Maxwell picks me up later that evening after the store has been closed. I take a shower as slowly as I cannot at all looking forward to meeting both our parents.When Maxwell's car stands at the driveway, he shuts the engine down and we both don't say anythingfor a while.“If you changed your mind and you don't want to go inside, you can just tell me and I will take you out ofyour, no questions asked.” Maxwell firmly tells me.I smile in appreciation at his protective tone “it's okay darling, I'm fine.” I tell him.Max nods at my answer “promise me the moment you begin to feel uncomfortable and you want toleave you will let me know.” Max requests seriously.“I promise.” I reassure him massaging his hands.“Come on then, let's go face the two Satan's on earth.” Max says playfully.“We better hurry before they burn us for being late.” I tell him with a giggle.We get out of the car and go through the front of the house.This place feels so unfamiliar and strange, it feels
“And you need to get that thing you carry in your belly out.” She adds.“What the fuck did you just say?” Max barks at her in an attack and I relax my back on the couch, nolonger surprised or about to be cut off guard by something my mother says.Bianca jumps at Max yell, definitely not reaction from her cool and easy going stepson.“It's always a fucking arrangement for the both of you is it not? Well we will not be apart of it, we areboth done being used as pawns in to stupid political and business games. All we ask for is for you to justbe parents, we are definitely not asking for too much. If that is too hard for the both of you, fine, we willunderstand like we have always done. We are leaving.” Maxwell angrily tells them and turns to carefullyhelp me out of the couch.“You are both just two very ungrateful pairs. You will surely regret this Ana, one day you will turn back andcome crying to me like you always do. You will understand that you have no life without me.” Bi
I watch Scarlett silently as she drops a covered document on my desk, smirks at me and walks out of myoffice.I shakily reach out to pick up the envelope and pull it open, they are a series of four photos in front ofme and my heart drops at the pictures in front of me. I feel like I'm about to throw up at the pictures I'mstaring at. In the first picture, Maxwell is laying naked on the bed, asleep with Scarlett standing over him,the next picture is of Scarlett laying on top of him, and the third is a picture of Scarlett kissing Maxwellwith his eyes closed.I can no longer look at the pictures as I sit on my chair, trying to breathe and process my feelings. All Iwant to, do is curl on my bed and cry heavily. I walk upstairs to my apartment like I was being controlled.I go into my shower and refresh myself.I try not to think about it too much but I couldn't help it all night, I barely slept through the night and Iwas too scared to confront Maxwell about it, too afraid that h
It's the weekend and I decide to take myself out alone for a treat. I wear a bini and head to the store torestock the groceries.Jersey had offered to help but I just want to go for a stroll with my bini baby and just take in some freshair, I haven't done this in a really long time.I spend thirty minutes in the store before I begin to notice the stares I've been getting. I ignore the staresand whispers as I go about stocking up and getting things I might need. I would also do a baby shoppingbut it's still too early and I would love to do that with Ryan at my side.A woman and probably her daughter stand at the other end of the aisle as they both continue to stare atme and whisper. I'm right here ladies, I think. They are not even trying to pretend or maybe it's just tooobvious but I head to the counter to weigh and pay for my stuffs.Even the girl at the counter wouldn't stop staring but I still ignore, I gather my bags of groceries refusingthe lady on the counters help.W
“Get off of me Ryan.” I cry out. “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I yell at him.“I know I didn't want to be bound by marriage to a spoilt and entitled brat but my father wanted yourfather's company and he found an opening to be able to do that.” Ryan crazily tells me.“I didn't want to be involved but it would be only to take over your father's company by means ofmarriage bond and Maxwell didn't even want to inherit his father's company.” Ryan continues to say likehe was going out of his mind.“There's a lot of things I didn't want to do but they keep making me and I don't want to have a choice andyou get to sleep with and be pregnant for your brother and get away with it.” Ryan says grabbing mythroat and pressing down.“Ryan you are hurting me.” I wheeze out like that would make him stop.“Nobody leaves me, I will not let that happen.” I almost succumb to my faith but I guess we both don'thear it in the chaos of this situation.A heavy force pushes Ryan away f
I go back to sit in the waiting room, I cannot go back home while the love of my life lays in an hospitalbed fighting for his life.I lay helplessly on the chairs in the waiting for any report on Maxwell's state. Mr. Jaxon and Bianca havereturned home for the night, I'm to call them for any update on his state.It's morning and my eyes don't close for a second not even from exhaustion when Max was goingthrough so much pain than I was.The doctor will be out to see me in not too long so I pass the message to Mr. Jaxon.Mr. Jaxon and Bianca arrive as the Doctor summons me into his office.We all go in and the doctor clears his throat.I carry my heart on a silver platter at this moment.“Thankfully he managed to make it through the night, but unfortunately he has gone into comma andwill be put on life support. I can't say how long he will remain in comma or if he'll ever wake up from itbut all we can do is wait and hope. Mr. Jaxon as his father, we will need you to sign a fe
