SOPHIE POVI leaned back on the passenger seat and had my eyes closed for a moment, in a bid to compose myself.Joseph was a seat away, driving me and the kids back home after a really tough and confusing day at work.I opened my eyes again, allowing my mind to recede to hours ago when Elliot stopped by my office, pleading for forgiveness and, funny enough, a second chance.I couldn't help but let out a smirk."Make things right, indeed," I muttered beneath my breath, keeping my voice inaudible enough to be heard only by me.My memories receded farther back to a few days ago when it had been my turn to plead for his understanding and trust, but what did he do? He sided with his mistress, accused me of being an opportunist, and even went ahead to mention my kids without any measure of restraint whatsoever. I remembered how that judgmental stare on his face had left me traumatized; it had stripped me of sleep as I stayed awake the preceding nights with my mind preoccupied with only thou
Elliot POVI lay on my bed that night, hours after arriving from work. I rolled rigidly from side to side, trying in vain to find sleep. My mind was too awake, too busy trying to recapture that stupefying moment back at the office when Olivia had shown me that recording of our conversation that happened as far back as five years ago. What could her reasons be? Why would anyone without an ulterior motive even do that? Could it be that Olivia planned everything from the beginning? Did she approach me on purpose that night? There had to be an explanation for her recording me and using it to blackmail me at such a crucial moment.I sat up and picked up the phone lying beside me, then I dialed Sophie’s contact number one more time, hoping she would pick up the call and just hear me out, but I got no response. I tried a few more times, but the response was the same; even the text messages I forwarded asking her to call me back remained unanswered.I gasped, and my face palmed."What's happe
SOPHIE POVI woke the following morning feeling lightheaded. I felt a slight headache at the center of my scalp, letting out a small groan as I leaned back calmly on my pillow. What really happened yesterday? Or was it all a dream? I reasoned as my mind flashed back to yesterday's encounter with Elliot and Olivia at the restaurant. The memories were far too vivid to be just a dream."So Elliot is really getting married to no other person but Olivia? The same Olivia he claims he doesn't love? The same Olivia he addresses as a so-called mere acquaintance?"I reasoned with an inquisitive look plastered on my face."It's just a waste of time trusting some people."I murmured painfully to myself, remembering the knowing look of guilt on Elliot's face the moment I threw that question at them. He had even been too guilty to say hi to me and not talk about defending himself.Carter also noticed that the duo had ruined my night and that I was no longer in the right frame of mind for a proper d
Olivia POVIt was evening, and I honked at the gate of my old folks about twice before I heard the metallic sound of keys jingling behind the gate. In a moment, the gates were wide open, with my father wearing a white robe standing transfixed at the left side, waving at my tinted car happily as I drove in. He was looking as healthy as ever, and I could bet they've been making good use of the upkeep money I've been sending.I turned off the ignition and got down from the car, but before I could get down from the car, my mother was already before me, smiling ever so widely."My olive petal, I could tell that was the sound of your car.""Mummy, how are you doing?" I asked, hugging her close."I am doing great, my daughter.""Child of Adonai. You have come to check on your parents again?"It was Father's voice; he had joined us after locking up the gates. I disengaged from my mother's hug and rolled my eyes indulgently."Daddy, it was you who christened me Olivia. Remember how this new on
SOPHIE POV It was Thursday evening, and I sat with my knees drawn up on my bed, thinking soberly about my encounter with Adam last Saturday once again.I needed peace and quiet today, so I literally forced Owen and his siblings to go order pizza and have some fun in the yard instead of staying back inside with me. I just needed enough space to think.For the last three days, I've been trying to use work as an excuse to forget the emotional turmoil that was brewing in my mind, but unlike other cases, my plan to use work as a cover-up has proven hopelessly abortive.I could hardly concentrate on anything. Because in this particular scenario, my adorable kids, who represent the very essence of my life, were at stake this time.I couldn't bring myself to imagine them having a man like Adam as their father. As bad as I thought my own father was, Adam was far worse. Though they were almost the same, Adam was still a notch lower.Adam was a man with little willpower, a man who knew so littl
GENERAL POVOwen and his siblings returned to their room after the shocking announcement made by their mom. They closed the door and locked it up from within to have some privacy.Owen turned to his siblings at once, lowering his voice."Did you guys hear that? Mum is getting married; that doesn't sound right; I think she's hiding something from us."Isabella folded her arms and spoke next, with downcast eyes."Yes, I thought so too; she sounded so strange that I wanted to say something back there, but Nathan kept pinching me to stop."Nathan took a step forward, bowing his head slightly."Sorry, I had to do that; I just felt it wasn't the right time. I think she's trying to protect us from something. Didn't you guys notice her eyes? She looked like she was crying before we came in. Isn't she supposed to be happy getting married?"Owen hummed thoughtfully before he said,"You're right, Nate; she looked really sad.But what could she be protecting us from?" Owen questioned him further
GENERAL POVThe kids stood at their mother's doorpost as she lay sprawled and unconscious on her expansive bed.They could tell that the alcohol she had consumed was going to take her on another long, drowsy ride, probably longer than yesterday's siesta."It's going to take some time before she wakes up," Owen announced calmly, with tightened lips and folded arms."Yeah." Isabella concurred weakly."I guess this is our second chance."Nathan whispered, taking out his phone and gently locking up her room again.They returned to their room before Nathan dialed Joseph's number."Hello, sir, we're in luck; our coast is clear again."Can you please come pick us up?”"Hello, my boy. Oh yes, I'm available. Do you guys have the target this time?" Joseph inquired like he were an FBI agent, the way he had stressed the word target. Nathan struggled with a smile; the man seemed to be taking this mission of theirs more seriously than even them."Yes, sir, we have identified our target, and the pers
SOPHIE'S POVOn Saturday morning, I sat on my bed with a dead stare. My eyes were crimson red, and my phone was ringing beside me. The person calling was Carter, my so-called husband-to-be; this should be the eighth time he has called this morning. Our wedding was supposed to be in a few hours.I pushed my phone farther aside harshly, disgusted even by the sight of just his name on my screen.I inhaled with a bitter expression as I reflected on yesterday evening. Moments after I had woken up from the long alcohol-induced sleep I had fallen into, I tried checking through my phone randomly for some updates, only to come across a message I had received from an anonymous sender hours before then.When I clicked, I saw to my horror that it was an audio recording of Carter's voice, and he was telling whoever he was speaking with that he was marrying me just for sex and that he planned to divorce me a week after our wedding.The brokenness after listening to that was indescribable. It was a