"Never thought you’d feel the likes of that on your skin again, eh, sir?" Eddie, the mansion's butler, asked. "Sod off, Eddie. The wife wanted to have a little sun, so be it!" Shawn smiled. They were in the garden, sunbathing with as little morning sunlight as they could find. It'd been two weeks since the two had slept together, and since then, Catherine had become moody and her morning sickness was getting worse by the day, and right now, they were both lying down in the grass doing God knows what. Shawn turned his face towards the sun, closing his eyes as he let the warmth spread over his skin. "It’s perfect," he murmured as he peered at his wife, who had closed her eyes and seemed to be fast asleep now. Her pale, smooth skin shimmered in the lights. "Or it would be if it weren’t so bloody cold." Eddie chuckled. "It’s not as cold as that, sir. The lake hasn’t frozen this year. Just a few patchy spots, not that cold." Reluctantly, Shawn turned away from the sun and opened his eye
Being completely naked, with an almost visible baby bump, in a mildly cold lake was beyond Catherine's comprehension. Of course, she wanted adventure, and she got it. Stupid, yes, but this isolated privacy was all she needed, of course, to think about her life, as she had immediately tucked herself in the warm, cold embrace of the lake as she shivered, unable to even fathom her foolishness, but was she crazier? Shawn had become nothing but sweet and overprotective of her, not that marrying her and bearing his child was any weirder, but yes, now she had more questions than answers. Besides, she heard him talking to Elizabeth, and it was not civil enough. She believed that the bitch was threatening her and her child's lives. Where the bitch had come to know puzzled Catherine even more. Not that Shawn's treatment of her had done anything but threaten her heart, and though she wasn't expecting more, expecting too much of his sweet, caring demeanour towards her made her uneasy. But, of cour
The morning air was crisp but thankfully not too cold, as Shawn held her tightly and helped her get herself dressed. There was no breeze; the morning was very calm and still. They were now walking down an old path near the one Catherine had taken earlier, near an empty park. The path forks off in one direction, which takes them onto the park and into a rose garden. The other part of the route goes up a small hill, where they can look out over a lake. The morning sun was shining brightly from the cloudless sky. Shawn veers to the path that goes up the little hill. Catherine could almost see the reflection of the sun on the lake. He took her hand as they reached the top. “A view to die for," he murmured. Indeed her was right, she thought. The view was breathtaking. There was a group of geese slowly gliding across the water, causing small ripples. Shawn put her arm around his waist as they both looked out at the serene calmness before them. They had been joking and laughing all along th
Eddie sipped a white, creamy coffee while sitting in the breakfast corner of the mansion kitchen, looking out the window at the faraway view of the lake. In that land of virescent beauty lay a disc of the brightest blue and gray. Like a mirror on the wall, it was oval and flat, its surface forever guarded against the cold winds and the lush hills around it. At the edge, the land met and carried right on as a perfect reflection. Sipping the coffee, he sighed. He’d learned about the drink while visiting Mexico one summer. It was almost identical to a latte except that it was made with coffee instead of espresso. It had more milk than a café con leche, so the taste was less bitter. There was a paused look of fulfillment on his face as he sipped the warm, toasty flavor. That was something he felt the Europeans had gotten right. They always made time for coffee or tea, particularly in the afternoons. Most Americans viewed it more as an energy drink, something to be gulped and disposed of.
ScotlandThe final rays of the afternoon sun spilled through a massive arched window onto the dark oak floor. An old man with gray hair and wrinkles on his face looked out at the green scenery. His mind was preoccupied, engrossed with a mission that few knew about. An antique phone on a massive oak desk rang in the manner of phones decades ago. The old person sitting in the darkness of his study reached over to answer, awoken from his musings."Have you started yet? Boy?" His tone was forceful and forthright."Yes, sir, everything is as you requested, sir." The person on the other end of the call spoke in thick English.
Still, on the edge of his seat, Shawn asked Eddie to drive past. The ambush earlier was a surprise and he was thankful that he listened to his grandfather and purchased a bulletproof SUV for his everyday use. It was late morning now, and still, he hadn't bought Catherine's exotic jackfruits. "We have to go now, Eddie." "How about the wife's craving, sir?" "I will find a way. But if what you say is true, Elizabeth could be the one behind this." "It was obvious, sir. The bitch wanted you, and she is insane. I was just exploiting her, and I think now she knew that I was never on her side, or not." "Thanks, Eddie, I know I can count on you. But I want you to work with her. I want more of her plan. I think you know what I mean. Right?" Shawn asked. Grateful
Three days later, Shawn still had not returned, and though he called her at night, the anticipation and the waiting almost suffocated her. She was stressed and anxious.A minute later, one of the guards offered to bring her milk from the kitchen, which she had prepared earlier, as Catherine uttered her thanks. After her warm milk and vitamins were taken, she went to the veranda and sunbathed and fell asleep.Unbeknownst to her, a dark figure behind her smiled. Shawn's wife had taken the milk that was mixed with drugs. The man left and waited until she was fully asleep.Catherine sighed and open
"Surprise, Catherine?" Elizabeth asked as she slapped her in the face, making Catherine turn her head sideways and groan in pain. "Bitch! Take that." Another slap,"... you, of all people, took my Shawn away. I am going to enjoy killing you slowly, you know." Elizabeth sneered and pushed Catherine's head. The pain, the concern for her baby — it was all Catherine could think of. The distress takes over a portion of her brain, as if dealing with it was energy-consuming enough without the effort of new thoughts. It stole the part of her and she knew her lips were bleeding, her ears were still ringing from the never-ending slap, and she realized Elizabeth wouldn't let her live. She wanted her dead, but all she could ever think of was the baby on her tummy... Oh God, no! Please let her leave. A silent prayer was the only thing she could do now. She was at her mercy. But knowing Shawn had abandoned her, the pain was palpable: disappointment and sadness mingled, the kind of pain that burns as