The next day everyone wanted to just laze around, to regain their energy for the following day. The girls tried on their wedding fineries for the final rehearsal. The decorators were busy, working at the banquet hall. The caterers would arrive later since the wedding was in the morning. Sienna and her friends were eagerly putting on everything to check the final look. However, to Sienna’s immense shock, the family heirloom, the priceless antique jewelry that Lucas’s mom had given her to wear on her wedding day, went missing! Everyone was upset, especially Sienna who started sobbing uncontrollably. Mrs. Donnelly tried her best to calm her down since she wasn’t keeping well due to her pregnancy.
Unaware of the situation upstairs, Cara, Maria and Pam slogged hard in the kitchen making refreshments for all the guests. Since Cara was the youngest, she was made to run the errands and serve everyone the fo
The men came back from their trip. Lucas rushed into the room followed by Marcus and Nicholas.“Sienna? What happened? What’s going on? You were fine when I left?” asked Lucas with concern. He sat down on the bed and pulled her close into his arms. Sienna sobbed into his chest brokenly.“She lost the antique jewelry that belonged to your grandma. I had given her, to wear on her wedding day. I know it's been stolen. I had my suspicions about that girl, Cara, since the moment I saw her. She comes and goes into Sienna’s room without permission. We searched her bags and found all the clothes that she stole from Sienna. I’m sure she has hidden the jewelry somewhere. We’ll find it soon if we threaten her,” said their mom in one breath, leaving them all gaping at her.
Margaret Smithfield pushed open a rickety old door and ushered him inside. Marcus noticed a tiny room where three children were sitting on a bed and studying. A scared Cara peered out of the tiny kitchen at the corner and her eyes widened with horror seeing none other than Marcus Donnelly there at her doorstep. She hadn’t expected him to come all the way here after everything that happened. When Aunt Maggie had informed her of his presence she had expected him to leave when she refused to meet him but he hadn’t. He came to her house instead.“Cara, Mr. Donnelly really wants to talk to you,” said Aunt Maggie. Cara came forward after wiping her hands, her eyes avoided looking at Marcus. Why was he here when she didn’t have anything to do with him? Did he too think that she was the thief? Had he come to search her house?M
Cara was restless after Marcus left in the storm. She was a little surprised by his concern. It was obvious that he cared else why would he come all the way here? Why would he stand up for her? Why would he pay her the dues? She picked up the money. It was a lot, in fact, it was four times what she would have received. Why did he always give her extra that would make her want to return the rest to him? Did he do that on purpose? She knew her conscience wouldn’t let her rest until she returned the money but this time she wouldn’t go to his house. This time she would find an alternative way to return him his money.In the evening when she went to the Kingston Club, Rudolph Sterling wasn’t happy. He had suffered losses on the days that she hadn’t performed and blasted her for wasting her opportunities.“The audience wanted
After her performance, Cara was about to leave the club when her eyes fell upon Ben Duncan waiting for her in front of the main gates. She gasped with surprise and rushed forward to meet the kind, old man.“What a pleasant surprise, uncle Ben? I thought you’d forgotten me,” said Cara with a warm smile. Uncle Ben gave her a hug and smiled back.“Did you really expect me to forget my favorite jacket?” He asked fondly. Cara’s eyes widened since she didn’t have the jacket with her.“I don’t have it with me, uncle Ben. I didn’t know that you would be coming over today,” said Cara, looking embarrassed. Uncle Ben laughed at her naivety.“I’m just kidding, my dear. So are you do
Cara quickly took a shower and entered the kitchen to make breakfast and lunch for her siblings. She still couldn’t decide whether to take up Marcus’s job offer or not. Without aunt Maggie’s support, she couldn’t leave them alone here yet she needed this job badly. It was the strangest dilemma and she didn’t have an answer to that. After an hour, Liam woke up and walked in for his milk.“Are you going somewhere, Cara?” he asked, seeing her hurrying with the work.“I don’t know. Mr. Donnelly was here last night. He has offered me a job at his house. I need to leave right away but I can’t leave you three alone here. Aunt Maggie isn’t well and I don’t want you to bother her,” said Cara. Adam too woke up and sat down to listen to them.
Cara’s eyes widened with apprehension as she took baby steps towards him. Placing the tray in front of him on a coffee table, she wrung her hands together nervously. “I need to do the dishes and then the laundry, sir,” she said, turning to go.“Wait,” said Marcus in a hoarse voice getting up from his chair. Cara took a step or two backward with nervousness, wondering what he was up to as he approached her slowly. Stopping inches away from her, he gazed at her face as if committing her features to his memory. His hand tucked a stray curl away from her face, the contact, making a tremor run down her spine. With his hot breath fanning her face and the tingling scent of his cologne lingering on her nostrils, Cara was more nervous than ever before. She had to get away before she melted at his touch. She turned around abruptly and ran out of the room, unable to take in the ten
Before Cara could rush towards the wrap-around balcony to make her escape, the door was pushed open, and in walked a furious Marcus Donnelly. He glared at her as she stood like a statue with the tray in her hand, like a deer caught at the headlights. From a distance, she could feel the anger and fury emanating from him. A tremor ran down her spine and she gulped with fright as he approached her like a predator. Would he punish her? Cara gulped more and looked down at her feet, trembling like a leaf by now.“I-I'm sorry, Mr. Donnelly. I just came to get the tray,” she mumbled out of fear. He came to a stop right in front of her, his eyes like burning coals as they bored right into hers.“How dare you come here without my permission? Get out,” he said with clenched teeth. Cara looked up and gaped at him with shock. Was he the s
“Marcus, please,” she murmured at last just as his lips grazed her soft lower lip in a feather-soft touch. She herself had no idea what exactly she was pleading with him for, to be kissed or not to be kissed. Marcus stilled on hearing her whisper out his name. It sounded very intimate, almost like an endearment. He closed his eyes for a split second to calm himself and then abruptly released her, striding off towards his closet. Cara stared at the rippling muscles on his back, suddenly missing the warmth of his touch. She slowly dragged herself towards the door, feeling a little disappointed by his dismissal. A tiny part of her had wanted him to kiss her. She had wanted to experience how it felt to be passionately kissed by someone. Not by anyone else, but Marcus Donnelly.Marcus scowled more as a frustrated grunt escaped his mouth hearing the click of the door shutting behind him. She had esca