Novel-novel oleh Belle EJIOFOR

Bianca.Liam stepped a few metres away from the living room to take the call. I sank onto the sofa, trying to process everything that had just happened with the FBI. My mind drifted to the real question. Who the hell used my laptop? And why mine, why not somebody else’s?And what did Agent Blackwood mean when he said I shouldn’t trust Liam and Fredrick? Was there really more I didn’t know?Just then Belinda’s voice by the door startled me. She greeted someone. I stood up and saw a familiar figure walk in. Fredrick’s psychiatrist, Dr Adrian.He wore a neat suit, pretty weird glasses, and held a small sized briefcase in one hand. Adrian always had this quiet, odd presence like someone who knew many secrets but never told them. His unannounced visit at Fredrick’s absence meant one thing, Fredrick had already heard about the FBI.“Dr Adrian, good morning. It’s so good to see you,” I said politely.“Good to see you too, Mrs Smith," he replied.“Please just call me Bianca. No need for fo

LiamI woke up earlier than usual, unable to sleep. Kira kept slipping into my thoughts, so did Bianca, and our mess of a marriage.I wasn’t supposed to defend her at the gala last night, but I did.Why?What was it about her that made me act against everything I’d planned?I poured some wine into a glass and took a slow sip, trying to steady my thoughts.Belinda burst in, her breath short.“Sir there are some strange-looking men here to see you,” she said, voice shaking.I looked up sharply, my grip tightening around the glass.“Who are they? What do they want?”“They wouldn’t say. Just that they must see you immediately.” she said.I set the glass down, my heart beating fast.“Get my wife," I said coldly. “Now. And let them in,” I added.“Yes, sir,” she replied quickly, before hurrying out.I walked into the living room and saw two men standing stiffly. One of them introduced himself and accused us of some silly crimes.He went further to accuse Bianca of leaking some confidential

BiancaMy heart hammered as the agents stepped fully inside, papers and tablets in hand.“We received anonymous documentation alleging your involvement in insider trading and evidence tampering related to Smith Industries.” The man whose name was Randy said.Liam’s jaw clenched.“What the hell are you talking about? That’s impossible.”“We’ll determine that,” Agent Randy responded.He turned to look at me.“Mrs Smith, we were told you leaked internal company emails to the press.”“What!” I staggered back. “I did no such thing,” I swallowed hard.“The agent's tone was measured. We have messages traced to your laptop madam.”I felt the heat drain from my face. How did my laptop get in the middle of all this?I turned to Liam, and he held my gaze with a warm look, I let out a quiet sigh.When I finally managed to open my mouth to defend myself the agent cut in.“Mrs Smith, for the record, are you aware you are a person of interest?” He asked I inhaled shakily, forcing calm into my voice

Bianca“Dad,” Liam called out, his voice suddenly straight as he straightened, his unbuttoned shirt still hanging loosely on his body. “What.. what are you doing here?”Fredrick stepped in slowly, staring at us, arms folded.“I was headed to my quarters,” he said slowly, “when I heard raised voices.” he stared closely at us. “So who exactly needs protecting.. and from what?”“Oh, common Dad,” Liam said, forcing a laugh. Eavesdropping now? We’re a married couple, for crying out loud.”He let out a nervous chuckle, placed a hand on my waist, and pulled me close, and I felt a sudden warmth.“Just a little friendly banter, nothing serious,” he added, glancing at me with a soft smile.“Tell him, babe,”“Yes.. of course, Mr Fredrick, it was nothing serious at all,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.“Oh, Bianca quit with formalities,” Fredrick said,” it’s Dad to you now, you’re part of the family now.”“Okay Dad,” I forced a small laugh, glancing briefly at Liam, who now kep

Bianca“Come in,” Liam blinked, his jaw tightening.Belinda opened the door and walked in.“Sir, Ma’am, the boss requests your presence.” She said, eyes fixed on the ground.“My wife and I will be downstairs shortly,” Liam replied. “You may go,”Hearing him call me his wife made my eyes lift a little and I felt a bit calmer inside.Liam cleared his throat. “As I was saying before the interruption, I think we could both make this work,” “How exactly?” I asked, voice low.“I'm proposing a fake marriage,” he saidI frowned.“We had an authentic marriage,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.What the hell did he mean by a fake marriage?“Yes, yes of course we did,” he said, “but neither of us truly wanted this,”“What exactly is your plan?” I asked.“A happy marriage for the world, especially my dad. No intimacy, nothing real. We just have to keep up the act,” he replied.My eyes widened as his words sank in.“And what if I refuse?” I asked.Liam gave a wide grin. “Look a

Bianca“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, turning to look at Dad, confusion tightening my chest. “ I never signed no papers,”“Remember when I asked for your signature on some family asset? He asked, locking eyes with me, “There was no asset, you signed a binding lifetime marital contract,”At his words, my heart dropped, and I let out a gasp.I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d been deceived.“How could you Gary,” Mum shouted, her eyes fixed on him.“I did what I had to do Martha,” he replied “you both ought to be grateful to me, I gave her a better chance at life, for us all,”“You’re unbelievable,” Mum muttered, “how could you do this to our daughter?”“You.. monster,” I whispered at last, my voice trembling. “How could you?”Silent tears slid down my face, and my jaw clenched.I wasn’t going to let some Goddamn papers scare me.“I don’t care about some stupid papers you cooked up, my marriage to Liam is over. I’d advise you to tell them to expect the divorce papers any m