LOGINSTACY I appreciated the fact that Rowland had held my hand. Not that I was scared, not at all. I was just in a vulnerable place right now. And I needed a support system. William was just as he used to be — an arrogant, toxic fool who thought the world revolved around him and I was still at his mercy. That argument was the last thing I needed, especially in a place I’ve never been to before. Every other face was either new or a past I didn’t want to remember. Rowland was a past but he was the only past that seemed reasonable right now, and I needed someone on my side.While I narrated my story from the beginning, telling the honest-to-God truth and leaving no stone unturned, including the abuse, how desperation had led me to have a one night stand with Rowland whom I wasn’t aware was even remotely related to William.Upto the part where I left his house, to stay with a friend and my leaving the country when he had gotten information of where I worked. By the time I was done, the wo
STACY I appreciated the fact that Rowland had held my hand. Not that I was scared, not at all. I was just in a vulnerable place right now. And I needed a support system. William was just as he used to be — an arrogant, toxic fool who thought the world revolved around him and I was still at his mercy. That argument was the last thing I needed, especially in a place I’ve never been to before. Every other face was either new or a past I didn’t want to remember. Rowland was a past but he was the only past that seemed reasonable right now, and I needed someone on my side.While I narrated my story from the beginning, telling the honest-to-God truth and leaving no stone unturned, including the abuse, how desperation had led me to have a one night stand with Rowland whom I wasn’t aware was even remotely related to William.Upto the part where I left his house, to stay with a friend and my leaving the country when he had gotten information of where I worked. By the time I was done, the wo
ROWLAND I wanted to so punch his guts out. I wanted to deal with him so badly he wouldn’t believe I shared blood with him. Seeing Stacy in that situation made me want to knock the bastard’s teeth off. After everything he’d put the girl through, according to what Tricia had told me, he still had the guts to act like the victim. Grandma Marilyn was a tough woman. And despite her age, she always commanded respect wherever she entered. She was the eldest in the family and barely anything got past her without her notice. “I thought I asked a question. What in the fucking hell is going on here on the night of my birthday?!” “Grandma, Rowland betrayed me by going after my wife.” William looked ready to explode.“I’m not your wife.” Stacy gritted out stubbornly, her eyes flashing with anger. “The same one your father had you marry as debt repayment? The one you all hid from the rest of the family? This is her?” Grandma pointed at Stacy who blinked her surprise.Yeah, I was also thinki
STACYMinding my business, a smug smile on my face, I made my way back to where I’d come from. It truly served Eleanor right. And to think that maybe for a moment, despite the past, I’d felt empathy enough to want step in to help her, she’d seen it as an opportunity to run her mouth on me. Let her reap the fruits she had sowed. I briefly wondered if her family was aware of what she was going through in marriage. I didn’t think so, else, William and their mother, Veronica wouldn’t allow it. Maybe she was too ashamed to let them know. Wow. Life was indeed unpredictable. After all the pride and boasts, putting herself above me even though we were age mates simply because she had a family that cared. I hope William and Veronica would realize their golden daughter and sister was now in the same situation William had put me in years ago. That…A yelp left my lips as a hand pulled me into a corner. A mix of annoyance and confusion brewed within as I tried to get a proper look at the face
STACYWhen she returned, it was with a glass of juice, “I’m sorry I didn’t get wine, ma’am. I want to be sober looking after the kids. I hope you don’t mind?”I shrugged, “have your seat.”As soon as she lowered herself on the chair opposite, the lights hanging around the compound bathing her frame in a soft hue, I leaned forward, “why are you like this?”She lowered her lashes to avoid contact gaze, “I—I don’t understand, ma’am.”I leaned back, “you know, the first day you came to that hotel, you didn’t bring any bag or anything of value with you. I noticed you don’t receive calls from family members, even friends. Don’t you have any?”“I do.” She answered quietly, taking a small sip of her juice, more out of nerves than the fact that she liked it. “I want to talk to them.”Her eyes flew up to stare at mine, “m-ma?”“You heard me, Rita. I want to know if you’re a ghost working for me or a runaway? Are you either?”She hesitated, her throat moving up and down as she gulped.My eyes w
STACYWhen I stepped back into the house, I already had my emotions in check. My confidence was back in bloom, alongside a need for arrogance, if need be. Rowland was right about one thing. I couldn’t — shouldn’t — be scared of William anymore. I wasn’t the young, unemployed wife anymore. I was a boss, a CEO of a famous fashion brand. I had to act like it. So, I slipped my heels back on, comported myself and was now weaving my way through the big family. Some were sitting and drinking, the kids sat in a large groups, laughing and playing amongst themselves, paying no attention to the adults. I spotted my kids amongst them, already accepted into the big group, treated as one of them. That sight of seeing Luca and another boy his age play with leggo bricks made me smile. There was Layla and a girl probably a year or two older admiring each other’s clothes. Landon was driving toy trucks and stationing soldiers to protect what I perceived to be his truck company against another boy h
STACY “Madam, please, your husband is busy. He will…” I paid no need to the secretary who was running after me as I pushed my way through desks and staff, heading for his door.Once I reached the door that read ‘Office Of The CEO’, I turned the knob and opened.The secretary disappeared from the
STACYI stepped into the dark room on wobbling legs and full of buzzing nerves. William was the first and only man to have ever seen me naked. Clad in just a pair of lace bra and panties, I felt uncomfortable knowing I was about to be seen by another man.Tonight was the night.I had signed a non-
STACYI skidded to a halt, almost tripping in my haste. The hospital floor was too squeaky clean. One had to be careful, but I didn’t care about being careful, not when the doctor had sounded serious on the phone.My daughter’s health. The cancer. Her brain. I stopped myself from thinking further
STACY “Zaya is your daughter too, William!” I screeched despairingly, the back of my throat burning with sorrow and unshed tears. My hair was disheveled and a strap of my dress was falling off my shoulder. My face streaked with dried tears.I was in a state of panic, panic, fear and sorrow all at







