© S A F I ECHAPTER 16UNKNOWNI was shocked to see the blue convertible swerve on the side of the road, its tail making contact with the lamp post. I almost swallowed my heart as I witness all of it. Thanking the heavens because the blue convertible has managed to avoid the truck.Lucky driver.I'm pretty sure that if my mom is still alive and is here, this driver will receive an earful from a complete stranger. The driver must've been drunk out of his mind to even pay attention to the road and had bloody gotten into an accident.I pull over to the side of the road, next to the car. Breathing out a sigh, I got out and slowly draw near it. Staring inside the window of the car, I was surprised to see a very pregnant woman, her eyes closed as she bit her lip. The window is half-opened and I am thankful for that - this way he won't have any problem with oxygen. I look down, noticing the blood that is gushing down the road, coming from inside the car.Bloody Hell."Are you okay?" Nice que
©S A F I E CHAPTER 17 NEOLA "Gabe, you can't do this! How could you?" I glared at him as I take a sit on the plastic chair, "Neola, you know and I know that she is more important. We can have a child again if she wanted to. Don't blame me for doing this. I can't lose her." Gabriel pleaded, his eyes looking at me with sorrow. My heart pinches at the sight of him. I almost felt sorry for Gabriel and Elle to have suffered so much in this relationship. I averted my eyes at Gabriel as I say, "But the baby is too precious for her. It would kill her to know that you chose her over her angel." I cannot help the sob that escaped my mouth, my body shaking as I cried harder, "I cannot afford to lose my unborn nephew or niece nor can I lose my only sister!" I whispered, turning my eyes at my dear old brother as he looks down at his feet. Luke sat across me, his lip locked tight as he watches the exchange between me and Gabriel, scratching his ears as he pretended to study the knots on hi
©S A F I E CHAPTER 18 GABRIEL I hesitated, standing in front of the operating room, my eyes puffy as I look back at Neola and Luke. The pair looks nervous yet hopeful, I gave a nod at Luke and was about to approach Neola when the doctor approaches me. The doctor nervously smiled at me before saying, "I am glad to inform you, Mr. West that the baby and Mrs. West are stable." Neola squeaked next to me, her face splitting as she smiled. " It has taken us a while to be able to proceed with the operation because we needed to regulate their vitals. There have been some clotting because of the scarcity of oxygen on their system and we cannot let her give birth naturally because she is so weak to do so. Additional to that, she's unconscious, which results to us performing the caesarean section, come on inside now for the cutting of the cord." The doctor returns in the room without waiting for me. I stole a glance back at the pair before following him in. A nurse appeared beside me a
© S A F I E CHAPTER 19 NEOLA "Gabe? How come you are here?” I whispered to my brother who is sleeping peacefully next to Elle. He bolted up from his seat, his face dishevelled."Oh, I-uh, I fall asleep? Did I fell asleep? " He frowned down at his shoes, scratching his head and looking more like a ripe tomato with his hair rumpled, his shirt wrinkled. “I didn’t expect that I will fall asleep.” He brushes his hands on his face and tried to tame his hair. I could've laughed at him in a different situation but not right now. He looks pitiful; He really is suffering. "How is she?" I ask him, my eyes trained on Elle's face. She has dark circles under her eyes and she looks paler than she used to. I sat across Gabriel, giving him some time to manage his thoughts. "There have been no improvements with her condition. They say that it might take her a while for her body to recover because of what happened." I turn my gaze at him, his eyes were red and he sniffed, averting his eyes, "I
© S A F I E CHAPTER 20 GABEI shifted on my feet and run my hands on my hair. I hold on tight the bouquet of roses, blowing out a sigh; it won't take that long now. I stared at my watch and waited 10 more seconds, transferring the bouquet on my other hand, looking at the door as the sign changes from 'closed'"Mr. West, you're early again," I smiled at the Liza, the elderly nurse who watches over the neonatal platform. She handed me the usual costume which includes some gowns, cap and a mask. I shrug off my watch and give her my phone before putting on the hospital gown over my suit, hair cover on my head and mask over my mouth.It's been a week after the accident. A week without a response from Elle after the incident of her eye, opening. There's a little to no update from Joe searching for Cherry and Victoria.Though we have figured that Victoria has been undergoing therapy somewhere in Europe that is not disclosed by her brother whom I have to track down for weeks. As for Cherry,
© S A F I E CHAPTER 21 ELLE *dream* I felt so cold. I look around, not understanding why I feel so wet and cold, as though I am drenched with water. I blink my eyes and my vision adjusted, showing me the view of the vast ocean. The sight of it suddenly made me scared and I cowered. In that instant, a man appeared in front of me and my heartbeat doubled. Who is this man? I stared at the man as he struggled with the ropes; His coat was drenched, face ashen as he frowns holding my hand now, which surprises me, "Go to your Mama, Ella!" "But Papa-" "Now, go!" He pushes me, making me stumble off the deck and down to where my mother sat on the bed, comforting my brother. I couldn't fight the curiosity I am feeling as I stared at the woman and her child, cowering from under the broken sails of the ship, the wind blowing wildly, "Mama! What's happening?" Thunder rumbled in the distance and I crouch down, hugging my knees so that I am protected. "Mama, what is happening? Why so lo
© S A F I ECHAPTER 22ELLE"Perhaps there will only be one boy whom I'd love till the day I die..." I was surprised when Neola suddenly stands from her chair, turning her head on the floor as she bit her lip, "Neo?""Uhm-I probably should be going, I needed to-" She paused, her cheeks red making me figure just as much of what she was thinking. I shake my head at her direction, taking Jacob's flannels as I lean close to her and whispered, "Neola," she raises her head, her eyes lost and guilty, "I'm talking about my boy, Jacob. There will be no boy on earth that will receive my love more than my angel. Only him, Neola...""But, how 'bout me?" The blonde lad suddenly peered out of the door as I speak; Luke came in and I settled back on the bed, watching him as he prances towards me, taking a seat next to me and resting his head on my shoulder. "Don't you love me too?""Luke," I can't help but smile at him as I reminisce the day I woke up a week ago from what I thought was an endless sle
