Five months laterRachel wadded slowly across the sitting room, placing a hand on her round waist for support. Her legs felt slightly heavy and she felt like a big whale that was about to push out a whole nation.Yes, a nation! She was absolutely losing it at this point.She rubbed her rounded belly, a frustrated frown on her face. All the baby birth books she read so far said the normal gestation period for babies was nine months. What exactly was this baby still doing inside of her?The baby was already due, why wasn't her water breaking yet? At this point, she could faint from exhaustion.Thank goodness Sophia was coming over today. She needed someone to talk to before she lost it.Has it been just five months since they got married? Ugh! It felt like five years!Because of this pregnancy!After this round, she needed at least four years to get herself back to normal, before deciding if she wanted baby number two.Her favorite food disgusted her, the back aches were almost driving
Spring, 2015The smell of cookies and wine filled the air as maids moved around, preparing the feast for the event of the night. George Scott leaned against a window in his bedroom as he stared at the clouds, taking in the beauty of the sunset as the night drew near.Today was his twenty-first birthday. The day had finally come when he would take over from his father as the CEO of Imperial Hub Limited, a renowned skincare and beauty company. He was so nervous about his new role.From this moment, all eyes would be on him. The board of directors, the investors, everybody! They would nitpick every action he takes just to find a reason why he shouldn't be the one filling that role. They all knew his father – Morris Scott preferred his stepbrother to him, and they would do anything to be his father's favorite business associate. The things people do for more power and money. Turning around to get ready for the event, he came face to face with his mother – Patricia Anne Scott – as she wal
Summer, 2020Five years laterTwenty three years old Rachel Reeves moved slowly around the tiny kitchen in the small house where she and her mother had lived since her father was jailed. She could tell just by looking at the bright sky, that it was afternoon already. She had to hurry up if she wanted to see her father today, before the jail wardens stopped people from coming in. Rachel carefully packed two plates of delicious food, what she could make with the little money she had.She sighed in exhaustion, replaying the day in her mind. It was just early afternoon, yet she had shuffled two jobs early this morning – rushed to the market to do some shopping for her father's food – now, she had to go spend some time with him and come back for a night shift at a local restaurant. She wasn't complaining about going over to see her father, she would never complain about that. She really missed him.Bringing her hands to wipe away the tears that ran down her face, she couldn't help but thin
Morris Scott fumed in anger, his eyes glazing "What do you mean by that!... Out of all the options you have, you choose her?" Still sitting on his chair, He trembled in rage as he realized George had played him and taken advantage of his desperation. "Why would you want the daughter of a drug trafficker? Have you forgotten we were warned to stay away from them?" "She is not…!!" George yelled, his jaws clenching so hard from his growing irritation "I repeat, she is not the daughter of a drug trafficker!! That was five years ago. Besides, we all know Arthur was innocent." Morris stared in shock, George had never raised his voice at him – not even once. "Did you just yell at me?" "Yes I did, and I will do it again if I have to" "How dare you!!" Morris jumped to his feet, still refusing to believe that George was talking back at him "How dare you open your petty mouth to –" "Oh please…" George interrupted him, a look of disgust settling on his face. "...just stop it already! This is n
"What did I just hear from your father?" Patricia whispered, pacing around the hallway where she stood with her son, George. "Tell me I'm dreaming, I probably didn't hear correctly. Yo…you want to marry who?""It's true, I want to marry Arthur Reeves' daughter, Rachel" George answered firmly, his face showing no sign of remorse. His mind was made up.He had spent the last Twenty-six years listening to everything his parents wanted him to do. They made most of the choices for him, all he had to do was obey. His father especially, knowing that George was ever ready to please his mother would send her to him, so she could change his mind with her soft words and tearful eyes.And for years he had listened, he had obeyed. He had played along to their beat. He had laid down his interests to do what they wanted. But not anymore. Not today. From now on, he was going to do what he wanted for himself and not feel sorry for it."Are you hearing yourself?" Patricia quaked, the pitch of her voice
The voices in his head just wouldn't stay quiet. George sighed heavily as he paced around the open space in his large bedroom, just a few steps away from the gigantic mirror that rested on the wall. Every few minutes, he would sneak a peek at the mirror, staring at himself. He was clearly losing it, his mind wouldn't stop creating negative scenarios of when he and Rachel would meet.Tomorrow….He couldn't believe they were to meet tomorrow. What had he been thinking to pick her in the first place? No woman in her right mind would want to be married to a man that looked like him.He was even more confused, why did she agree to the proposal? Why would Rachel agree to marry into a family she was told to stay away from? It didn't make any sense. She didn't even know him — it had been over five years. Why would she easily agree to marry a stranger? Was that normal?George was frustrated. He thought 'walking around' would help his mind stay focused, but the confusing thoughts flying around
She had heard about his accident five years ago. It had been all over the news, her mother had told her about it too. Rachel could remember that it happened the same day her father got arrested. The day her world came crashing down was the day his life flipped upside down. But even though she knew he would have some scars due to his accident, Rachel didn't expect it would be this bad.She stood there with her mouth open from shock, studying him, taking in his appearance. The scars covered his once beautiful face all the way down to his neck. It looked like it extended all the way down his muscular body that was hidden behind his black fitted suit. Rachel gulped. She couldn't help but wonder, How did he go through all of that….in a place like this?She had witnessed her fair share of ridicule from other elite people within the company, when her father was arrested for drug trafficking. She had suddenly become an outcast, no longer up to their taste and level. She remembered being calle
The days moved by quickly, faster than she wanted it to. Rachel observed as she stood in front of a huge mirror that graced the wall of her personal bedroom. This was going to be the last moment she spent in this room, she was to move over to another room this night.His room…Ah, he must be anticipating it — What a weirdo he was. Rachel laughed out loud in the empty room, as she got ready for her wedding ceremony that was to start in two hours time. George had hired a professional hairstylist and makeup artist to transform her face and hair, and honestly, she couldn't recognise herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Not in the bad way actually…She never knew she could look so ethereal, so elegant, so beautiful…It had been a long time since she had rested so well, eaten so well and actually felt like a princess. The hardship she had faced these last five years had thrown her off balance and she had forgotten how to take care of herself. In the last two weeks, George d