All Chapters of Collateral Wife: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

CHAPTER 32SARAH'S POVShe called me! That was progress!It meant she had believed me, even if it's just a little. The fact that she asked to see me alone was proof that she was curious enough to hear me out.When she had passed out two days ago, I had cautiously slipped my number in her pocket before she was rushed to the hospital. Of course I wasn't allowed to follow so that was the only way I could contact her, but I wasn't sure she would find it. Even if she did, I didn't think she would call me.I was excited when I picked up the phone and heard her voice on the other line. "Can we meet up?" She had asked. "I've got questions."I could hear it in her voice. Her confusion, anxiety, fear. She must have had her doubts all these years.I came down from the cab and stood in front of the restaurant she had picked out. She said she would be there waiting for me. I pushed the door open and scanned the tables, looking for a glimpse of her."Sarah?" Her familiar voice called and I spun

CHAPTER 34ANDREW'S POV I didn't expect this stunt from my father but then again, he was never predictable. I knew he wouldn't like the idea of another woman being near me because he had been trying to get Trisha and I be together. Even though I had told him I wasn't interested, he didn't show any signs of giving up. He always wanted to have his way, every fucking time.I had seen him control my brother's life like that and Alex was so keen on pleasing him so he became a puppet. I swore I would never be one. I loved and respected my father, but there were lines I wouldn't let him cross. This was one of them."We're leaving." I said to Lorena, pulling her along. My father's men stood in front of me, stopping me from leaving."What is it about this woman that you're not telling me? If she is merely collateral for her father's debt like you say, then there's no reason you should refuse my mercy. I said she doesn't need to pay me anymore." He repeated."This isn't about you father. You m

CHAPTER 36JONATHAN'S POVWorking has been my coping mechanism. It was the only way I had survived and the only thing in my life that I had control over. Being the heir to three generations of wealth and a chain of companies, a lot was expected of me and I dared not rebel. It had been that way since I was little. My parents began to groom me to take over the business when I started to walk. They taught me how to talk, the people to meet, friends to keep, how to think, even how to dress, anything that would make me into someone who'd be worthy to handle the business after my father. They made sure to drum it into my skull that all eyes were on me and I obeyed. It hadn't helped that I was an only child. So I'd buried myself in my studies and made sure to accomplish impressive feats. I didn't date a lot in high school and in college because I didn't want to get distracted. I strived to make my father proud. And he was proud of me, until he wasn't.I met someone I liked when I took over t

CHAPTER 38ANDREW'S POVI wanted to fill Alex's shoes when he died. I wasn't interested in my father's business so I lived a carefree life knowing Alex was there to handle things, and he was good at it. He never had any problems dealing with gamblers and druggies, he never hesitated to send his men after you when you didn't meet up a deadline the for payment of your loan, he didn't have any problems with becoming more and more like Dad. I did.While I went to parties and traveled the world being the family's prodigal son, Alex stayed and worked hard. I didn't live like that because I wanted to, I just didn't want to do business that way. I had other plans.I wanted a clean, legal business. One that didn't support drug dealing, cheating people on the gambling tables and victimizing the poor debtors with exuberant interests on their loan. I wanted a business out of the streets. But that was father's life and he was slowly sucking Alex into it.And then Alex died.His death put me on th

CHAPTER 40ARIANA'S POV.My head ached and throbbed even more when I tried to open my eyes and sit up. I couldn't move. A faint beeping sound filtered into my subconscious and I tried to focus on the sound. Where was I? Why did my head hurt so much?I tried to open my eyes again and as they fluttered open, I stared into a white ceiling with bright lights. I moved my head to the side and saw an ECG machine and a needle connected to my veins. A plastic bag hung above me and the liquid flowed steadily from it into my body.A hospital? Why?And then the memories came flooding in. Everything. Everything I had forgotten and everything I knew now. They swamped my mind and made it hard to focus. I felt a surge of diverse emotions ripple through me with each memory that unfolded. Pain, fear, and a sense of loss. Confusion boggled my mind. I held on to my head and felt bandages wrapped around it. I had hit my head during the fall."Ariana! You're awake!" Sophie exclaimed, rushing to my side. "I