MasukThe ride to the exquisite hall was as silent and quiet as a graveyard. Except for the low humming of the car and the mellow, low-pitched sound of the tires against the tiled road as we drove, everything else felt awkward.Shantel sat in the front seat, her side of the window open as she stared outside, completely resting on her seat. She hadn't said a word to me since our intense bicker on the back porch of the house. Throughout the reapplication and readjustment of my makeup, it felt so uncomfortable looking her in the eyes most times while we said nothing to each other.Unlike our first makeup session where everything felt at ease. And every conversation came with smiles and laughter.Charlotte, on the other hand, sat next to me in the backseat and I knew she had quite a lot to say to us - Shantel and me. Especially me. But she was barely withholding on while pretending to type away on her phone. I felt her constantly stealing glances at us while she thought I wasn't looking. Or ra
If it had been in the past, I would have no worries. It would have been a normal thing. But this was the present Charlotte we were talking about. The same Charlotte who never failed to show how much she despised me. Who believed I did so many wrongs to her brother. Even when I still didn't know what I did wrong."You didn't even say a 'thank you'." She muttered, breaking away from my gaze. "This would have been less awkward."I was dumbfounded. Wondering why she changed all of a sudden when I saw Shantel coming out of the house. She was completely dressed, her curly hair bouncing behind her as she walked. Red heels to match the royal blue dress that stopped above her knees and a red clutch by her right hand.But rather than the calm and cool-headed Shantel I left behind, she looked furious. Infuriated. Rather disappointed. Betrayed. And I felt all the emotions were directed towards me.When she saw us, she tried to mask her emotions. Maybe because she saw Charlotte standing beside me.
~~ Brittany's POV ~~ I stared at the huge dressing mirror in front of me, face blank. Contrary to the beautiful figure in a dazzling black stone dress. Off shoulder dress, long enough to touch the glassy floor underneath me. I was looking far beyond the physical appearance that stared back at me in an expression that clearly explained one thing - worry. My last conversation with Emma didn't stop ringing in my ears. "Mummy, who is my father?" "Where is he? And why isn't he with us?" Days had passed yet those words still lingered in my mind like a memory meant to haunt and taunt me in every possible way until I gave way to its demands. I barely did any work for the past few days without the words crossing my mind. And when it did, it gave me the fear of the unknown. I knew it wasn't unexpected. In fact, I had expected the question from her for a long time, and it had become my constant fear. Was it on her second year birthday? The birthday afterwards? I think the fear crept in a
~~ Brittany's POV ~~A gentle knock at the door shifted my attention for a moment."Come in.""Good morning ma'am." Clarissa walked in seconds later. "I hope you took care of yesterday's emergency." She dropped a mug of piping, steaming espresso on my desk.I muttered a 'thank you' while taking the coffee to my lips. It lingered there for a while before I took a sip."Yes, I was able to handle the emergency." I responded, my mind drifting back to yesterday's scene.Before I left the office in a hurry, it was an emergency I had told her. But turned out the situation was more than an emergency. Almost a deadly situation that shook every being in me if not handled quickly.Until now, I still found it so strange that Ace had found me there. Even if he said it was just a coincidence, something in my gut didn't believe it. I only decided not to push it.At that moment, protecting my daughter's identity was what mattered. Despite not getting my answers. Despite still being in the dark of who
~~ Brittany's POV ~~"I'm sorry for the way I judged you. I was so desperate to find Emma and had become too anxious when I found her with you, so I didn't think before reacting."Thanks to the little boy whom I believed was the same age as Emma and probably in the same class. He had quickly explained that Emma was standing all alone when they met her which was why they took her with them to find her guardian. But, when they couldn't find her, they thought to contact her through the school. It was in that moment that I arrived.Emma also agreed that everything was true, so I made sure I wasn't tricked."It's fine. Everyone reacts differently especially when anxiousness sets in." She replied, holding a cup of coffee.After the small commotion outside, we were seated in a small coffee shop where I wanted to get to know her better. As I had said earlier, she had looked quite suspicious when I first caught her watching Ace from a distance, and I was sure she also saw me that day."You st
~~ Brittany's POV~~I gripped the wheels tightly as I stomped on the brakes, my heart racing like hell. My hands vibrated silently when I pushed the car door open and my legs shook as I stepped out of the car and raced towards her, my daughter's nanny."What happened to my daughter? How did she get missing?" I asked immediately I came to face her, my voice almost failing me."Ma'am." She called anxiously, as if my presence startled her and the look in her eyes said it all. But, I was more anxious than she was. What she had called to tell me over the phone this evening was quite disturbing and since then, it has kept me on my toes."We had come here after school to get ice cream but I had to make urgent use of the restroom and I asked her to wait for me." She sucked in a shaky breath. "When I returned, she was no longer here and I've been looking all over for her since then." The last words came out almost as a whisper, as she avoided my gaze.A frustrated sigh left my lips instantly.
~~ Ace's POV ~~'Bing'My phone vibrated in my pocket as soon as I stepped out of my father-in-law's ward. I brought it out to a text from my lawyer while making my way out of the hallway. As I promised that bastard who attempted murder on Brittany's life, I wasn't going to take things lightly wit
~~ Brittany's POV ~~Running down to the hospital, Mom was the first person I saw when I reached the VIP ward. She was standing beside Dad, staring into nothingness. Not until, the door slid open and I walked in. Surprisingly, Dad was still lying on the bed, the machines beeping loudly as always a
~~ Ace's POV ~~I pressed my hand down to the paper, my fingers clinging around the pen as I signed the necessary parts in the documents.Another contract signed. Another business deal bagged. Another collaboration made. My new partner and I shook hands, and I left, my secretary and a few member
"Mr. Fox was your boyfriend, true or false?"There was no response."You both still contacted each other secretly even though the late Mr. Fox wasn't permitted to make phone calls, am I right?"There was still no response despite the long silence that followed in the dimly lit interrogation room."







