other hand had to see and feel things for herself, she had heard the stories and witnessed a few horrors herself, but when she set out on this journey to return to her parents and to see the imposter pretending to be her, it had been because she probably just wanted to help her parents even though they did not deserve it. And she had come with the mind to let them know her disappointment in them for their inability to tell her apart from someone else.But now, seeing this person for herself, it was like looking at her own reflection through the mirror. She reached out and touched the person in front of her, she herself appeared shocked and stepped back in
Chapter 97Derek received Harvey's news with mixed feelings of happiness for his friend and misery at his own misfortune. Harvey had returned to his own house where his new family awaited him after congratulating Derek on the arrival of his daughter and soliciting for Rosey's freedom, which Derek had no trouble giving. His father had come the previous evening too, to see his new granddaughter after his mother sent him the news. Barry Gates, his supposed in-law was present and they were all celebrating the arrival of the child down with the rest of the house. But Derek was far from happy, his last conversation with Nancy left him with a mixed feeling of guilt and emptiness, an emptiness that felt all too familiar yet repelling.He didn't want to spend the rest of his days like that, no. This was the second time he admitted to himself that he loved a woman, and yet again, he could not have her, because of that little bridge between them. He had lost her before, and now that it seemed li
Chapter 96Nancy was led into the room, the same room she once shared with Derek. She recalled what Mitch and Rosey had told her, how he had ordered everything that would remind him of her to be burnt and yet here she was again. She was angry at herself for having let him bring her here, but then at the time, the thought had given her so much joy. When she entered the room, the first thing that caught her eye was the large portrait on the wall, Lydia's portrait. She was first filled with mixed feelings, but then her anger grew. How dare he leave the portrait there? Was it to mock her? Or to make her think there was still a place for her here? She shook her head and slowly walked to the bed but she stopped short at the sight that met her eyes. Derek was sitting on a chair beside the bed, holding the baby and playing with her little fingers. He looked up and was surprised to see her walk in, but Nancy did not notice. She saw only the way he held her baby lovingly and how happy he was. H
Chapter 95For the first hours after the baby's birth, every time she opened her eyes, she was filled with fear, and she could not dispel her feelings of apprehension until she assured herself her baby was all right. Lauren had told her that her child was safe and being fed at the moment, because according to her, the baby was too weak to wait for her own milk. Nancy asked if Derek had been allowed near her child, and she was told of how he had been of great help during the birthing, but she could not bring herself to believe it. She recovered slowly from the birthing, and all the pains were forgotten the moment Lucille brought her baby, wrapped in warm sheets and now dressed in sweet little clothes for her to hold for the first time. It was a grievous disappointment to Nancy that most of the child's features had been gotten from Derek, and very little from her, but Lauren told her that all that might go away as the baby grew. She wanted so much to give her baby the nourishment she
Chapter 94Roberts had exhausted every ounce of his strength on this wild goose chase, but the man he was going after was having a field day running through the steep path. He considered swinging his knife into the horse's back like he had seen Derek do several times in the field, but he decided against it, the animal did not deserve such barbaric treatment, and he was certainly not a heartless man. Luck smiled on him when he saw the black horse on which his target was riding stop and let out a sudden deafening neigh, the animal went ballistic, raising to legs in the air and then he launched forward and flung the man on his back off. The hooded man came flying off the horse with a thud that surprised even Roberts. His first impulse was to circle the man, who was now totally at his mercy with his own horse, then he drew his sword and slashed, first at the area above the man's knees and then his hand, this was to stop him from drawing his own sword or making any attempt to run. "You a