Phoebe got out of the elevator and headed towards the private ward of the Lockwood hospital. On reaching the door, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves before opening the door. She'd done a good job with her makeup so it would be hard for him to know she’d been crying.
His grey eyes were the first thing that caught hers as James raised his head to see the person who was intruding on his privacy, his facial features softening into a smile on seeing that it was his daughter. “Come on in. I have missed you, my child,” he said as he motioned to the little stool nearby. “Good day, Dad. How do you feel today?” “What can I say? The old man is waiting for the day he will meet his Sarah,” he replied as his gaze darted into space. Phoebe ignored him as she walked to the seat. Sarah, her late mom died five years ago during the premature birth of her sibling. In their need for another child, they had ignored the doctor’s warning to get rid of the pregnancy as it was dangerous, and she had to pay with her life. Phoebe hasn't recovered from her passing yet and that was the reason she disliked coming to see her father as he wouldn't let any talk go by without calling his lover’s name. Could she blame him though? “The doctor said you are out of danger and would be discharged in a few months,” she changed the topic as she took her seat, brushing out stray strands of her hair away from her face. There was silence between them for a while as James studied her expression, with his having a worried look. “Come sit with me, my child,” her father finally broke the silence as he tapped lightly on the edge of the bed. When she was seated, he took her hand in his and started rubbing on it familiarly. “What is eating you up? You seem tense,” he asked with a questioning tilt of his head to the side, studying his daughter's exterior demeanor. “Nothing Dad, just work stress and all. I am just happy to hear that you are finally out of danger.” Phoebe was quick to cover up. She knew she couldn't hide her pregnancy from her father for long but she would do him good by not giving him any heartache to his healing heart. She would let him know at the right time, once he was fully recovered. There was another moment of silence as James stared at the TV that was playing in low volume. If not for the way life decided to turn its back on him, why on earth would his only baby be working her ass off to get money for his treatment. He had a quick flashback to the good times with his wife and child giggling on the kitchen counter while he made them dinner, causing him to sigh. “Remember how we used to play tea parties and princesses? Huh? “And how you'd do my makeup afterward? That's the memories I have of you. No matter how much you grow, you will always be my little girl. And I want you to know that I love you so much and you can talk to me about anything.” Phoebe looked out of the window as her eyes became teary. After she'd succeeded in blinking a few tears away, she brought them back to meet her father's. “What's wrong with you Dad? Are we in some kind of TV show? she asked, chuckling for the first time as she held on to his hand that had been caressing hers. James smiled as he watched his daughter's mood change. They stayed that way for some time, smiling at each other in a lovely way. Phoebe proceeded to feed him the food she came with as they discussed many things ranging from the new presidential election to her work to his health. Soon it was evening and she bade him farewell, promising to visit again at the soonest. James made a huge drama of asking her to lean in for a kiss and even when she thought it to be dramatic, she did as he instructed. As soon as she got out of the hospital premises, her thoughts went back straight to Trevor. What was she going to do with the child when he'd made it obvious he wanted nothing to do with her, pregnancy or no pregnancy? Raising a child single-handedly would be so much work. Could she do it alone? Can she be responsible for a child? Can she give it a good life? Running her hands on her flat belly, a tear slid down her cheeks. “It's you and me now….” she murmured amidst sobs but was interrupted by the crash that followed. She'd bumped into a passing truck. A frown marred her face as she alighted from her car, ready to give the person who clearly didn't go through a driving school a piece of her mind. She had so much in mind and luckily, have found an outlet in the person of the driver to vent out her anger and frustration. But she should’ve let it go as the moment she was out of the car, the truck’s door was thrown open to reveal two hefty and angry-looking men. They looked at themselves as if having some sort of eye conversation and she felt bile rise in her throat. She sensed danger and instinctively turned to run back to her car but it was too late. Before she could make a step, a pair of strong hands yanked her off the ground, making her flare her legs in the air as she screamed at the top of her voice. “Let me go!” But she knew it was pointless as the street wasn't that busy and it took long for a car to drive past. And it clearly wasn't these men’s first job either as they succeeded in pushing her into the truck in a space of minutes. “Let me go! You've got the wrong woman!” she screamed as one of the men tied a blindfold to her eyes. “I suggest you shut up or else I would gladly help you do that,” he barked, as the car took off at high speed. Phoebe didn't need anybody to tell her to keep quiet as she was sure it wasn't an empty threat.Lucas tried to call his private investigator but Trevor wouldn’t hear of it. “You are not going to risk my son’s life. You heard what whoever that was said,” he barked as he fared at Lucas through the rear mirror. “Says the absent sperm donor.” The atmosphere became tense and they were about to have a second clash if not for the timely intervention of Annie. “You both aren’t children for God’s sake. You think I enjoy being here with you guys?” She shouted as a frown marred her face but then she composed herself. “We have to focus on the issue at hand, you guys can deal with your shit later on.” “But I am with Lucas on this one. We can’t just walk into a lion’s den unprepared. Remember what happened with Phoebe, we need to have a plan n or something.” The trio turned to Phoebe to hear what she had to say about the matter but her gaze remained distant, her tears flowing freely. Lucas reached for her palm and gave it a little squeeze, pretending not to have noticed the sc
