"MOM! MOM! MOMMY! MOM!..." Marianne's attention was drawn to her six-year-old daughter, Rose, who needed her urgently. "What's wrong, baby?" Marianne asked, snapping out of her thoughts.
Rose pointed to the overfilled peanut butter on her bread. "You put too much peanut butter on my slice!" Marianne gasped, quickly washing off the excess and drying her hands with a paper towel. "What a waste!" she exclaimed, disappointment etched on her face.Marianne's mind had been preoccupied with the day's news - an unplanned pregnancy, unwanted by her boyfriend, Greg. For ten years, six months, and twelve days, Greg had emphasized the struggles of raising their daughter, Rose. He never seemed ready for the responsibility, making Marianne feel like she had forced him into parenthood. Despite her stability and readiness for another child, Greg's reluctance loomed large.Feeling off for days, Marianne suspected she was pregnant and confirmed it with a home test. The positive result sparked fear about Greg's reaction, overshadowing her excitement. Rose, sensing her mother's distress, placed a tiny hand on hers. "Mom, are you okay?" Marianne, still lost in thought, slowly turned to her daughter. "Yes, baby, I'm just tired."Rose persisted, "Are you sure, Mommy? You're acting weird." Marianne forced a humorous tone, "Are you calling me a liar?" She lifted Rose off the kitchen floor, showering her with kisses as Rose held tight to her neck. The tender moment was disrupted by Greg's entrance into the room, followed by an uncomfortable silence."Good morning, dear," Marianne greeted, trying to sound casual. Greg, oblivious to the tension, asked about breakfast and an early meeting. Marianne pointed to his plate, "That's yours. Would you like some coffee?" Greg declined and headed to the living room to watch the news before his meeting. As he took a bite of his sandwich, Marianne offered him juice, bracing herself to share the unexpected news."Thanks," Greg said, taking the glass of orange juice while his eyes remained fixed on the news. He set it on the stool beside the one-seater sofa, oblivious to Marianne's attempts to get his attention. She tried to casually pass in front of the television, hoping to catch his eye, but he was too engrossed in the news."Can I watch the news first before you start your usual chores, please?" he asked irritably, putting down his sandwich as if he'd had enough. "I'm sorry, I was just trying to get your attention. I—"Greg cut her off before she could finish. "I can't right now, I have to get ready and leave quickly. Maybe later, or text me if you find the time," he suggested as he walked out to take a shower, leaving his plate and glass of juice behind. Marianne felt a surge of frustration and anxiety. She had been trying to tell him something important, but he never seemed to have the time or interest.Marianne felt her anxiety spike with every passing minute, her heart racing as if she'd been running. She had anticipated various reactions from Greg about the baby, none of which were positive. But she was prepared, thanks to her mother's advice to always be prepared for any circumstance. Her mother had always told her to expect the unexpected and to have a plan in place, and Marianne had taken that advice to heart.Throughout her teenage life, Marianne had made poor decisions, one after another. It was how she ended up in a relationship with Greg in the first place – "Five minutes of fun for a lifetime commitment," she often thought. She had been young and naive, and Greg had taken advantage of that. Despite this, she never regretted having Rose, who was always a blessing. The thought of having another child filled her with more joy than fear, except for the fear of possibly doing it alone if Greg refused to accept the situation, which was the most likely outcome.It was puzzling how a woman like Marianne, full-figured and beautiful, with a warm and loving personality, ended up with a self-centered man like Greg. Marianne's curves and Brazilian skin tone complemented her light brown hair and eyes, and her lips were designed for warm, heartfelt kisses. She had a natural beauty that radiated from within, and she had a heart of gold. But low self-esteem can lead people to settle for less; Marianne lost her mother at a young age and her father was always away on business trips, leaving her with a grandmother who did her best but couldn't provide the emotional support Marianne needed.As a result, Marianne had grown up feeling unworthy and unloved. She had sought validation in all the wrong places, including in her relationship with Greg. But now, with another baby on the way, she was determined to break free from her past and create a better future for herself and her children.Marianne quickly cleaned up after Greg and Rose, who was engrossed in her favorite early morning cartoons in the living room. Seeing an opportunity for a brief moment with Greg before Rose started looking for her again, Marianne tiptoed to the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her. She took a deep breath and began to speak, hoping that this time, Greg would finally listen."Greg, I need to talk to you about something important," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "I've been trying to tell you for days, but you never seem to have the time. I'm pregnant, Greg. We're having another baby."The room fell silent, and Marianne's heart raced as she waited for Greg's response. She had anticipated anger, denial, or even indifference, but she had not expected the silence that followed. It was as if Greg had frozen in time, unable to process the news.“So, Raphael, what’s it going to be?” George leaned forward, his expression a mixture of concern and frustration. “Are you going to get the help you need, or should I go ahead and file a restraining order? You know it’s protocol, bud.” Raphael’s eyes were hollow, remnants of the torment he had endured since losing his wife and daughter. The mention of a restraining order hit him like a punch to the gut. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly. “I’ll go to rehab. I’ll do anything to make things right with Marianne and Rose.” He had dreaded the idea of rehabilitation, the thought of facing his demons, ever since that fateful day when he lost everything. Yet, he knew that without taking this step, he could lose even more. Marianne and Rose were worth the struggle. Within hours, two able-bodied men, colleagues of George’s, escorted Raphael home. They helped him gather what he needed, while the weight of his past loomed heavy in the air. As they drove to the