© S A F I E CHAPTER 23 GABE "I need you to settle my appointments for tomorrow with the Bueno's," I glance at Joe as he sat across me, his form stiff. "And I need you to make sure about the information about Cherry and Victoria. Had there been any occurrences that might lead us to them or it completely ceased?" I shoot questions at him, not wanting to waste any moment as I start to phase. "It has been half a year or so since we heard about Cherry Woods. She completely disappeared in the face of the earth." He cleared out his throat and nodded like he needs to do that to convince himself that it has almost been seven months. He gripped the back of the chair and focused his gaze at me, "It seems like Cherry is Victoria. They have the same features and we can't find any trace of Cherry Woods as though she was a made-up person. I am pretty sure that Victoria did that to make you believe. She stopped attending to her shrinks a couple of months ago, Mr. Atkinson, remember?"I nodded a
©S A F I E EPILOGUE ELLE It takes a while for me to believe that what I am seeing is real, that it is not a dream I made up, a wish that I have longed for.Gabriel and I have started upon a rough path, just like any other arranged marriage would be. I hated him back when we were young but ended up infatuated, charmed. He was the bad boy who made me cry and made me hate myself though all of that changed when he and I were trapped inside a broom cupboard. From then on, I am entrapped, captivated by the innocence that is thriving inside him. I notice that this vulnerability of his can still make him love, can still make him human - and I have not been wrong to assume that.It appears to be a mistake when our parents decided to tie us up in marriage; it gave us little to no time to get to know each other's dislikes and moods. Gabriel has taken it as his personal mission to ignore my existence and proceed with his life as though nothing has changed. In my part, I have decided that th
© S A F I E CHAPTER 33 ELLE I'm sitting at the table, the minutes passed by as though it seems to drag on forever. Jacob was sleeping peacefully in his cot, unbothered by the anxiety I am feeling now. I wipe my hands as they become sweaty and cold, stretching my arms and leaning across the table. He's been away for almost an hour now, he was supposed to be here and if something did happen, I'm sure he would've called. I wait a little longer, before standing up from my seat, looking down the driveway but his car isn't there. I don't know what to presume. I called for Neola and she said that she hasn't seen him.Why? Did something wrong happen to him?I went back to the table and stared back at the baby monitor connected to Jacob's cot. I lean down, and listened; there was a rustle, and a whimper, then he gurgled, making me smile. Jacob's little noises distracted me from what is happening but I am afraid it isn't enough. The waiting is twisting my insides, driving me insane. Desp
© SAFIE CHAPTER 32 GABE I was stuck, staring at the door, imagining her body leaning on it on the other side of this room. I wanted to go back and take her in my arms and kiss all her worries away but I can't. I shouldn't. I turn on my heels and resist the temptation of running back to her. With a shake of my head, I walk down the opposite hall, pushing the button for the lift. I entered as it opens, my emotions in disarray as I waited until it descended on the parking lot. I got inside my car and momentarily stared at the space in front of me.The problem is almost solved.In a couple of hours, I can finally get my life back on track with my family. I hope Elle will accept my proposal. The thought brought a smile in my lips, I rested my head back, relaxing on my seat. I'm planning on marrying her again, and this time, I'll make sure that she will enjoy every part of it. There will be no rush and no force. It will all be her choice, her decision. If she wanted me to wear a pink
© S A F I E CHAPTER 31 GABRIELI lean my back on my seat and look in front of me. It was mid-afternoon and the jam is horrible. I'll be lucky to reach Elle's flat just before quarter to 3. I massage my forehead and sigh, not believing the misfortune that has dawned.Victoria Lint, the only heir to the Lint industry, was driven crazy of our separation three years ago. She was my best friend, a brilliant lady who loves to play with people's feeling and bully them. Victoria was my ally and I am afraid, I became bad because of her influence. Though my father did not approve her; he disliked her for she was spoiled and refuse to listen to her parents. She was a devil but I have fallen for her, or was it just an infatuation? A playground love story? I haven't realised that Victoria can be worse than she was before.When my father decided that I should marry Elle, Victoria has resulted in self - harm. She used drugs and abused herself, going to bars and overdosing. By the time she was to
©S A F I E CHAPTER 30 GABRIELI hurried down the stairs just on time to see Victoria and Elle fighting over the gun. Elle appears to have been shot previously judging by the bloodstain on her shirt. The room was dim and I couldn't make out the things as I stumbled across, my hands tight on the gun."Victoria!" She stares at me and for the slightest second and I thought she was going to come running back to me. Her eyes were filled with pain and longing as she hesitated, "Victoria please, you should stop," she stopped strangling Elle, her hands going limp on her side and she drops the gun, her gaze focused on me. This results in Elle successfully taking the gun from her grasp. "No, Victoria. Stop!" Victoria was snapped out of her trance as she lounges at Elle and looks up to me, her eyes blazing with hatred and anger. She punches Elle and hit her with the back of the gun as she takes possession of it. Victoria lets out a cry as she pressed her fingers and pull the trigger, "NO!"
