LOGINSTACYI walked into the VIP ward, holding a basket of edibles. The triplets walking beside their father. As soon as they spotted Rita, they left their father to run up to greet her, happy to have her awake. Even nudging me out of the way as well.“Hello, Auntie Rita!” They chorused, grinning and waving. She managed a small smile, her eyes showing how weak she was. She was still pale, but nothing as serious as last night’s. “Hey babies.” She raised herself to a sitting position, and I saw it was with some difficulty. “How are you?”“We are fine,” they answered in unison. “How are you too?” This was from Layla who was eyeing the IV running from the IV bag to the catheter. “I’m fine, darling.”“Are you still sick?” Landon decided to ask after sharing in his curiosity of the catheter and IV bag with his sister. “Not really.” She replied.Luca who wasn’t paying mind to the IV bag or why Rita was taking it had another medical tool taking his attention. The heart monitor. He watched as
WILLIAM Not in the mood to talk to anyone, I started for my room, unbuttoning my shirt and loosening my tie along the way upstairs. Mom quietly entered her own room. Rosy, my wife, followed behind me. I could tell she was fuming, but I didn’t have time tonight for her. The birthday party has been nothing but a huge mistake…or maybe not totally. However, seeing Stacy looking the way she was tonight at that party had taken me by surprise and shock. I could hardly believe it was her. Six years. Six years she’d left this house without my notice. Six years I had gone searching for her to no avail. Today, she had attended my grandmother’s birthday party with my cousin, Rowland Carter, and their kids. Rowland, I thought in anger, that bastard. There was a reason why I never saw eye to eye with him, even in business. He had once…no, twice, taken potential business clients from me. And now he bragged of a company bigger and more prosperous than mine. That was enough to make me wish th
STACYI had blood stains all over me, but that wasn’t my problem right now. It was the pale girl they were currently pushing on a stretcher into the emergency ward. My shoulders slumped as nerves and trepidation threatened to rip my furiously beating heart out of my chest. My knees almost buckled from fear. Rowland’s arm came about my shoulder and helped me to one of those seats usually kept for guests and families of patients in the waiting room. “Oh my God, Rowland, what if she had died? W-what…” My voice was shaking so bad. “Shh. She’s not dead. She’s just unconscious from losing too many blood in one night. I’m just sorry I didn’t let you drive straight to the hospital when you wanted to. I just felt she would be able to hold it out for the night. Then the next morning, you guys can go.”“Yeah, you should have let me drive her to the hospital.” I replied, feeling a bit snappy and shaken.“I’m sorry. I was just thinking of the kids. They would either have to be alone at home an
STACYI couldn’t be more glad that the night was finally over. The party had come to an end. Somehow, I felt sorry for Grandma Marilyn, but on the other hand, I was relieved to be back in my house. The drive home had been silent. The back of the limo was as quiet as the word meant. Even the kids had been quiet as well. Maybe they had sensed the tension, the confusion and every emotional whatnots that had choked the ambience of the luxurious vehicle.Somewhere along the drive, they fell asleep. All three of them. They didn’t come to sleep in my arms as they usually would, but they had preferred Rowland’s arms. The latter had been more than happy to have them sleep on him. “Thank you for inviting us, and I’m sorry for the whole drama.” I tendered the apology as sincerely as my tired body could. He leaned in to kiss my forehead, which surprised me and because I hadn’t seen it coming, I couldn’t duck in time to avoid it. “It’s alright.”Ignoring the slight tingle on the skin on the pa
STACY“But grandma…” William started, not happy with the words his grandmother was throwing at him. “Not one more stupid word from you,” the woman shunned, “I have no interest in listening to you anymore.” She turned to her other grandson, “what’s your role in all of this?”“She’s the mother of my kids.” Rowland said, still holding onto my hand. The woman shrugged, “and? Is that all?”He met my gaze briefly before continuing, “I like her, grandma Marilyn, and I hope to have a good relationship with her.”I studied his expression, searching for any reason why he might be trying to trick me into warming his bed or just trying to have me fully lower my guard so he could take possession of my kids. I found no reason why he would do that. None at all. His expression spoke of sincerity. Even his tone as well. He wasn’t joking? He truly liked me? An unfamiliar tingle within my chest spread. He caught me staring at me and flashed me a smile. Hating the warmth spreading across my cheeks,
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 d
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