Raphael felt a surge of guilt flood his heart as he looked at Marianne. He had put her through days of pain and confusion, all while believing he was doing the right thing. In one part of his mind, he was sure that Rose would be better off, away from the storm of her parents' toxic relationship. He thought he was sparing his daughter from the same chaos that had plagued their family. Yet, in another part of him, he felt a deep, aching sorrow for Marianne. He could feel her silent anguish, the emptiness left by the absence of her only child. The thought of her missing Rose gnawed at him, and the weight of his decision pressed heavily on his chest, almost making it hard for him to breathe. He couldn't even look her in the eyes, let alone find the strength to say a word. As he stood there, unsure and tormented, Marianne’s gentle voice broke the silence. "Someone’s here to see you," she said, her tone soft yet tinged with an emotion he couldn’t quite identify. She stepped aside, and ther
Marianne stood frozen, her breath caught in her chest as she took in the sight she had dreamed of for what felt like an eternity—her daughter, Rose, safe and alive. The last few days had been a waking nightmare, each day a torturous blend of hope and despair as she searched, refusing to let go of the belief that she would find her daughter again. Now, here Rose was, only a few steps away, hand-in-hand with Raphael, the man she had once thought she could trust.Marianne’s mind spun, emotions tangling in a whirlwind that left her wordless. Fear, love, relief—all warring within her as she tried to process the moment. She couldn’t bring herself to care that Raphael was standing there; all that mattered was Rose. Even as the cavalry she had enlisted to help bring Rose back closed in around them, Marianne’s eyes never left her daughter’s. The men quickly moved to apprehend Raphael, who, to her relief, offered no resistance. His only crime had been taking a minor from her mother, a crime tha
Raphael had spent the entire night in a restless haze, his thoughts consumed by memories of his dead wife and their little girl. He hadn't slept at all, his mind haunted by the life he'd once had—a life that felt a thousand miles away now. The image of his wife, with her gentle smile and the warmth in her eyes, lingered painfully in his mind. And then there was his daughter, a fragile, innocent soul taken far too soon. He could still remember the way she laughed, the way her small hand would curl around his finger when she was afraid. The guilt of losing them weighed heavily on him, an unshakable burden that only seemed to grow with time. His heart ached, a deep, constant throb that reminded him of the life he'd failed to protect.Now, there was Rose—Marianne’s daughter. Marianne, his former lover, had left him after everything fell apart, after tragedy struck and their worlds were shattered. She had taken Rose and moved on, but fate had brought them back together in the most unexpect
The next day had arrived and Marianne was getting more and more impatient. She tried hard to keep that to herself but not all of it would stay hidden. Lucy noticed that she was stuck between losing hope and having the will to still fight for her daughter.Sometimes, her eyes lit up when she saw more armed bodyguards arrive at Lucy's house. The search was becoming more and more real, nothing like what Marianne thought it was going to be. She imagined that the solution she had in mind would have worked better, easily informing the police about the missing girl and then putting it all over the news and in the newspapers, on posters as well.She imagined that anyone would have called the police back and given them leads to Raphael because he would have been the said suspect. Marianne, at some point, even went to George about it, just so she could understand exactly why he decided to call off her plan."Marianne, do you really think that the detectives under the law are du
Chapter ThirtyThe feeling of her heart racing was driving Marianne crazy, her hands trembled so much that if she was asked to hold anything, the object would drop to the floor. She tried to fight back all the terrible things that were running through her mind for the sake of Lucy and George, yet she didn't know if she had to be mad at them too for keeping the news a secret."How could this be? This is a lie! You can't possibly…. " tears ran down from Marianne's eyes and George reached out to try and comfort her,"No! Don't touch me! You knew that this was my father but you never told me, you kept it a secret from me this whole time, and for what!?" She yelled.At that point, Marianne stood up to keep her distance from the man she called a criminal, the man that claimed to be her father."Lucy, why are you so quiet? Tell me that this is a joke, please!""Marianne, I'm just as shocked as you are right now, I had no idea that you were my sister thi