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Warning: This chapter contains a brief mention of violence.Laura.It had been two days since Zoe was discharged from the hospital, and Jackson had refused to leave her side. I needed to find a way to get him out of the house; the pressure from the bastard to see her had been relentless. He knows it wouldn't be easy bringing him into the house, but he keeps insisting that I come up with a solution.I haven't stopped pacing in my room since I received another text from him. It seems pacing has become my new favorite hobby. I'm on the verge of losing my mind—between the bastard’s constant demands to see Zoe, Fiona not answering her calls, and my struggle to pretend to be a good mom for Zoe while Jackson was around, the stress is overwhelming.Gosh, the thought disgusts me.I don’t know how I have been able to do that until now without breaking out of character. After knowing what the bastard did to me for harming her and putting her in the hospital, I no longer want to be around her.Th
Nicole.We walked into the hospital and headed straight to the nurse sitting behind her desk.“Hi! I’m here to see Mr Grant.” I said as I let my eyes roam around the place.I can’t find Theresa anywhere which means they must have been placed in a room.“Can I have your name, please?” The nurse asked, finally taking her eyes from the computer screen.I opened my mouth to answer but she beat me to it.“Oh, I know you. Nicole Blackwood, right?” She asked and I nodded my head.I didn’t know I was famous.She gave me the room number and asked for a photograph with me, since I was in a hurry I promised to do that next time.We found the room Dad was placed in quickly, and Theresa was inside sitting beside Dad's side with a magazine in her hands. Dad was lying on the bed, sleeping with some machines connected to his body.He looked pale and different from the last time I saw him. Theresa must have noticed our presence because she immediately looked up and got up on her feet when we got close
Nicole.I couldn’t say anything after hearing that, the only thing that kept echoing in my head was her words.‘Your dad had a heart attack.’It wouldn’t stop, no matter how many times I tried to force myself to listen to the rest of the words she was saying, I couldn’t.I snapped out of my thoughts when mom touched my hand, I looked at her to see the questioning look in her eyes.“What's wrong?” She asked.Before I could reply, the voice of Theresa made me realize the phone was still on ear. The call hasn't ended. “Are you listening to me, Nicole?” She asked harshly.I blinked and rubbed my forehead with my right hand, “I can hear you fine.”“Good. Your father is in the hospital right now and the doctor said he needs urgent surgery. We are currently short of income and I have no other place to take from. I’m calling you because I have no other choice,” my eyes squeezed shut.Shit! I hate this.“Text me the address of the hospital. I will…..I will be right there.” I said and without
Jackson.I stared at the paper in my hand, wondering how it had ended up in my car without me opening it. I had been inside the hospital with my car key beside me, and I didn’t remember giving the key to Aaron or any other guard to help bring anything from it. So how the hell did this end up here?“The bastard,” I whispered as I squeezed the paper.What the hell was he talking about? He's back to take what was his? The bastard. Nothing belonged to him back then, and I was sure as hell not going to let him take anything now.I got out of my car, and the thought of going home to have a good bath and sleep was the last thing on my mind. Zoe was in there, and I wasn’t going to leave without ensuring she was safe.If Alfred was able to slip this envelope into my car without it alerting me to an intruder, then he could easily take my daughter. That was the last thing I wanted. I was prepared to sleep on the floor of the hospital if it meant being there with her.I stepped out of the car an
Jackson. I haven’t seen Laura since I returned from dropping the kids off. I have been sitting beside Zoe the whole night, waiting patiently for her to wake up. She hasn’t moved the slightest since I entered the ward but I know she was okay with the heaving of her chest. She was breathing fine now and aside from her sleeping, the doctor assured me she was going to be okay. I looked at the time, it was past midnight, and I hadn’t been able to sleep. The kiss with Nicole popped up in my head and how she reacted every time I tried closing my eyes. It felt like I was standing there in the middle of her living room again, holding her, kissing her again, and knowing what she tasted like again after three years. Fuck, I don’t regret doing that. What I regretted was not kissing her for longer and hoping I didn’t fuck up the little trust between us. I would kiss her again and again if it meant tasting her, I wouldn’t mind. I know she liked it; as much as she tried to deny it or even af
Nicole.Mom didn’t say anything other than wrapping her arms around me and hugging me so tightly.I leaned more into the hug with my eyes closed, I needed her to just hold me.I needed this.I pulled back some time later after I had gotten my fill and I felt a bit strengthened.I look at the kids to see them already in their chairs with food cut into tiny pieces on their plates.My eyes automatically seek Rowan, I know he was the one who did this. I mouthed a thank you to him before taking my seat the same time mom did.“I didn’t know when you pulled in,” I said to my mother as I stretched to pick up the dish but before my hand could touch it, Rowan held it and stood up, walked over to my side to fill my plate.He didn’t have to do that though but I appreciate it.“Rowan here opened the door for me. He told me you were having your bath and will be down soon, so I decided to wait for you.” She explained with her whole focus on the kids.“I miss you guys so much. Did you miss me?” She a