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37|Bonnie To His Clyde
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Beautiful Disaster 38|The Flats—Part 1
There was a SaveRite down the road from Sea Point Primary. It wasn't the most stocked-up supermarket, but it was the closest Marybeth could stop at without going out of her way and upsetting the rest of her afternoon plans.So, after arguing with herself in the parking lot for a few minutes, she finally plucked up the nerve to dash inside and take Austin's shiny black card for a spin.She filled up her shopping cart with all the basic essentials a family of five would need.Several grocery bags later, she headed to Sea Point Flats.This area was notorious for hijackings and smash-and-grabs, so she quickly rolled up her windows and hid her handbag and phone under her car seat, her gut clenching when she passed the defaced, graffiti-riddled sign welcoming residents and passersby to The Flats, population 1.5 million, and crime and violence were the only currency.Somewhere in this dusty labyrinth of desolation and despair, a man only saved as 'X' under the list of contacts in Danica's ph
Beautiful Disaster 39|The Flats—Part 2
Since Marybeth always looked on the bright side of life, she gladly welcomed the invitation, lugging the grocery bags in front of her.She slammed the door shut behind her, wishing she hadn't, when the dank smell of wet clothes and general unkemptness hit her right about the same time as the lack of light in the room.The curtains were drawn in the living room, where two young boys, whose resemblance was so uncanny they could be twins and young enough to still be breastfed, played at their mother's feet.Adeline was nowhere in sight, and Marybeth assumed she was still on her way, walking home with her friends. Did she even have friends, though? Come to think of it, she'd never seen her play with anyone at lunchtime—"What did she do this time?" Adeline's mom asked as she reached for a pack of no-name brand cigarettes and lit one up, unbothered by the smell or secondary smoke her little ones were taking in."She didn't do anything wrong," Marybeth was quick to assure her as she hovered
Beautiful Disaster 40|Confrontation—Part 1
Tidal Wave Swimming Club had been on Pelican Surf's Waterfront for as long as Marybeth could remember, but she'd never stepped inside. Chances were, she would likely never have if it wasn't for the hot mess her life had turned into lately.She made it just as the kids were being dismissed. Orlando was super thrilled to see her, carrying on about how she'd love it if she could pick her up every day."Why? Don't you like Eddie?" Marybeth asked as she helped her change out of her swimming gear and back into her school uniform."I do," Orlando replied, throwing her arms around her neck. "But I like you better."Marybeth returned the hug, breathing in her sweet smell of innocence and love. Just for that moment, everything was perfect, the world right again, and monsters like Ricardo remained in the shadows where they belonged."Come on, let's get moving. We don't want to get stuck in traffic," she said when she eventually released Orlando from her grasp."What happened to your neck?" her y
Beautiful Disaster 41|Confrontation—Part 2
Orlando was already hard at work with Arno and Benji, packing the groceries away when they walked in. She looked up from the bags and beckoned at them to join the fray, "Daddy, Marybeth, come help!""Sorry, Squeak, Beth and I have something urgent to discuss. But you carry on with your uncles, yeah? We'll be back in a bit," Austin told her as he promptly took Marybeth's hand and dragged her upstairs.The moment the bedroom door snapped in place, the gloves were off.Austin grabbed her, shaking her by the shoulders, demanding to know what had possessed her to go to Sea Point Flats, even though he'd expressly forbidden her from going there. "I asked you not to go there! You know damn well how dangerous that place is!""I've already explained it was for work. I don't know what else to say!" Marybeth argued. "And how the hell do you even know I went there? Were your men following me?""Thank heavens they were! Imagine the shit show you would have found yourself in if things went sideways
Beautiful Disaster 42|Biggest Regrets—Part 1
Austin had every intention of returning to Hawthorne Towers and working through the security footage Tim sent earlier just to distract himself.But the more kilometres Arno and Benji put between him and Marybeth, the bigger the knot in his chest grew, and the lump of discomfort in his tummy hardened.He leaned back in his seat, thinking if he willed himself hard enough, he'd stop reliving his fight with Marybeth. But, it was easier said than done. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw were the tearful accusations in hers.He'd done a lot of incomprehensible shit in his life, lost more than most, and experienced the worst of heartbreaks, too. But he'd never felt as gutted as when Marybeth looked at him like he was the devil incarnate, the worst of society.He didn't regret his life or the choices he'd had to make. Hell, he wouldn't even apologise for the crimes he'd committed or the people he'd murdered in cold blood, because, quite frankly, they all had it coming. Marybeth might n
Beautiful Disaster 43|Biggest Regrets—Part 2
If the penny hadn't dropped for Ricardo about the world of trouble he was in, it finally did when Austin lifted the lid of one of the trays, revealing an array of knives.He moved on to the second platter, pulled out the bottle of Hennessy and poured a shot.The last tray held various finger foods. He placed the snacks platter and the shot of Hennessy in front of Ricardo."What is this, sir?""Your last supper," Austin replied as he resumed his seat and stared at the bastard. "Please, go ahead and eat.""I don't understand. Why is this my last supper? I thought you called me here to join the family. The recruiters—""Join the family?" Austin scoffed. "That is the most absurd shit I've ever heard. You abuse children, Ricardo. You even beat up your wife too. And as if that wasn't nasty enough, you had the nerve to hold a knife to my wife's throat and call her an uppity bitch!""Whoa? What? Let's talk about this," Ricardo stammered, trying to ease out of his chair, but Arno and Benji's h
Beautiful Disaster 44|Pandora's Box
The file was still on the bed, exactly where Marybeth had left it when she returned to the bedroom after her shower. She glanced at it as she towelled off, reassuring herself nothing good would ever come out of opening Pandora's box.She pulled out a fresh set of pyjamas from one of her suitcases, still lying at the foot of the bed where Austin had left them last night. He'd made space for her stuff in the walk-in closet, but after their scathing confrontation, she was mentally and physically exhausted. She couldn't bring herself to unpack, and if she didn't have to help Orlando with her homework, she would have skipped supper and gone straight to bed to lick her wounds.Just a mere thought of the little girl spurred Marybeth to action. They still had supper to prepare and a ton of other stuff to do before bedtime. So she quickly threw on her sleep clothes and ratty bedroom slippers, ready to get her night going. But Amos' file was too big a temptation. She reached for it, fresh horro
Beautiful Disaster 45|Between Right And Wrong
"Let's take a photo of the pizza and send it to Daddy just to make him jealous," Orlando suggested before they could dig in."Okay, let's do that!" Marybeth laughed as she snapped several photos of their meal from every angle and sent them off. Austin read the text and sent a string of heart emojis. She showed them to Orlando. "I don't think your daddy's jealous.""He is!" Orlando insisted.Sure enough, Marybeth's phone pinged again with another message from Austin. 'Žena, the pizza looks divine. Did you make it from scratch? Wish I was there to enjoy it with you guys. I'm working late, don't wait up for me.''I wasn't planning to,' Marybeth typed back, wondering what other illegal shit her husband was up to tonight. But since she had no control over any of it, she pushed all thoughts of Austin out of her mind and focused her energy on Orlando.By the time they were done with their meal, she knew all about the cliques at Liberty Prep, who had a crush on who, and who was given afternoo
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