“What makes you so desperate to give me away?” I ask the both of them.“You weren't this desperate when you were moaning in my bed begging to leave your wife for me. oh mybad you were, just not in this light.” I chuckle bitterly. “You were more than confident when youpromised to help me leave my husband.” I say wiping my tears that won't stop falling angrily.“Is it just the bruised ego that your son is hundred times more the man you will only ever think of beingin your dreams?” I ask him stepping back in defeat.“How dare you, you whor-” Bianca goes to say.“Oh you are a more bigger whore and gold digger might I add than I'll ever dream to be and both youand your dear husband here knows that Mother.” I stress saying to her breathing heavily.“You both win, I hope this makes you more than happy and content with yourselves but listen to this ifyou have even a cent of a conscience left. The both of you are very despicable, a sham and disgrace toparenthood, you don't deserve to
I go back to staring at Ryan blankly.We are at the front door of Ryan's parents and he suddenly grabs my waist tightly but I do not satisfyhim with the reaction I know he's looking for. So I keep my eyes on the door as it peels open to showIsabella’s scowling face in front of me.Ryan greets his mother but I do not say a word, I only stare blankly as we go into the house, if they wantme to forcefully remain here as their slave and prisoner, that's exactly how I'm going to act.Ryan tugs at me to say hello to his mother when we are in.“Hello mother in law.” I say casually and my blank stare catches her off guard but she recovers and glareshard at me, probably not forgetting the public insult. That's good, I didn't say it for her to forget.“Son.” Ryan's father greets, acting like they are the doting family. The man only nods at me as I findlooking out the window is much more interesting than their reunion.“Ana's a bit tired.” I hear Ryan coming up with an excuse but I cou
“I'm so sorry Anastasia.” I hear Maxwell whisper, still not looking at me but I can see the glistening oftears in his eyes. “You might never forgive me but I'm so sorry Ana, I should have known you wouldn'thave done something like that, I should have trusted you.” Maxwell says and I wanted nothing more thanto be in his arms in these times.“No, I lied, you were in pain and you were being manipulated.” I say, I was hurt and I wasn't about to healanytime soon but Maxwell was as much as a victim in this, I have no idea how he must have felt all thetime he spent thinking the woman he loved killed his child.1“Thank you so much Ana, he's the greatest gift and redemption.” Maxwell says sniffling so hard.I hold my hand out towards him. “Come here.” I whisper, my own eyes glistening with tears.Maxwell slowly walks towards me like he was carrying the whole world on his shoulders. He kneels infront of me.I hold his broad shoulders closer to me and Maxwell looks like a child whose guil
“Oh God,” I mutter to myself when I suddenly feel a hard push on my abdomen.“You have got to be kidding me.” I whisper to myself when I feel water underneath my thighs.What was happening? Panic suddenly filled my every pore. I felt more fear than I did the overwhelmingpain in my very gut.I needed help and fast, the baby was coming. I groan out loud and try to push myself up when another bultof pain decided to rack through my body.“Ana? Ana!!” I hear screams of my name coming from outside of the house, my already pulsing heartnearly stopped the moment I recognized who the voice belonged to.“Maxwell.” I whisper to myself, too weak to speak any louder.“Ana.” Loud footsteps march past the open wide doors and a disheveled looking Maxwell stands directlyin front of me.Confusion takes over his features first and then shock as his eyes access the situation and mess in theroom and then fear as he watches me bleeding out on the floor.“Ana?” He calls running towards me. “What happen
“What did you just say to me?” Ryan asks, clicking the gun at me.“What, you can dish out food but you can't eat it?” I ask him. “I said you are a daddy pleasing bastard youknow that or don't you?” I say and Ryan angrily takes long strides towards me, pointing the gun directlytowards the side of my head and I glare at him instead of shrinking away in fear.“Do you know what will happen to entire family if Dominic Garcia finds out something happened to mein your home, you could have it all covered up with the law but he will find you at the end of the day andhe won't stop until you are rotting six feeth underneath.” I stubbornly state, I wasn't so sure about all that Ijust said but one thing I knew was Dominic Garcia was immensely protective for a reason quite unknownto me.Ryan needed me so I knew he wouldn't pull the trigger unless his bipolar self and easily angeredtemperament was too much for him to handle.“Ryan please stop.” Beatrice begs coming to put a hold on Ryan's sho