“Hurry up sweetheart,” Phoebe yelled up to Ivan who had gone back to his room to look for his missing left shoe. Dressed in a sleeveless sky blue flare gown embroidered with tiny roses, she looked a million dollars. The dress clung to her body, tight and loose at the right places. She paired it with white sandals and also a matching tiny purse. Marcy had helped her with her hair and makeup and she looked wonderful. She was to go for a music deal with Mr. Steve, a music producer who wants to work with her. Ivan alighted from the stairs minutes later with both of his shoes at their right places. Arranging his shirt collar to perfection, Phoebe guided the toddler out to the car where Adam was seated and waiting for them. Lucas has left for the office that morning. Once they dropped Ivan at his school, Adam picked up her lawyer before they continued in the direction the five-star hotel where she was scheduled to meet with Mr. Steve. Mr. Steve was already there and waiting for her w
Mary leaned on his car, a sly smile clouding her features as she urged him to open. Trevor was about to ignore her when Mrs. Maddox walked out of the hospital, her calculating eyes fixated on him. Biting hard on his inner lips, Trevor let Mary into the car and they zoomed out of the hospital premises in silence. But then, Mary decided to disrupt the serenity of the place. “This is no way to treat your wife, a woman who is carrying your child,” She whined, her tone leaking with amusement. At first, Trevor wanted to ignore her but there was this thing that boiled within him whenever she acted that way. How had he gotten into this mess in the first place? “Look, I don’t know what game you are trying to play with this,” he said as he pointed at her flat belly. “You can deceive the whole world but not me. You expect me to forget how you made a whore of yourself, sleeping around with different men on a daily basis? What is your plan? Did you suddenly forget whose bastard that is?” “
The crackly sound of Ivan’s giggles filled the air as Marcy proceeded to blow raspberries in his belly, making him flail his hands and legs in the air. “I have missed you, tiger,” She said as she pecked the toddler who was trying to catch his breath. “I missed you too,” Ivan shot back, wrapping his tiny hands around her neck and returning her pecks. “I was preparing lunch, let me go and continue with it?” Marcy said after a while, looking up to Lucas and Phoebe who had been watching her exchange with the toddler. Her smile faltered a bit but she quickly recovered. “Let me help….”Phoebe was saying but she hurriedly interrupted. “No….you just got back. You wouldn't want the boss to sack me,” Marcy joked as she stole a glance at Lucas who shrugged his shoulders as he pulled Phoebe to himself and took a big sniff of her scent. “You bet I would,” Lucas confirmed as he broke into a light chuckle, the corners of his eyes wrinkling in delight. The women joined in the laught
Their tongue wrestled for dominance as they ate at each other’s faces like it was their last meal. A moan tore out of Phoebe’s lips as they separated to catch their breath. “You wouldn’t want your father to know the way you moan in bed,” Lucas teased her as he brushed his lips at her sweet spot, making her moan again, this time louder than the first. Phoebe’s face flushed red as she imagined Gladys and her father listening to her whimpering. Embarrassment surged through her as she bit down on her bottom lip, but Lucas seemed to have other plans as he repeated the action a couple of times, nibbling, biting, and sucking on her neck, leaving no part untouched. Phoebe bit down harder on her lip to stifle another moan as she felt hot liquid glide down from her insides. Her whole body burned as he expertly touched her at all of her heating points. But as much as she tried to get him to touch her burning core, he avoided it. Gripping her breasts a bit too firmly, she felt a surge of pain w
“How about you explain to Grandpa and Gladys first while I join in later? Hmm?” Lucas appealed to the toddler. “Okay, Dad,” Ivan gave a curt nod before he hurried into the house. Lucas’s eyes returned to Phoebe, staring at her like they were on a mission to kill her. A second passed. Then a minute, but Lucas neither uttered any word nor did he move. The rate at which Phoebe’s heart pounded against her chest escalated to an even faster pace, as she watched him stare at her like a hawk, his eyes emotionless. Not cold, not warm, it was void of any emotion. “Lucas, I-” The words clung to her throat as she made to explain. It's not like she was sure of what to say as he had caught her in her lie. She'd just confirmed his accusations and nothing she said to him now would matter as he seemed to have already made up his mind. Phoebe was jerked out of her thoughts as Lucas began to move towards her, his expression blank while his eyes continued to bore holes into her. Involuntarily, a