©S A F I E CHAPTER 29 ELLE I glance down at my shirt. I can feel blood dripping down on the back of my head as I examine the large bruise covering my left leg. The pain in my shoulder stings and I cringe at the sight of blood that is caked up in my arms down to my hand. Groaning, I push myself up and walk, only to be pulled by the chains. I shivered at the cold contact it brought to my ankle, crouching down, I shake the chain and pulled, hopeless. I realize that I've been bound for quite some time now considering the marks the chains had made. My ankles yell in protest as I yank at the chains once again, the voice startling me "You know what? That's useless." I look down the hall, trying to locate the owner of the voice, only to see Victoria there, rocking my child. I wanted nothing but to yank her long hair and take my child from her filthy hands. I worriedly look at my baby, why is he not responding? I pulled at the chains again and hissed in pain as I collapse on the floor,
©S A F I E CHAPTER 28 GABRIELI am downright pissed. I can’t believe her timing. Victoria just loves to ruin the best moments. I've been having the time of my life as I lay there, looking at Elle, wishing about our future together and here she is, stealing the spotlight. Fucking Victoria and her schemes. I can't believe that I had once fallen in love with this girl.I am such an idiot in the past.“Joe, what is the update?” I asked as I round the corner. My hand tightens at the steering wheel as I hear him speak in the phone, his voice rough with exhaustion, 'Last we saw her lurking by the driveway back in the mansion an hour ago. Ryan tailed her but for some reasons, she disappeared. We suspect that Victoria has her eyes on Elle and Jacob since she was next seen by a couple of old ladies as she loitered by the lobby back at Two Fifty West.' There is some pause before Joe said, 'You have to take care, are you with them?'“No.' I scratch my eyebrows, glaring at the street, "I went
©S A F I E CHAPTER 27 ELLE I breathe in and out, my knees trembling from under me. I loosen my grip at the lamp but quickly tighten my hands around it as I realise that it will fall on the floor which will wake my son. I want to turn around to check Neola and Jacob but I cannot remove my eyes from Gabriel.He adjusted the cloak he is wearing, unbuttoning his shirt. His eyes are trained on me and they held me in place. My eyes lower down to his neck, sweat glistening on the base where his shoulders appear. I suck in a deep breath as I see the spatter of hair peeking out from where he had left the buttons on. I return my gaze at Gabriel to see him a very cold smile plastered on his face. He blinks before he started walking closer, his stance in a defensive one. I felt like I am suffocating as he draws in, his hand covering mind as he takes the lamp off my hand and carefully lay it on the bed, all the while looking at me.I couldn't think straight as I watch Gabriel take my other h
©S A F I E CHAPTER 26 GABE I was beyond exhausted. I haven't slept for the past week, and four hours is not enough for me yet now, I’m here, waiting inside the mansion in the outskirts of the city for Elle to come back. I guess the picture hasn’t dropped from her shelf yet. I'm not even sure if she will pull out her canvass. Maybe, Ryan didn't calculate the probability that she might paint because of sadness. But I know Elle. Art is what she uses to escape reality. It helps her live through those dark times when I have chosen to ignore her presence after my father died and I became a monster to her. Why wouldn't it help her now? With pure annoyance, I brush my hair back and sat on the rocking chair. I'm currently inside Jacob's nursery; the one I've decorated from the last few months I've been away from them, hoping that Elle would let me see my son again but with no luck, the toys remain sprawled out aimlessly on the ground as the cot remain cold because of emptiness. I a