“That's good.” I mutter tiredly, seeing them all go down the drain was all I wanted but now it's actuallyhappening, I'm not that too interested.“I think a warrant should be going out for both your mother and step father any moment from now. This isbig Ana. Are you okay?” Jersey asks me in concern.“Yeah I guess.” Jersey says.“I'm going to bed.” Jersey says and I know she's only saying that because she feels the need to give mespace.“Thank you Jersey.” I tell her as she walks away and she gives me a smile.“Anytime Ana.” Jersey says.The next morning, I make up my mind but first, I'm making sure to get an official divorce from Ryan, Idon't want to forever feel like I'm in a bondage no matter how far I run. I want to be certain nothing holdsus together anymore.“Jersey I'm going out.” I tell her, getting my keys.“Where are you going?” Jersey asks knowing the store was closed for a long while.“To Ryan's, I'm going to get a divorce.” I tell Jersey determined as I step out of the
“What did you just say to me?” Ryan asks, clicking the gun at me.“What, you can dish out food but you can't eat it?” I ask him. “I said you are a daddy pleasing bastard youknow that or don't you?” I say and Ryan angrily takes long strides towards me, pointing the gun directlytowards the side of my head and I glare at him instead of shrinking away in fear.“Do you know what will happen to entire family if Dominic Garcia finds out something happened to mein your home, you could have it all covered up with the law but he will find you at the end of the day andhe won't stop until you are rotting six feeth underneath.” I stubbornly state, I wasn't so sure about all that Ijust said but one thing I knew was Dominic Garcia was immensely protective for a reason quite unknownto me.Ryan needed me so I knew he wouldn't pull the trigger unless his bipolar self and easily angeredtemperament was too much for him to handle.“Ryan please stop.” Beatrice begs coming to put a hold on Ryan's sho
“You fucking bitch, you really are out of your mind.” Ryan shouts at the top of his voice.“Do you have any idea what you have done, my entire life and family is in jeopardy, you will fix thischaos as soon as possible.” Ryan yells. “Your parents have been arrested, what kind of daughter are you?”Ryan asks staring at me in disbelieve and I scoff out loud.“You must have some sort of fucked up audacity to that to me Ryan.” I hiss at him. “You all used me tothe very last drop and then you framed me up to leave me to rot away and you thought I was going to sitby and watch it all happen, you fucking bastard.” I calmly tell Ryan.“Did you fuck him? Is that how cheap and desperate you were.” Ryan accuses.“I owe you no sort of explanation Ryan, you think whatever you want to, that's your problem. Sign theGoddamn papers.” I instruct pushing the papers towards him.Ryan picks the paper up, tearing it up into pieces while glaring harshly at me.“You are still my wife Ana, and you belong to
"That's good," I mutter tiredly. Seeing everything fall apart was all I wanted for so long, but now that it's actually happening, I find myself less interested than I expected.Jersey, standing across from me, studies my face carefully. "I think a warrant should be going out for both your mother and stepfather any moment now," she says quietly, her voice carrying a seriousness that matches the situation. "This is big, Ana. Are you okay?"I shrug, unsure how to answer. The truth is, I don't know what I’m feeling anymore. "Yeah, I guess," I say after a moment, trying to convince myself as much as her.Jersey doesn't seem to buy it. She watches me with concern, her brow furrowed. “You sure? It’s okay if you’re not, you know. This is... it’s a lot.”"Yeah," I repeat, softer this time. “I’m fine.”There’s a pause, thick and uncomfortable. Jersey looks like she wants to say something more, but instead, she rubs the back of her neck awkwardly. "I'm going to bed," she announces, and I know sh
“I would love to come along with you Ana, I don't think I've told you this before but I love to explore, I'vealways wanted to leave the country, relocate somewhere else, besides it's not like I have anything backhere or a family I'll miss. My job is the only thing I have and my job lies with you.” Jersey says chucklingand I let out a sad chuckles of my own.“But what about the business?” Jersey asks and I shrug in answer.“I have no idea but each step at a time, if I do decide to leave, we'll figure it out, together.” I say holdingJersey's hand closely to mine. I cannot possibly explain the relieve and joy that came at her answer, I feltwarm all over. I just needed Beatrice to also agree to come with me, I was not sure I was comfortable withleaving her behind with Ryan. She had motherly affection for Ryan so I would respect whatever decisionshe would make.Another thought immediately crosses my mind and I turn to Jersey with a mischievous smile on my face.“You know, I was also
Another thought immediately crosses my mind, and I can’t help the mischievous smile that spreads across my face. Jersey notices, raising an eyebrow slightly as I turn toward her. "You know," I begin, "I've been thinking." My voice has a playful lilt to it, though what I’m about to say is anything but a joke. "You’re really good at what you do in the jewelry business. Like, really good. You’ve been doing this longer than I have, and you know more about the inner workings than I ever could."Jersey's expression remains calm, though I can tell she’s wondering where this conversation is heading. She nods, a quiet acknowledgment of the compliment, but it’s clear she’s holding back a response, waiting for me to get to the point."You've taken care of the store long before I ever set foot in it," I continue, "and on top of that, you’ve always been the one looking out for everyone. You care so much about this place and the people in it." I pause, letting the words settle for a moment. “With