Masuk[Adam’s POV]She made a striking entrance.She always does.Every eye turned to her as Marie made her way across the VIP lounge toward me, at the Marriott hotel.I could see the men assessing her, and the women envying her.She was immaculately dressed and immaculately groomed. Perhaps even more than usual. Perfect makeup, designer clothing, elegant hairstyle. And diamonds sparkled at her ears, wrists and throat.Sourly, I wondered whose money paid for this extravagant display.“Adam, darling,” she purred when she reached the lounge setting where I waited.As society dictates, I stood up and gave her a stiff, formal hug while she air-kissed each side of my face.We both sat down in brocade lounge chairs opposite each other, with a marble coffee table between us. I had a beer open on the table, growing warm.When I didn’t offer her a drink, Marie waved over a hovering waiter and requested a martini. She slipped him a slim plastic card and waved an exquisitely manicured hand in my direc
[Lily’s POV]During the drive to police headquarters, I kept to myself. My mind was in a whirl, wondering what precipitated this line of enquiry. Did someone make accusations or lay charges after the kidnapping?But who?Alice seemed preoccupied with her health challenges and hadn’t mentioned the kidnapping since Adam came out of his coma.I was sure David wanted the whole ugly incident to fade away. So, that left Adam or maybe his wife, Marie.My mind frantically sorted through any possible trail of evidence that could point to me. If the only evidence they have is Alice’s word against mine, then that wouldn’t amount to sufficient proof to go to trial.“This way, ma’am,” said a policewoman. She was pointing down a corridor inside the police headquarters. It led away from the reception desk at the front entry. I walked down the long, gray corridor with the policewoman at my side.She showed me into a small gray room. The walls were the same stark gray, and there was very little furnit
[Adam’s POV]When I left the clinic to head back to the villa, I was deep in thought.While it was a relief to know that all Camilla’s expenses were covered by her trust fund, she could look forward to only the best in care and education as she grows up, there were still other drains on my admittedly modest income.If — or when — Alice passed away from her illness, there would no longer be her income coming in from the Zurich Institute.I had to face the reality that while early delivery of the baby had lifted her long-term chances of survival, it only went up from a less than 5 percent chance to maybe 15 to 25 percent.Even with aggressive treatment commencing straight after the caesarian on Monday, and with the best oncology team David could assemble, Alice faced a long hard struggle with debilitating treatment regimes.She is already so weakened by the well-established grip of the cancer, that her recovery would be especially hard.Being brutally realistic, it will be touch and go
[Adam’s POV]“Come on, Camilla,” I called.I was waiting at the gate to the International School when classes were let out for the day.A stream of happy children poured out of the building’s big glass doors. Children raced down the steps in a noisy, chaotic melee but it didn’t take long to spot Camilla.Since most of the crowd waiting to collect their students were women, I could easily see over their heads. Her braids bobbed on her shoulders as she hurried down to the gate.She soon zeroed in on me, and was happy to be greeted with a hug. She gave a joyful squeal and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go and see Mummy,” she cried.“Your daughter is a happy little soul,” one woman beside me commented with a smile.I thought it prudent not to mention I wasn’t a relative. I didn’t want to field questions about why some random man was collecting someone else’s child.When we reached Alice’s suite, Camilla burst inside and ran over to her mother’s bed.“Mummy!” she cried. She half climbed up onto t
[Lily’s POV]As I wandered through David’s manor, I was cataloguing in my mind what renovations and improvements I want. The whole place needs to be brought up to date.The colors are lovely but there is so much else in the house that reminds me of my predecessor. I always thought Alice had no taste. She had never shown any interest in home décor, never mind following the latest interiors fashion trends.She was always so focused on academic achievement. That left little time for inspired domestic expression.I giggled. Here I am thinking of her in the past tense. While she was still stubbornly clinging to life right now, I took comfort in the fact that her days were numbered.David left for work early this morning — that man is a workaholic! Still, I need to start thinking of what we will have for dinner tonight. I’m looking forward to when David will engage a chef for us, it’s so tedious having to prepare meals myself.Upstairs, I found myself in the master bedroom. Ugh! Those bland
[Alice’s POV]“I’ve got something to ask you, Adam,” I said.He looked at me, sensing the gravity in my tone.“I-ah… If I don’t make it, I need to —”“Hush, no!” he interrupted. He held a finger to my lips. “We’ve agreed to fight this thing, remember? So, no negative thoughts, okay?”I shook my head, holding back tears. “This is terribly important, Adam. It’s weighing heavily on my mind. That can’t be good for the healing process, can it?” I gave him a watery smile.“Alright. Shoot,” he said grimly.“If-if I don’t go into remission, you know, if I don’t beat this, er, this thing, I need to know my children don’t automatically go to David. They need to be raised by someone I can trust to look out for their best interests.”I stared into his eyes and saw realization dawn.He frowned. “I can’t – I can’t claim custody, Alice. I’ve got no rights. David has the very best legal team money can buy. He will get them both in an instant.”The flood of tears I had been holding back suddenly overc
Lily’s POVWalking out of that hospital room, the light in the long corridor struck me as pale and unreal. My hands couldn’t stop trembling.It wasn’t because of the cold, but because of the humiliation of my soul being stripped bare and exposed for all to ogle.Being publicly ignored like that, th
[Alice's POV]This feeling of loss of control rapidly bloomed in the bathroom. His blood-tasting kiss traveled all the way down from my lips, burying itself in the hollow of my neck, nipping sensitive flesh almost vengefully. Searing nerve endings along my skin became reawakened from a too long slu
Alice‘s POVHe was standing over me in an unconscious act of intimidation. He was seeking validation.I leaned back against the pillow and looked up at him, with a pitying smile. Where to start, I wondered.“David, it’s not that I’m hiding something from you,” I said on a weak breath, each word str
[Alice's POV]He simply straightened up, and leaving the balcony, he walked toward me. Coming back into the conference center corridor, he closed the balcony glass sliding door, and joined me.“Professor Lawrence is looking for you.” His voice was low and gentle. “He told me that several European i







