The quarters for the orphans, called ‘Safe Haven’ was the opposite of the Grahams’ beautiful mansion. Although the orphanage was very large and contained around 10,000–12,000 children from different places around the world, it was poorly built with wood in the far end of the estate. The Grahams knew that couples who wanted to adopt children would grow mad if they knew of the poor environment the children were being brought up, despite the donations and contributions from people around the world, they came up with a strategy to build a better place, where couples could meet up with a few selected children to be adopted; according to the couples’ preference. That was why the government, private organizations, and individuals around the world who make donations to the orphanage haven’t been able to discover anything amiss. Saffron arrived at one of the wooden hostels and gently knocked on the door. After a few knocks, nobody answered the door, so she pushed the wooden door open and ent
For the next few days, Saffron had nothing better to do other than to be at the field, planting. It’s been five days since she returned to the orphanage and Madam Graham didn’t ask for her like she thought. Everywhere seemed too peaceful to the extent Saffron almost believed that Madam Graham might have forgotten about her, because, in the past, no day went by without the Matrons yelling abusive words at her with the permission from the Madam.It would be nice if they truly forgot about her existence, that way she could peacefully take care of her pregnancy. While she was brooding, Alex came hurrying over.“Sister Saffy!” Saffron paused and looked in his direction, then sighed with worry. “I told you to stop running around. It’s still too early for you to be out. You aren’t even wearing enough to cover your chest. What if you catch a cold?”Alex had been running for a while and now, he was having a hard time catching his breath. “I – sister, grandma is at Safe… Safe Haven.” Saffron
After the two women stated what they wanted, Saffron took a deep breath. They aren’t the only ones with evil intentions anyway. Since they aren’t giving her any choices, they can’t blame her for giving them another man’s child. After all, once she gives birth to this child, she’d make sure not to have another. Once she had concluded what she wanted to do in her mind, she said, “Marrying your crippled son came with a mouth-watering benefit that I cannot reject…”The two old women smiled broadly. However, before they could wallow in their happiness, Saffron continued.“...however, I cannot just accept the offer, unless I see him, talk to him and I’m sure he’s also willing to be with me.” Saffron didn’t ask for too much. It was quite reasonable, but Madam Graham and her friend didn’t find it cute at all. “What do you mean by that, Saffron? Are you doubting my words?” Madam Evelyn frowned with displeasure. “Absolutely not, Madam Evelyn! I was–”“Saffron! Have you lost your mind? My frie
Madam Evelyn’s mansion was opulent; the Graham’s Mansion can’t hold a candle to it. “My daughter-in-law, please, have a seat and do feel at home. Marrin, get your new madam a glass of water. Have the other servants prepare her brother’s room. As for my daughter-in-law, she’ll stay in her husband’s room, but for now, prepare a guest room for her,” the old woman smiled while dishing out orders. Saffron just stood by the entrance to the massive living room without uttering a word. When the servant came over to send them to their rooms, Alex refused to leave until Saffron encouraged him to.After Alex left, Saffron finally turned to her would-be mother-in-law. “Ma, can I see your son now?”The old woman’s face suddenly changed, but in the next second, her lips stretched into a forced smile, “I thought we already talked about this? Why are you bringing it back up?”“Nothing ma, I’m just too excited to see my husband….” Seeing the old woman was starting to give her a strange attitude, she
Curiosity killed the cat, they said, and it seemed like that was the case with Saffron… The whispers of crickets broke the serenity of the chilling night. The moon failed to grace the horizon with its beauty, but the stars stood dominant, twinkling in glee as they led Saffron towards the unknown. Every righteous soul was sleeping in the late hours of the night, but Saffron was tramping warily towards the lone building at the back of the mansion... Clearly, she shouldn’t be here; she was warned not to. She knew she was breaking the rules, yet she threw caution to the wind the moment she decided to give in to her curiosity. “I can't stop now, I have every right to see, know, and speak with my would– be husband before the wedding,” she mumbled in a bid to convince herself to not give in to the fear she was feeling. Her mind would drift in and out of different thoughts that she paid little to no attention to the eerie howls of the wind… the further she went, the colder the wind, and w
Madam Evelyn glanced at the briefcase loaded with money but refused to touch it. “Young man, I think you're at the wrong place. All the chefs we have were–”“I don't mean your servants.”The woman raised a brow, “Is that so? Then may I know what chef you are talking about?”“Saffron.”The old woman paused for a moment, then leaned back and said candidly, “We don't have a person with that name here.”“Want to have a word with your friend in the Graham estate?” Madam Evelyn snorted, ‘That shameless betrayer!’ She grabbed her cup of tea and took a sip. After a long while, she replied, “Everyone knows that woman to be a pathological liar, who would do anything for money.”“And what do we call you who would do anything to breed children for your hybrid son.”How did they find out? Did Madam Graham tell them? No, she can’t, she wouldn’t, she dared not! The old woman was furious. When money is involved, Madam Graham wouldn’t even hesitate to sell her organs even if it means she’d die, just
An hour later, Caspian caught the faint sound of footfalls on the stairs. He looked up to see her standing there on there, stunned. She must have been surprised to see him, he thought and took his eyes off her and continued with his smoking. So her ‘imagination’ was real? The man who saved her was Caspian?! Saffron couldn’t seem to move her legs. It felt as though she was stuck. Her heartbeat started racing and she had the urge to run for dear life, but to where? She didn’t even know where she was and how she was supposed to run away without Alex. Once she came to that realization, she swallowed down her fear and nervousness and decided to face her reality. She summoned courage and walked down the stairs. Standing a safe distance away from him, she bowed slightly and greeted, “Young Master Caspian.” The man ignored her and continued to puff out clouds of smoke.Seeing that he wouldn’t speak to her, she assumed that he was angry at her, so she looked up at the sterned-faced Gerald w
“You have no choice!!” he roared which sent Saffron trembling. Picking the glass of drink on the table, he ordered, “Send her back to her room,” then gulped down the whole content in the glass. She shouldn’t have made him have a taste of her, and now, he can no longer get her body off his head. It was her fault, all her fault for making him cheat! He slammed the glass on the table and broke the cigarette with fire in his eyes. Just as Gerald was about to step forward, Jenny sauntered in from the kitchen, “I’ll send her to her room,” she said curtly and proceeded to take the shaken Saffron away. As they walked up the stairs, Jenny had her keen eyes on Saffron and she could see her subconsciously hugging her stomach as she took unbalanced steps up the stairs. Jenny narrowed her eyes on her. She was a woman and probably understood.At the door, just as Saffron was about to open her door and get in, Jenny stretched out her arm and blocked the entrance, causing Saffron to look up at her.