FIVE YEARS LATER
Jocelyn’s POV “Good morning, Miss Roswell,” My secretary, Amelia, greeted as she placed a cup of piping hot coffee on my desk. “Morning, Amelia,” I responded, inhaling lungfuls of the rich coffee scent. “Have I ever told you how much of a sweetheart you are?” “Many times, Miss Roswell,” Amelia said. “But that doesn't compare to how much of a darling and an angel you are. I mean, you brought me from the gutter and molded me into a woman of affluence. I owe my entire self to you.” “Let's not get sentimental,” I fondly huffed. “It's been three years and you still don't want to let go.” “How could I possibly do that? I was really contemplating dropping out of college to become either an onlyfans model or an escort to take care of my mother's bills,” Amelia uttered. “And you came like the angel that you are and shouldered my whole responsibility. You are truly a gem.” Five years ago after my divorce and my mum's subsequent death, I had decided to start all over. And by doing so, I had enrolled in business school upon my discharge from the hospital, to learn the ropes of my family business. I had also successfully established five branches of my family's household appliance business in several countries. It was three years ago on one of my humanitarian visits to my Alma mater, University of Australia, that I met Amelia. According to the dean of the university, she was a very bright student who had even managed to get a fully-funded scholarship. However, she had failed three of her courses in her final year, and was asked to drop out. I had felt immense sympathy toward her and had decided to help her in any way I could. I had pleaded with the dean to give her a second chance to retake her exams, which she passed with flying colours. It was after then that Amelia told me about herself and her family; she came from a family of three, herself, her mother and her deceased father. Her mother had been battling stomach and ovarian cancer for the past five months, and she had been taking care of the medical bills with the peanuts she earned from her part-time job, which had caused her to lose focus in her studies. Thankfully, her mother was now cancer free and doing very well. “Cut it out, Amelia and let's get down to today's schedule,” I chuckled. “What meetings do I have today?” After she finished college, Amelia had interned at my company. After seeing how good of a worker she was, I had decided to retain her and make her my secretary. Apart from Nancy, she was the only person I could trust. “Alright, ma'am. You have a meeting with a representative of Shelford group. After that, you are to have lunch with Mr Clark, the CEO of Austen petroleum,” Amelia read out of the iPad in her hold. “By the way, an opportunity has opened.” “Where?” “Apparently, LZ group of companies is seeking for a reputable company to partner with for a joint venture,” Amelia said, and the ambience of the room instantly became tense. “What do you think, ma'am?” “LZ, huh?” I scoffed. “Has Eduardo finally gone broke that he's looking for a joint venture?” “No, ma,” Amelia responded to my utter disappointment. “He still sits at the top of the list of the wealthiest men in America.” Just like Nancy, Amelia knew everything about Eduardo and also hated him. For the past five years, I had been pondering on how I could make Eduardo pay for his evil but nothing crafty and creative had really struck me. Time was going by and I had to do something as soon as possible but I had no idea what ex- “Wait.” I said, as an absurd idea struck my mind. “Let's do it.” “What are we doing, ma'am?” Amelia raised a brow. “Don't tell me-” “Make an offer to them,” I said, and she gasped, eyes widening comically. “Now.” “But that's insane, Miss Roswell,” Amelia argued. “You don't want to be business partners with an asshole like Eduardo Lopez.” “I know what I'm doing, Amelia and I'll be fine,” I smiled but she didn't seem to believe me which made me sigh. “I have to get close to him to carry out my revenge.” “Oh.” “Yes,” I said. “So draft an offer and send it to me. I'll review it and send you the final copy tomorrow.” “Alright, ma'am. I just hope it works out.” Smiling, I responded. “It will.” + “Hi, Miss Tina,” I greeted the woman at the reception desk. “Hello, Miss Roswell,” She beamed. “You came early today.” “Yes, I finished work earlier than usual,” I explained just as my son, Henry, came out, clasping his lunch box with his little school bag secured to his back. On seeing me, Henry's face lit up with a smile as he ran up to me and clutched my legs in a tight hug. “Mummy!” He yelled against my skirt. “I missed you.” “I missed you too, my baby,” I said, crouching to his height. “How was school today?” “It was nice. We watched a movie and drawed.” Henry narrated, eyes glimmering with childlike excitement. “It's drew, honey,” I corrected him. “You drew and that's good. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.” Contrary to my initial plan of getting rid of my pregnancy, I kept it and had my adorable baby boy, Henry. I was supposed to have triplets but sadly, I had lost two of my babies, both girls, during childbirth. Due to the impact of the accident, I had several complications during my pregnancy. It was through a stroke of luck that Henry had even managed to survive. “What do you want to eat tonight, baby?” I asked Henry as we stepped into my condo. Henry had my entire face with his black hair and grey eyes. He also loved to swim just like his sperm donor, and had even won a silver medal at the swimming competition that his school organized last month. “Mac and cheese!” He grinned, and I smiled, ignoring the ache in my heart. Eduardo also liked Mac and cheese.Jocelyn’s POV I woke up to the sound of machines beeping next to me.As I winked an eye open, a tangy antiseptic smell infiltrated my line of smell, causing me to scrunch my nose in distaste for a moment.After a while, I squeezed my eyes open and squinted instantly as sunlight diffracted through the window panes, into my eyes.Looking around, I realized that I was in a hospital room, and also experiencing numbness from my waist down which made me put two and two together as I stared at my moderately big stomach.Melon was out.I managed a weak smile as I clasped my hands together before something clicked in my head.My baby wasn't with me.As I made to rip the IV off my wrist and go in search of a doctor, the door opened and my obstetrician, Dr Wineheart, walked in, clad in grey scrubs.“You are finally awake,” He said. “Welcome back to life.”“Thanks,” I replied. “Where's my baby?”Sure, I had managed to get over the trauma of losing a child the first and second time, but I knew I
