JASON. A week later. I was busy in the office, like every other day. It's a Wednesday and Felicity had just dropped a couple of files for me to go through. I was engrossed in my work until the telephone rang. “ Hello, it's CEO Black. How can I be of help?” “ Mr. Black, it's Andrew on the line. I tried reaching you through your mobile phone number but you never answered the phone, so I decided to call the office line.” Andrew Peterson, one of the most competent investigators in the city. A week earlier, I decided to run a background check on Madelyn, especially about the other two children who look a lot like me and refer to me as their dad but she claims they're not mine. I figured I would have a hard time forcing the truth out of her, so I decided to hire Andrew to find out as much as he can about Madelyn. “ Hi Andrew, I'm immensely sorry for not answering the phone. I placed it on silent because of the workload on my desk. So tell me
MADELYN. Over the course of time, there's nothing I have been more scared of than my kids being taken away from me. They are the sole reason I'm alive, they are the only reason I'm still sane. They are my biggest motivation to never give up. My lovely little angels and the best gift I got after the incident with my father. Whether or not I got them out of a one night fling with a stranger, it doesn't change the fact that I'm proud to have them. When they came of age and begun to ask questions about their father, I started to fret. What if their father was a well-to-do man and they had to chose between me and him? What if they wanted nothing more to do with my broke, sorry ass? It was more reason why I didn't want them to ever find out about their father. Whoever he was, I was sure a time would come when my kids had to pick between their dad and me. As I wept in grandma's thighs, she stroked my hair slowly. Slow, gentle and affectionate strokes to ca
MADELYN. “Hi, you've reached Xavier, please leave a message.” I gave up after trying to reach him on phone for the tenth time today. Ever since he dropped me off at the graveyard, he's been distant. I have only bumped into him twice and he just exchanged pleasantries and moved briskly. On three occasions, he sped past my house without dropping by as usual, regardless of being in a haste or not. Now it dawned on me that he has been staying away because of my wedding to Jason. But why? He never told me how he felt about me. Okay, I think he did once but he waved it off the next minute. With him, you can't be sure what he's thinking or feeling? I don't even know this man too well, despite being friends for six years now. “ Ma'am. Excuse me ma'am.” I jolted back to life instantly. Phew, it was the cab man. I had totally forgotten I was in a cab home. Xavier was giving me a hard time and I just couldn't figure out what the problem could be. “ I'm
MADELYN. My jaw dropped and I clutched my chest. I needed to get a hold of myself first. But I found it impossible to take my eyes off him. I just had the worst nightmare of my life and the supposed villain in my dream, tends to be my friend who hasn't visited in a while now, and then I wake up terrified from my dream only to find him in my room. I'm still trying to connect the dots. But first thing first, how did he get in? “ Xavier, you scared the shit out of me. Besides, how did you get in?” His eyes creeped the fuck out of me and for some reason, I kept seeing his face flash in my head after that horrible nightmare. The room was silent as a graveyard and I heard the clock tick loudly. Turning my gaze in it's direction, I found out it wasn't even 8pm yet. All I had planned on doing was take a short nap and then freshen up and prepare dinner. But, I slept off. “ Xavier?” Okay, he's beginning to scare me. He hasn't answered
MADELYN. What in God's name was I doing? Gripping the ends of the shirt I had on, I literally froze to the spot with mouth half opened. Maybe the words froze too. I couldn't say a thing, no matter how hard I tried. “ What does it seem like she's doing, CEO Black?” Oh hell yeah, it's Xavier to the rescue. On any other day, I'd be glad he said a thing in my defense, but not today, and not to Jason either. “ Xavier, just shut the fuck up!” Great, at least I didn't go dumb. I can finally speak. I catch Xavier winking at Jason. Something doesn't feel right though. It's like they knew each other and from the way, Jason kept shooting him a death glare, I'm pretty sure they ain't the best of friends either. “ Madelyn, ask this man to leave. We were in the middle of something before he barged in like he owned the house!” “ Hey, uncle Xavier, that's my dad you are talking about!” Chloe points a finger at Xavier as she stood up for
Xavier.I was on my way home. I walked out of her life and got into my car. She's definitely going to pay for this. Maybe Cara was right, I have been the one taking things easy with her. For the nth time, hate circulated all over my entire system. I'm going to break her and Jason the worst way I know how to. My phone beeped. It was a text from Cara. I had texted her about what happened at Maddie's house. Cara: You see what I was talking about? You better do something about it quickly, Nicholas. I can't keep being engaged to you. I love someone else but I can't disobey my father. Get Madelyn and set me free from this bondage. With one hand on the wheel, I texted back. Me: You don't answer to your father alone. You answer to me too. Your father gave you to me as a little compensation for your incompetence. Besides, your sister is playing hard to get. Well, do your part and let's relieve you of having to stay engaged to a man you dislik
Madelyn. It's a bright new day. I slept off in my room after Jason and I sang the kids to sleep. It was fun to watch him sing lullabies as he pets them. By the time we were done, it was past 9pm and his throat was a little sore. He had been singing for the past one hour plus and there were six babies to sing to. If your lullaby wasn't convincing enough, that child would remain awake and you would be left with no choice but to fall asleep before he or she does. My girls did that a lot. “ You have been singing them to sleep for how long now?” I found it a weird question but I'm sure he had a reason for asking. “ Since they were born, why do you ask?” “ You've had to sing six babies to sleep for the past seven years? You've had to clothe them, feed them all and divide your attention between six children all alone? How do you cope with this and work?” It's hard to cope, I'm not gonna lie. Well, not like I had any choice. “ I don't know
CARA I stood up when I heard dad's footsteps. He wasn't in a good mood, neither was I. I was still recovering from the pain inflicted by Nicholas's belt, and yet another heartbreaking news that could subject me to a forever life game with frequent assaults. If I ever got married to a man like Nicholas, or better put, if I ever get married to this new person who's Nicholas but isn't Nicholas, I'm not sure I'd be able to crawl out alive. “ How did this happen, Cara? I thought you said you have been sending death threats to her? Why didn't she back out? Oh, she's proving to be stubborn like her mother?” “ Father, I did. I sent a lot of letters to her, even had people follow her and her kids just so she could be frightened a bit. But, it didn't yield any results, father.” Unsettled, he frowned deeply and shook his head. “ She's crossing the line, Cara. She's getting on my nerves.” “ Father, why can't you just abduct her and bring her here?