**
The book launch started off quite early with lot of dignitaries. Everyone was dressed in one designers outfit or the next.Frank was not left out either as he too was seen dressed in a caramel colored Italian suit that hugged his biceps just perfectly with a black tux that matches with his nicely polished black leather shoes.He looked like a groom ready to walk down the aisle without a single hesitation.Aria on the other hand was dazzling in her flowing chiffon gown and standing by his side. Her makeup was quite simple. Just a few touches around the right places and smokey eyes was just enough to leave her looking just flawless.Every single head had turned at their direction the moment they made it to the entrance looking like the perfect couple.Hand in hand, and flashing that charming smile on their faces as they took a pose for
**"Girl....girlfriend?" The word had slipped out of her mouth in a whisper without anyone realizing it.She turned and stared at his rather calm features while thinking to herself. 'That was a joke right?'"Aria and I are yet to make our relationship public but we are getting there pretty soon" Frank had continued before placing a quick kiss against her cheek and leaving her more confused than ever."Whoa. I knew you two look just great together. You guys are just fabulous" Mr Sam had said in excitement while Sandra on the other hand looked totally speechless if not shocked.It was written all over her features as her shoulders grew an inch taller.Was she angry or simply jealous because Aria could feel it. Sandra was quick to conceal whatever she could be feeling as she quickly put on a sweet little smile.
*They drove through the night in silent with Aria looking out the window towards the moving scene. She couldn't understand it no matter how hard she tried. Frank had practically pulled her out of there only for one simple reason.He couldn't stand the fact that she was finally talking to someone who at least cared about her enough to laugh at her silly comment without pretending about it. She saw how everyone was throwing small glances at her direction back at the book launch. She bet they also thought there were a couple.
*Frank woke up and realized he was sleeping in the comfort of his king size bed but had no recollection on how he got there.He was still clothed in his white inner long sleeve while his suit jacket hung on the cushion across his bed. His shoes carefully lined out beside the bed from the other end.He gave a loud yawn and a full body stretch on the bed before pulling himself into a seating position.His brain was still fuzzy as he kept trying to recall what happened. The last thing he remembered was someone struggling a glass of whiskey from his grabs after which he was led out into the parking lot and even got into his car before darkness totally engulfed him .Now that he remembered part of it, he was sure, Aria was responsible for getting him home in one piece.She was pretty pissed at him last night as she kept trying to get him to stop drinking himself to stupor without any success.GoshHow could he l
*Aria came face to face with another unfamiliar face standing at her door step the moment she unlocked it and stepped outside.The new fellow had his hands folded behind his back with a smirk decorating his chiseled cheeks.Who the hell was he?...She arched her brow a little trying to remember if she has come across that face somewhere before or he just happened to look so awfully familiar but got nothing as she was left to stare back at a white pair of teeth and a mesmerizing smile staring right back at her.Okay!She stepped back a little as the guy was all over her face and causing her to loose focus without even realizing it.He stood a good two foot taller than her.He was clothed in a black joggers and paired with an equally black body hug T-shirt that was doing some serious justice to his masculine body.He must be spending ungodly hours at the gym no doubt. Aria had noted with a mental
* With her back pressed firmly against the door; tears began to rush down her cheeks like waterfall. Aria couldnt hold them back anymore. Especially when everything within her felt crushed. Her heart was bursting with pain and it was all because of one man. Frank! She heard his steady foot steps pacing around her living room a few times and halted right in front of the bedroom door before turning around in the last minutes and leaving through the front door. The silence that followed after he walked out the door broke her even more. Why was she crying? She hate to admit it but she has fallen for him in ways unimaginable. How else could she explain the way her heart was arching within her ribcage. Heck! She was even willing to give herself to him yet again but it was obvious he doesn't want her. He doesn't even like her enough to think of her as anything but his play thing and she was foolish enough to t
*Aria and Henry's relationship went from just neighbors wanting to share a bottle of wine to sharing dinner and even movie nights. She found herself getting more and more involved with his charming personality while the thought of Frank fade out the window.Henry was a charmer. If he wasn't at the clinic saving lives, he'd be home trying new recipe at his kitchen with Aria being the first to grab a bite. One could tell how rapidly things were moving between them.Henry was mesmerized by Aria and her simplicity as he would rather spend each day beside her trying to woe her little by little even though she was the age of his elder sister.She was still perfect.The sound of her laughter does things to his mind as he could only dream of waking up to those enchanting voice of hers each single passing day.Aria on the other hand doesn't know exactly how she feels about her new friend/neighbor but was more than comfortab