Jocelyn’s POV “I’m seeing someone,” Ivy uttered, as she took her seat beside me, a simmering cup of ginger tea in her hold. “He's also a doctor. He was recently transferred here from Norway.”“Finally,” I squeaked, clapping my hands together in excitement.“I have to get over Brian somehow, don't I?” She shrugged then took a sip of tea.“Hold on, you are using the new guy as a rebound?” I asked. “Really, Ivy?”“Don't judge me,” Ivy sighed, throwing her hands in surrender. “In all honesty, he's not a rebound because I kind of like him too. He's funny, tall, and handsome.”For peace to reign, I decided against pushing the subject further and instead remain on the current topic which was the new guy.“So how and when did he ask you out?”“Three days ago after we finished a surgery together,” Ivy chuckled. “A romantic to the core, isn't he?”“I guess he is in a way,” I replied.“He told me he got an epiphany during the surgery and realized that life was too short to keep one's feelings h
Jocelyn’s POV As I flipped through the pages of a maternity book, a knock came on the door of the bedroom before Eduardo let himself in, a smile playing on his handsome face.“Hi, baby. How are you?” He asked, walking over to press a kiss to my lips and forehead.“Good,” I replied, rubbing my gargantuan belly. “The baby is kicking gently today which is quite surprising. If I didn't have an experience with pregnancy, I would have asked you to drive me to the hospital, so we could get her checked.”I was currently in the seventh month and last trimester of my pregnancy, and as much as I loved my unborn baby girl, I couldn't wait for it to come out.Last week, I had found out that I was having a girl via the surprise baby shower Amelia and Ivy had thrown me and I was very excited to meet my little baby girl.However, being cooped up at home for the past three months could be sickening and frustrating because I was always alone in the house.Three months ago during an appointment with my
Eduardo’s POV Leaning against the doorway of our bedroom, I observed Jocelyn as she laid, cocooned in the blanket, face scrunched up in displeasure and possible ache, which she wouldn't admit.She had been like that for the past five hours and it was currently ten in the morning.I had come home last night to meet Ivy having dinner with the kids and Jocelyn copoed up in bed, burning hot with a temperature.All my efforts to get her to go to the hospital had been in vain, as she had vehemently stated she was fine and didn't need to be assessed by a doctor.Right now, as I looked at her, I mentally admonished myself for listening to her last night, instead of doing a better job of persuading her to see a doctor.“That does it, baby. We are going to the hospital,” I said, and watched her try but fail to sit up.I was instantly at her side, propping a pillow behind her and covering her with the blanket.“Thanks, Ed,” She said then sneezed into the handkerchief in her hand. “I don't need
Jocelyn’s POV I winced as the back of my head tightened with an excruciating ache, stifling the urge to groan in pain.“The sales memo and the quarterly report were thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by me yesterday, so everything should be perfect,” The team leader of sales department, Micheal Gould, said into the microphone, aggravating my migraine.“Okay, that's good.’ I forced myself to say, balling my hands into fists and placing it on my lap.I couldn't help but wonder why I had such a bad headache that afternoon, as the voices in the conference room blurred, and the sound of my heart thumping filled my ears.My mouth was hot, my lips numb, and my body warm as the ache intensified.I had woken up hale and hearty today, excited for the start of a new work week, and mine and Eduardo's impending dinner that was supposed to happen later today.But given how I seemed to have fallen ill all of a sudden, I knew the dinner would likely not happen anymore.The mere thought of it was beyo
Eduardo’s POV “It's been less than a year since I left yet it feels like a decade has passed,” Jocelyn said, one hand out of the window and her eyes squeezed shut as the wind tousled her long, auburn hair.Even though she couldn't see it, I darted her a smirk before turning my attention to the road.We were currently in Australia for the week, as Henry and Olivia were currently on summer break.Jocelyn and I had decided to take them to Australia, mainly because we wanted to expose Olivia to the country and stuff.Due to the sick plan Nancy had pulled, she had been unable to spend time in Australia with her mother and sibling.Although that was in the past now, I couldn't help but feel vitriolic anger toward both Nancy and Sofia whenever I thought about it.But as Jocelyn had told me the other day, focusing on the bad things that happened in the past instead of being pleased and grateful with one's current situation, wasn't the right thing to do.I had Jocelyn and my wonderful childre