9 YEARS AGO. . .
"Why are we running, mommy?"Lily asks, tired.
Jack has a frown on his face as he waits for his mother to tell yet another lie.
"We're not running away, sweetie. We're just moving to somewhere much safer"
"Safer? Mom! We didn't do anything! Why do you and dad keep making us run from place to place? Dad's innocent so shouldn't have to run or hide!" Jack yells, tired of moving endlessly.
"We don't have another option, son. Please, no arguments, we need to get going and meet up with your father!"
Jack gives up, but he's not satisfied. Anna was young, so she didn't quite understand what was going on or why they had to run continuously. But as for him, he knew what was going on, at-least, to an extent.
Almost a two hour trip, Ava Hugh-Gray and her two children reach their destination. As so
"Bloody hell!" I yell as I barge into my room, fuming with rage, and angry tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. How dare Uncle Mark and father make a mockery of my choice of friends? I honestly wanted to give them a huge piece of my mind, but I'd been brought up in a decent way− it would be unladylike and extremely rude for me to speak rudely with the elders. "Sweetheart!" My ever loyal and over pampering godmother, Ruth enters the room, obviously hoping to pacify me. "Aunt Ruth, can I please get some privacy? If you don't mind." I ask, in a composed tone. I really wanted to smash everything in the room. What right did my father and Uncle Mark have to insult José, just because he was black? They could have waited for him to leave the damned party before they passed on their disgusting comments about an
A few days later. . .Preparations for my birthday had begun. Judith had bragged to her friends about her only child turning twenty and as for my father, I wondered why he always looked tensed.Rocky had payed me a visit for a short while. After Rocky's exit, thankfully, Aunt Ruth had come and she'd gifted me a lovely custom made Versace nude evening dress that complemented my skin and showed off my essential curves. I had decided that I would leave the next morning after a proper thank you speech to my parents. I was half scared that my parents would somehow find out I'd had sex with Rocky if I stayed behind.Going downstairs , as I inspect the decor, I realize that they're dull and boring, but extremely expensive. I would have preferred gold or burgundy decorations or a livelier color, but my parents had instead, gone with a pale and annoying shade of grey."Thank
The doctor had seen my father, and he was okay, resting in his room. Aunt Ruth had announced to the guests that the party was over. I was beyond sad and deeply hurt."Natalie?" Rocky calls.I feel relieved, just the person I needed. "Hey.""What happened? Why was the party cancelled?"My eyes become watery, causing Rocky to worry. "Are you okay?" He asks."Daddy is dying, he has a brain tumor.""Oh, my God. Natty, I'm so sorry. How did that happen?""I don't know, he said he found out a few weeks ago."Rocky hugs me, "Everything's going to be fine, Natty." He assures me.I remember my plans for the night. Would having sex despite my father's current condition make me selfish? I didn't know. The only thing I wanted was to forget about my problems. I didn't want t
Judith's Pov"Did Carrington send you?" I ask, as soon as Natalie leaves the room."Yes. I'll get straight to the point. Mr. Carrington has decided that if your daughter doesn't agree to marry him within the next 24 hours, he'll go public with something that will hurt not only your family, but will make you land in prison.""The docks, 2003." The man states, and I lose my balance for a second. It was a secret no one could ever know. It was a secret my husband and I had to die with."She'll do it." I respond as fast as I can."Here," He brings out some documents and hands them over to me. I take them. He continues, "This states that she will not withdraw after giving her consent, neither will she ask for a divorce. Mr. Carrington will be the only one capable of asking for a divorce.""She'll sign it." I respond, still trembling in fear.
Judith's Pov"Did Carrington send you?" I ask, as soon as Natalie leaves the room."Yes. I'll get straight to the point. Mr. Carrington has decided that if your daughter doesn't agree to marry him within the next 24 hours, he'll go public with something that will hurt not only your family, but will make you land in prison.""The docks, 2003." The man states, and I lose my balance for a second. It was a secret no one could ever know. It was a secret my husband and I had to die with."She'll do it." I respond as fast as I can."Here," He brings out some documents and hands them over to me. I take them. He continues, "This states that she will not withdraw after giving her consent, neither will she ask for a divorce. Mr. Carrington will be the only one capable of asking for a divorce.""She'll sign it." I respond, still trembling in fear.
My eyes are red and puffy from crying. I'm dressed in a grey dress, ready to be sold off like a piece of furniture. My life had take a wicked turn in a split second. I walk to the balcony as soon as I hear a car arrive. I look down from the balcony. It had to be him, Carrington. As though he can feel my eyes on him, he looks up. Our eyes meet. I look away and retreat."I'm glad you made the right decision." Judith says, barging into my room. I look at her, anger and pure disgust in my eyes."Shall we? We mustn't keep him waiting.""Where is my father? Does he know what you've done?""Your husband to be is waiting, Princess."As I arrive downstairs, the first person I see is a tall, well built man. He looked like he was in his late twenties. He had blue eyes, and was blonde, just like me. He has a blank expression on his face. He must be Car
"I'd like to escort my father to the hospital before I leave." She demands as she walks up to me."No, you can't. I'll have some of my men escort him if you wish."She gives me a dirty look, "Don't you have a father? How can you be so cruel?" She asks, and I almost laugh. Father? I want to grab her neck and yell. Tell her that her father was the reason why I didn't have a father, a family for that matter. I chuckle. "I did, at some point." I answer, trying to calm myself. I continue, "But now, I don't and I certainly don't care about you or your father." The only reason why I was"You can't stop me from seeing my father, I will see him with or without your consent!""I'm your husband, Natalie," I say as I pull her closer to me, squeezing her arm, I continue, "and, you will do as I wish."There's so much anger and hatred in her eyes as she squirms, "In name alone
I glance at the clothes and look at the clock, it was almost nine in the evening. I was ready to go for dinner even though I was terrified. After dressing up and applying a thick coat of red lipstick, I head downstairs when I notice Carrington already on the dining, alongside the strange girl, Laurel.Carrington gets up and takes out my chair for me. I don't say anything but I give him the could shoulder and glare at him. I was petrified. He frowns slightly."Laurel, please, could you excuse us? Just a minute.""Yes, sure." She says, and I could swear she gave me a dirty look."Thank you, for wearing the dress I sent. I must say, it suites you."I chuckle softly, annoyed by his guts. "I told you to stop acting friendly with me. Stop pretending to be a good person, because we both know you're not."He sighs, "Look, Natalie, I really don't hat