**Aria seemed to be having the time of her life as she continued to bite down at her chicken legs and fried rice. She had ordered her favorite dish and she couldn't help but eat away.Everything was just perfect. From the food down to the dishes and just the scenario itself. To summed it all up; she was happy.Happy to be finally having a good time with no strings attached. She always has this misconception that, any guy who wanted to have a good time with her would want something in return but Henry came along and has changed that very mindset.Because ever since he showed up, it has been nothing but laughter and happy feelings.Henry was a rare gem.Those few weeks have been more peaceful than she could ever imagined. He made things easier and got her through the heartache that Frank had left behind without even knowing it.Henry on the other hand was watching her with great awe as she eat away at her dinner. Ha
*Frank never thought anyone still held the power to make him so empty; yet so filled with rage. He could still feel his hand twitching in anger as he stood staring at the door that was literally slammed against his face.The thought of what could be going on in there between those two had his fist coiled and ready to smash the door open but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was way too civil for that sorta drama and beside he'd only make matters worst if not leave it at a point where she would never want to see his shadows ever again.Frank looked worse than he felt as he couldn't gather his thought properly. His throat felt extremely dry and he looked labored. She didn't even listened to him.What has changed so much, he thought to himself as he head back to his car and repeatedly kicked at his tyres; groaning out loud in frustration.How long has it been; three weeks? He was right to think something else was going
Seven years has gone by so quickly_and nothing has changed with the Okoji's as they seemed to be growing side by side and deeper in love with each other with each passing day.Frank was still the perfect husband and father to their daughter. Even his staffs at the office could swear that he was now a better boss than what he used to be. With the new promotional policy that include a fat cheque and family trip to vacation outside the country during the holiday season was enough to make him the best employer of each year.To say everything was moving on well was an understatement. Their lives was close to being perfect.Aria on the other hand would visit her parent occasionally with her daughter so she could get to meet her cousins and grandparent. She decided to quit her job at the publishing firm at some point just so she could focus more on spending as much time with her family as she possibly could while taking up writing as a side hobby.Her litt
Thirty minutes later, Frank walked into the private room where Aria was admitted and placed little Evergreen who was still sleeping in her carrier on the sofa right beside the bed.Feeling overwhelmed and emotional, he plopped down beside her on the bed before caressing the soft skin on her cheek.The heart monitor was beeping as if it was counting her heart beat on a steady repeat. Her oxygen tube was sticking out of her nose uncomfortably. Aria chest was barely rising and falling under the sheet she was nicely tucked into.Aria looked more asleep than in a coma. Her thick mass of brown hair was brushed backward and hidden under a blue hair net to avoid getting in the way.Her skin look really pale without getting much sunlight as she has been kept in that room for way too long now. The white curtains covering the window was half drawn to allow only a bit of air into the room.Frank took hold of her IV free hand in his and gave it a little s
*Frank felt awfully uncomfortable as he sat between his mother and best friend in the nearly filled courtroom with a clenched jaw that clearly expressed his dislike for being there.He rather be home with his daughter or at the hospital with Aria but that moment was because of her and missing out on the final court hearing against her captor was not an option he'd like to consider.To think that Henry was pleading not guilty to all the charges levied against him, causes every blood running through his vein to boil with anger and the hair on the back of his neck to stand on edge.Henry has no single act of remorse in his heart not even after all he has done.Aria was in a pitiful condition because of him and it would be over his dead body to see him walk out of there, a complete free man. He already made sure of that by hiring one of the best attorney he could find.His lawyer, barrister Roland_ has assured him that Henry wasn't gettin
