Chapter Forty-sevenThe Family MomentAs we savored our delicious breakfast at the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The laughter of Amara and Asher, their smiles, and the simple joy of being with them for this precious moment were all I needed to temporarily banish the shadows of my looming fate.But then, as I took a sip of my coffee, I noticed someone across the room. My heart skipped a beat, and the taste of the coffee turned bitter as I stared at the man who seemed strangely familiar. His face, obscured by a newspaper, held an uncanny resemblance to someone from my past. The man Sophie had an affair with.I turned to Sophie, wondering if she saw the same person, this was the same person. Unable to dismiss the nagging feeling, I put down my coffee cup and observed him intently, my eyes fixed on his profile. His features were etched with the passage of time, but there was an undeniable resemblance that tugged at the corners of my memory.Amara and Asher
Chapter Forty-eightThe Love For HerMaxon’s POVI drove into the parking lot of the park, and we all alighted. The kids' faces were still lit up with excitement and happiness, giving me the kind of soothing feeling I had never had before. I wanted to do whatever it took to keep that smile on their faces. I would do anything to make sure they never had a reason to cry.They got down, and Amara wheeled her brother towards the swing. I turned to Sophie, watching her as she observed the kids leaving, and wondered what would have happened if what occurred five years ago had been avoided. My mind swayed through thoughts, thinking about what could have potentially been done to prevent our family from breaking apart. It all happened because of Sophie.She was responsible for the division in our family. She broke the love we had, betrayed me and shattered our trust. She disrespected me and our love with her infidelity. She was responsible for it all. I sighed and headed for where the kids wer
Chapter Forty-nineConfusionMaxon’s POV“Sophie!” I called again, and her eyes came open.I held out a loud sigh of relief, it seemed like the life which had escaped from me returned that moment. I wouldn’t have been able to deal without her. I knew we had problems and dispute and we were not in a good place, but I couldn’t let anything go wrong with her.“Sophie.” I murmured, helping her up from the floor, “are you okay? Do you feel alright or do we have to go to the hospital?” I asked and she shook her head in response.“I…I am fine.” She stuttered.“I…I am sorry mom, I didn’t mean to push you.” Amara said, tears still rolling down her eyes, “I am sorry, mom.”Sophie shook her head, “I am sorry for lying to you, darling. I didn’t mean to do that, I was only doing it for you and your brother, just to protect you two.” She stated, pulling the kids to herself.I didn’t know if it would right to leave her that way, or go to the hospital. She almost drown, but she claimed she was okay.
Chapter FiftyThe First Hearing 1Sophie’s POVMy head was still aching as I sat in the car, thoughts racing through my mind. I glanced at Amara through the mirror, my heart racing with pain and confusion, what would happen with them when they get to know about the custody battle between their father and I?Amara had only just found out that Maxon was her father and she was so cold to me, she got angry that she mistakenly pushed me into the pool, what would happen with this custody battle? I felt like I was losing my kids more than before, I didn’t know what to do or how I could save my kids.I glanced out of the car to see Maxon, still on the phone call, I wondered who he might be talking to, if it was about the custody battle.I felt the urge to go outside and hear for myself and what he was saying and who he was talking to, but I had no strength to do that, I just sat in the car, waiting for him to return.Minutes later, he came back into the car, dipped the key in the ignition an
Chapter Fifty-oneThe First Hearing 2Maxon’s POVI had been in the court room for minutes, waiting and expecting that Sophie would come in with her attorney and the kids, but there was nothing.I kept on waiting and expecting them and I kept running out of patience, I wasn’t sure of why they weren’t yet around when the hearing would start in just few minutes, I was confused.I glanced at my wristwatch, calculating the time and expecting them to come, but I saw no trace of them, my heart raced in my chest.Could it be that Sophie had taken off with my kids? Did she run away with my kids so she wouldn’t have to come to the court for the case and battle? My heart raced with the thought of that, Sophie couldn’t have done that, could she? How does she expect me to live without my kids? What must she have been thinking running away with my kids?I turned around, looking at every angle and searching through every corner to see if Sophie was anywhere close, I just didn’t know what to do, and
Chapter Fifty-twoThe TrapSophie’s POVI stepped away from him, who was this man and why was he doing this to me? I didn’t understand what was going on. I was supposed to be in the court with my attorney, who was now lying helplessly on the floor, I didn’t know if he was dead or not.I was supposed to be there, fighting my case and for my kid’s custody, but here I was, in the middle of nowhere and with this unknown man.“Who are you?” I questioned, trying every possible best to hide my fears, “what do you want from me?” Even with my best, my hands still trembled with fear.He laughed and threw the clothes he already pulled off to the cushion, leaving his with his shirt and pants. He dipped his hand into his pocket and looked into my eyes, the most victorious gaze I had ever seen, “don’t you understand it all now?” He asked, “are you that slow?”I was in no way offended by what he said, all I wanted to know was why he had to lure me from the court and for what reason he did that, why
Chapter Fifty-twoSaving HerMaxon’s POV“I know of a place they might be.” He murmured.My hand fell from his collar as I said, “let’s go, you won’t like what I’ll do to you if anything bad happens to Sophie. I will be sure not to spare you!”He nodded and sped towards his car, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back. “No, we have to go in my own car,” I said and quickly wheeled Asher to the car, while Amara followed behind us.We all got into the car, and headed for the unknown place with the attorney’s lead. I kept murmuring a silent prayer as I drove that everything would be fine with Sophie, that nothing bad would happen to her.My heart raced in a fast beat, what would I do if anything bad happens to her? How would I cope if anything bad happens to Sophie?I looked back at my kids whose eyes were searching around, I could see the longing for their mother on their faces, and I could feel it. They wanted to be with their mother, but I didn’t even know where she was, and this wa
Chapter Fifty-three“I Care.”Sophie’s POVI watched as Maxon fought with the man, wondering what exactly he was trying to proof, he was the same one who ordered for me to be lured away from the court so he could win the case, and how he was here acting like the hero?I couldn’t hold it, I couldn’t hold back my anger, just who does he think he is to behave this way? Does he think he can treat me like a play thing? I was sure that he must have won the case, the case must have gone the way he wants it to go and now he has the custody of the kids, that is why he is here to save me out of pity.I shook my head, I just couldn’t deal with him and his games anymore. I watched as he pinned the man to the wall and was about to stab him with the broken piece of vase in his hand, but I rushed there and grabbed his hand, stopping him.I had to be careful, he might hurt the man and even pin it on me later, I couldn’t trust anyone, especially not him after what he has done.I believed that he would