Zenia's POV
"Does it look like I'm joking?" his voice asked before I heard the gun shot.
I flew out of my sleep with traces of sweat forming on my forehead. Ever since I arrived back home, I had been having terrible nightmares every night about what I'd been put through when I was in England.
I got out of bed, fearing that I'd have another nightmare if I tried to go back to sleep. I walked towards the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.
I poured myself a glass and looked up at the wall clock. It was 3:30 a.m. Finishing my glass of water, I rinsed my cup out and went back to the bedroom, where I stayed awake for the remainder of the early hours of the morning.
At daylight, I took a shower and got dressed in a comfortable dress. I brushed my hair back and applied my makeup. I stared at the rings on my fingers. The promise ring and the engagement ring.
"He's not always going to be there to save you, Zenia!" Anton's voice played
Ethan Junior's POVZenia and I got into the car and drove to my parents' house. Mom had requested us for dinner. It was always like Mom to request her family's presence and catch up on our lives since we were apart.Evan, Jasmine and Jevan had already arrived when we got there. I led Zenia to the dinning room area."EJ, Zenia. You made it," Mom greeted us and pulled us into her arms."Hi Mom.""Hello, Mrs. Hollen.""Call me Emma, sweetie," Mom gestured to Zenia.We gathered around the table and began dinner. Dad started talking about his 'school days' and what he did after graduating from high school. According to him, he got high for the first time.After laughing and airing out some secrets, one of my father's security guards kindly interrupted us."Sir, ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a gentleman at the gate to see Mrs. Hollen.""Who is he?" my mother asked. 
Four Years LaterZenia's POV"Zenobia, please slow down baby," I called after my daughter as she playfully raced through the open park with her cousins Jevan, Jase and Jada.Zenobia was an energetic little thing, a tomboy at best, and although she arrived three weeks earlier than expected, she was a healthy bouncing baby girl who was full of life. She brought delight everywhere she went and, everyday, she made it a new learning experience for me.She loved her three adorable cousins and, at times, I had to take her over to their house so she could have sleepovers and extra fun with them.Ashley, Alex and Madison were her godparents, and they loved her dearly.Believe it or not, Madison started dating Jack. They'd been going out for over two years and she was in love with him. Rumor had it that Jack was about to pop the question very soon.Ashley and Alex, well, they were Ashley and Alex but with a li
Zenia's POVI had finally graduated from college. The journey was an unforgettable one. It was like holding in an enormous piece of shit, which had made you constipated since the ending of high school. Finally, I was free from the assignments, projects, examinations, lectures, rules, running to classes, making schedules, and everything else that came along with being in college.Mom and Jasmine were so thrilled when I walked down that aisle and received my diploma. I was thrilled for myself as well. My cheeks ached for the rest of that day, I was smiling so hard.Now, I was on the verge of officially creating and launching my very first clothing line, which was about to be published in one of top magazines in the city. Bliss.Other clothing was also being sold at my boutique, which was generously given to me by my sister's boyfriend. He made that promise to me, and he did kept it."ZENIA!"I heard my name being yelled out. It ech
Zenia's POVMommy and I were heading over to Jasmine and Evan's house. Jasmine was putting together a small engagement celebration, and, of course, mom and I were invited. I was excited, apart from the celebration, because I knew I would see him there as well.I wore a fitted white dress that flowed down to my ankles like a waterfall with a respectable split that stopped just above my knees. I had flat ironed my hair and did loose wave curls to the sides. I completed the look with a simple gold necklace and bracelets. I looked beautiful, but I couldn't outshine my sister. This was her glowing moment, and she looked stunning.She also wore a white dress, which hugged her in all the right places. The pregnancy had worked extra magic for her body. Her boobs were bigger and her hips were wider, which meant her ass popped out too. Evan must really be loving himself. Jasmine was everything. Her hair was styled in a high bun and her makeup was flawless.&
Zenia's POV"Shhh. She'll go away," he whispered in my ear and pulled me against his steel chest again."Stop it, EJ!" I said in a loud whisper, pulling away from him before rushing my palms up and down my dress, adjusting and smoothing it."Hello?" Mrs. Hollen said again, and another knock followed outside the door."I'M IN HERE!" I yelled."Zenia, is that you?""Yes, Mrs. Hollen, and I'll be in here for a while." My face flushed with embarrassment, but I would have literally said anything to prevent her from waiting outside that door."Okay, sweetie. I'll just use another one."I heard the sound of her heels clicking on the polished marble as she walked away. I heaved a long sigh and slide down against the bathroom door as EJ lightly chuckled, as if the situation had been an amusement show to him."It's not funny, EJ. What if you hadn't locked the door and she had walked in on us?" 
Zenia's POV"EJ was always so adorable," I caught Madison say as I got closer to them, "and he's so funny."The hell?!Jasmine's eyes landed on me as I stood next to her. She was standing opposite EJ and Madison with Evan on her right, so I stood on her left."Oh, Zenia, this is Madison. My most favorite person in the world."Most favorite person?"Madison, this is Zenia."Just Zenia?"Hi," Madison greeted, extending a hand to me while the other one was still placed on the arm of EJ."Hi," I answered back with a weak smile, shaking her hand while the dark voice was screaming "break her hand" at the back of my head."It's so nice to finally meet you, Zenia. I've heard so much about you, and I was so excited to finally meet you, and now I have. I'm thrilled." She sounded like she had been planning on saying that her whole life."Oh, I wish I could say the same,
Zenia's POVMonday came with an excruciating headache and a terrible hangover. I managed to pull myself up from the bed and crawl into the shower. I turned the water temperature all the way up, and I took a hot bath from my Brazilian waves to my toes.I blow-dried my hair -- I paid for it so that makes it mine -- then applied lotion to my chocolate skin. I slipped into a mini dress, which was tight at the top and showed a teasing bit of cleavage. I had no one to impress today, but I didn't want to look as terrible as the way I was feeling.Too much wine.After completing a light makeup application and placing my digital notepad into my backpack, I headed to the kitchen."Good morning, Ma." I greeted my mother when I saw her at the stove."Hey, sweetie. How are you?""I feel terrible.""That's because you had too much to drink. Here." She handed me a bottle of water and another drink in a tiny g
Ethan Junior's POV"You're really making me feel bad right now, Madison. I honestly forgot it's your birthday."I'm a terrible friend.Madison had come over to remind me it was her nineteenth birthday today. I had completely forgotten about it and I felt bad."That's okay. You can make up for it by buying me a dress and taking me out to dinner later on tonight."She had an amazing smile. I wasn't about to reject her and make her feel bad on her special day."That I can do." I went upstairs and got my car keys to my black Mercedes-Benz."MOM! DAD! I'm heading downtown with Mads." I called to my parents as we went out the door.I couldn't wait for my twenty first birthday, when I'd be given my own house, make my own rules, and come home at whatever time I liked."You know where you're taking me?" Madison asked as I drove downtown."Yes. I'm taking you to ZENIA'S.""ZENIA'S