CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT *Between the Devil and the deep blue sea*"Dad... C'mon this is certainly no time to be keeping secrets from me." Janice pleaded as she gingerly reached for her father's hands and took them into hers. He has been going through a lot lately. She could feel it. As much as she was disappointed in her father for making a such brash decision that is pivotal in her life, He was still her Dad. And he had been fighting alone all this time, trying to give her the best life and protect her. But now... It is her time to protect him. He's been through a lot and no matter what, he remained her father. He stiffened against her touch and puffed out a resigned deep breath. There was no use hiding the truth from her again... Not in this condition anyway. "Darling... The truth is, I have an underlying health condition." Janice's heart flipped at the same time her mouth widened in shock. "What?! Oh my God! How long has this been for and what medical condition
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-NINE*"Some things are better left unsaid."*Janice couldn't still believe her ears. What the hell is going on here?! She swallowed. "Dad, are you being dead serious right now?! " she screeched. "You are going to make me choose?! What happened to my happiness and what I really what." He knew things were not going to be easy. Her reaction was only expected after all. She won't understand the gravity of what she might be doing to herself if she doesn't accept. The Castle family is the only person he could trust with his daughter's security and no one else. So it was only better she got engaged with her childhood friend who happened to be his best friend's son. That way, the continued relationship between the Jordans and Castle will be bolstered through marriage. He was too wary to allow her just to engage with a random person, who might be probably after his wealth or on a mission to harm his family. At this point, it would be too dangerous to just t
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED *It's about time to speed things up.*As soon as she flung the door open, everyone sprung up on their feet and rushed to her. "Janice! How is he?!" Matt and George, his father, asked in unison. She swallowed. It had been a long conversation back in there; a lot of hurt, anger, frustration, shock, and sadness. In fact, it was a turbulent mix of emotions inside that room. Her father had revealed the truth well, as far as she now knows. But still... What was she going to do? She was as good as hopeless. Her gaze flickered to Drake standing on the other side. He didn't want to interrupt them. Was he so damn oblivious to the fact that she loves him? Or he was simply playing the ignorant? Whichever the case, she may be forced to keep her feelings a secret for the time being. If only she could send the message through telepathy right now... "How is your father doing?"Mr George asked, his wary amber eyes swiping all over her face. She smiled weakly and no
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED-ONE *"speaking of the devil..." *"Oh, my God!!!!!" Hannah's shrill voice echoed through the room from the phone held by Janice. "When did this happen and I didn't know?!" She shrieked in shock. Janice had rushed home and she was slumped on her couch in her bedroom. Her eyes flickered to the wall clock in her room. Damn! It's pretty late. The time read: 10:23 pm.It's been a long hard day for her after all. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep or ruin your day. You must have had a long day at work and I could only make things far worse for you." "I told you already Janice... Your pain is my pain to bear as well. So don't you ever for once think that you are being a nuisance to me or something. I will always be there for you. Always...." Hannah said softly. Janice inhaled deeply and puffed out a deep breath. She narrated everything that had transpired. Hannah was stupefied to talk for the next couple of minutes after Janice was done narrating the ord
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED -TWO *He just can't wait to have Janice as his bride.*"What the hell are you doing here?! At my house at such an ungodly hour Matt?!" Janice's shrill voice echoed in the dead of the night as she stood at the door with a glare on her face. Matt held up his hand with a smile plastered on his face. "C'mon now... I just wanted to check up on you considering everything that had happened. You need someone by your side and I am the right person for that." Mr George stepped forward, offering Janice a doleful smile. "Relax Janice. I am as depressed as you are about your father. He is after all my best friend and I feel bad about his present predicament. Your father never hesitated to help me when I'm in trouble and I would like to return the favour by making sure you are alright." Janice heaved out a deep breath in resignation. No matter how much she loathes Matt, she still has respect for Mr George. "Okay but I'm fine..." "You need comfort and I'm sure my
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED -THREE*Her whole wide world was crumbling at her feet and there's no nothing she could do but gaped at it.*"What is the meaning of this?!" Janice slammed the newspapers on the kitchen counter in front of Matt.. He was casually sipping a cup of coffee. "Of what?" He feigned confusion. "The news flying around town? Don't act surprised!" she shrieked. It's been four days that the castle's started living at their house and it's been four days since her father was admitted into the hospital. He was still receiving treatment and she was able to keep in touch with him over the phone at least once a day. It was on one of those occasions that he had pleaded with her that the castles should continue to stay with her owing to security issues. "Please just let them stay with you. At least my heart will be at peace if they should stay with you. I am sorry if this is not what you wanted but I have no choice." She pressed her lips together tightly and heaved out a
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED -FOUR *"I am nothing like my brother. I don't tolerate emotions."*He was reading the papers when a knock on the door, distracted him. The knock went twice again, following a pattern. He knew who it was. It was signal. He went to the door and unlocked it. A pair of grey eyes stared up at him. "Took you long enough to open the goddamn door! Just let me in already." It was late outside. "were you followed?" He asked in a menacing tone. She shivered. "Only a fool would be." She sniped. He chuckled. "Well come on in." He glanced outside to the left and right before he closed the door. "Well, if I eventually find out you were followed, I may have to restore to extreme measures. I'm sure you know what that means." He said as his eyes gleamed with a devilish menace. She shuddered and gulped. "Of course." She said in a tiny voice. "So what are you here for?" He said as he slumped down on his seat and took out a cigarette from the neatly emptied pa
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED-FIVE*"...if you don't act and follow your heart, you will live to regret it for the rest of your life." *"I can't believe this is happening to me, Hannah!" She cried, her hands holding her face in misery as she rocked the chair anxiously. "What do I do?!" She cried again. Hannah heaved out a deep sigh, with pity and sadness furrowing her brows. "I am so sorry about what you are going through, Janice and I really wish I could help but...." her voice trailed off as she bit her bottom lip furiously. Damn it! She wished she could really do something to ease the pain her best friend is going through! She wished she could save her just like she did a long time ago; the day she saved her from her bullies and gave her a new life. She really wished she was capable of giving Janice the life she deserved but she was powerless... She doesn't have any connections above the Jordans. This is the Jordans' business. She is hopeless... As much as she wanted to do so