Frank sat with blood shot eyes as he searched Sandra's face for anything that proofs that all she had told him was nothing but pure lies from the pit of hell but the more he looked at her, the more he realized it was nothing but the absolute truth.His hands was balled into a tight fist by his side with muscles trailing the walls of his neck at the shocking revelation.Frank was beyond livid at that point as he was struggling against whatever anger that was coursing through his veins at none other than himself."How?" He growl at her."It's all started when you left for London and your father offered me a job to be his secretary. I thought he did it because of how close we were but sooner than later_I found out his real reason for doing it" she took a pause before she continued. Her eyes barely meeting his due to the shame and guilt that was all too visible to the eyes."I tried everything possible to resist him but not for long because you were go
**It's been two whole month already and Aria still hasn't woken up from her coma. Even though the doctors had assured Frank over a month back, that her chances of waking up was pretty high but even at that, she still hasn't shown any sign of waking up other than the little twitching of her hand that had occurred more than twice during his frequent visit.The doctor had explained it to be her reflexes but Frank would rather not give up on her recovery_reflexes or not. That was the only proof that she was still in there and could also hear him talking to her too.Frank made sure to visit every single day as the hospital was practically his second home at that point. He spend most of his time there beside her bed and making sure she was getting the treatment she needed.He wanted to be right there when she wakes up. The first person she looks at and have her know how much he has missed her and finally be able to see her beam her charming smile at him
Frank had arrived with Aria back at the hospital some minutes later and refused to leave her side even for a second as he was mounted protectively by the door of the theatre.Both his mother and friends stood beside him in silent. No one was willing to say any word out loud as their head was hanging low in silent prayers for everything to turn out well.They had endured so much during this few days and couldn't bear to face any more than they already had been made to go through."She will be alright man" Kelvin had assured him with a gentle tap to his already tense shoulders.Frank only gave a small nod in acknowledgement. Probably too overwhelmed to say anything as he continued to glance ahead.Lizzy stood by the far left beside Frank's mother with tense shoulders. She could barely look Frank in the eyes when she was let in as well. Her guilt was eating away at her grief.Lizzy couldn't believe she had played a part in her friend's misfortu
**Frank continued to pull relentlessly at his restraint over and over again while trying to break free and reach for Aria who had passed out cold on the bed at this point.She hasn't lifted a finger since Henry had abruptly left her on the bed and hurried out the door without a word.Frank knew something has gone wrong and was dying to get to her and began dragging the chair he has been tied to across the floor in a bit to get to her. Even though he kept calling at her, he wasn't sure if she could even hear him which only fueled his need to break free.He was half way across to her when Henry returned and rushed over to her side on the bed and scooped her into his arms for a moment before placing her back gently against the bed."What's happening to her" Frank had hissed angrily at him but Henry gave no reply as his only focus was on Aria and getting her to respond somehow.He cursed under his breath a few times after he felt
*Aria has no idea how long Henry has been gone but she knew he'd be back soon and had to move faster. She hurried back to the bathroom and searched for anything sharp but found only an old toothbrush stuck at the trash can and quickly retrieved it.Breaking off the edge against the hard floor, she rushed over to the door and began to use the edge to pick the locks in hope it would come off.She could feel the hard imprint of the locks pressure, pressing against her palm but she was far from giving up.It was either now or never.She was half drenched in sweat and her own tears by the time the lock finally came off. Her joy was short lived when she felt another wave of pain shot through her and making sure to draw a wail of agony from her lips.The contraction was becoming more frequent than normal. She noticed the warm liquid trailing down her thighs and knew her water has broken.The inevitable was about to happen and
*"So where are we travelling to" Aria had asked Henry out of the blue still munching on her chicken.A little smile creep up across his face at her question. He wasn't expecting it but he was happy she was showing interest in his proposal.He was expecting her to resist some more and not agreed readily. But either way he was eager to give a reply."We can travel to anywhere you like. Just say the word and we are out of here" he spoke enthusiastically."So you are telling me that you'd throw away your career and whole life just to run away with me?""Not exactly but for now, yes!. We can always settle somewhere and I could start up a clinic there" he explained with a thoughtful look in his eyes.Aria only replied with a small nod. Still deep in thought. She was processing a lot at that moment without giving away anything.If Henry was willing to give up everything then it could only mean one thing. He won't hesita