Inside a bedroom in Ronald's mansion, Donovan was finished dressing up in a smart outfit before the mirror. An SMS buzzed his phone and upon checking, he saw it was from Boma. He opened it and paused as his eyes took in the content. He refused to believe what he was reading.His brooding dominance surfaced in the aftermath of taking in the message. His forrest eyes, usually filled with resolve, faltered as he took in the message again: "It's over between Us. Do not bother looking for me."A tempest of fury surged within Donovan, an emotion he had rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. His grip on the phone tightened, and a sinister fire danced in his eyes. He had always been the master of his domain, a ruler of hearts, and this abrupt act of defiance threatened to shatter the very foundation of his dominance.The walls of his opulent sanctuary, once symbols of his conquests, seemed to close in on him, echoing the turmoil in his heart. This wasn't a challenge he could tolerate. It w
Boma's call went unanswered. She dialed the number once more, but the outcome remained unchanged. Restless, she chose to make her way back home and persist with her attempts. Upon reaching her abode, she settled at her reading desk, poised to retry when her father's call came through. "Hello, Papa," she greeted. "I have wonderful news," he exclaimed. Boma was curious but kept her focus on her friend's well-being. "I can't wait to hear it," she replied, maintaining an enthusiastic tone to not overshadow his happiness. "Do you remember the Permanent Secretary position I used to talk about?" Boma recalled. "Yes," she replied. "And I know you decided not to let it bother you anymore." "That's right, but I've been shortlisted for it," he proudly announced. Boma froze, realizing Donovan's influence might be behind it. Why would he continue helping her father when he knew she was no longer involved? "That was since last month. I didn't want to say anything until it was confirmed. B
As the sun bathed the school grounds in a warm, golden glow, Hilda stood just outside the imposing wrought-iron gates. She was supposed to leave school the previous day but after learning of an impromptu test, she had to stay back.She had made the difficult decision to leave the school behind, if only for a while, to escape the tangled web of secrets and fear that had ensnared her. Her breath caught in her throat as she hailed a taxi cab that had pulled up to the curb, her refuge from the impending storm.Unknown to Hilda, Donovan had orchestrated his plan with military precision. His obsession with finding Boma had driven him to the brink of madness, and he knew that Hilda held the key to unraveling the mystery of her whereabouts. Donovan's henchmen, shadowy figures in the periphery, approached the unsuspecting Hilda, their movements as calculated as a chess master's opening gambit.Just as Hilda reached out to open the cab door, strong hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her ba
After her outburst, Boma remained angry and would not talk to Fidelis. He called her several times but she ignored his calls. She was tired of everyone trying to tell her what to do. She thought Fidelis was different but now he too was being controlling, telling her not to hang out with Reuben. She decided she would not talk to him until after her dinner with Reuben so he would not attempt to interfere. For once she was going to trust her own judgement. Before she went to bed Fidelis left her a message. He requested she tell him the place and time so he would be aware of her whereabouts as he was responsible for bringing her to the school. He owed himself that responsibility. She was touched by his concern and wanted to do as he asked but fearing his interference, she ignored the message. She woke up to an SMS on her phone. She froze upon reading the content- By this time tommorow, you will be with me. Do not doubt it for a second. D. She panicked, then managed to shake the fea
The tremors shaking her violated body, triggered by the fear of Donovan's reaction, eventually shook her to consciousness, so that her peaceful slumber was shattered by a sudden jolt. Her eyes flew open, and she was drenched in cold sweat, her heart hammering like a frantic drumbeat. The remnants of the nightmare clung to her, the images still fresh in her mind. In her dream, the feeling of helplessness had been suffocating, a vice grip on her soul. But now, with the veil of sleep lifted, Boma realized that it was just a dream—a mere phantom of her subconscious.A deep breath filled her lungs, and she exhaled slowly, willing her racing heart to slow its frenetic pace. The room around her was shrouded in darkness, but she could make out the familiar contours of her bedroom—the soft moonlight filtering through the curtains, the comforting presence of her books on the shelf, and the gentle hum of the night outside.Relief washed over her like a gentle wave, soothing her frayed nerves.
Boma swallowed hard. How had Donovan found her? Was he just trying to scare her? She could feel tears starting to sting her eyes but she struggled to control herself. She would not reveal her location.She watched Reuben come to her. He smiled at her, failing to see her nervous expression.He informed her that he had placed their orders earlier and had just gone to see that everything was in order. She thanked him. Then she asked him why he changed the restaurant.He explained that they didn't have the special dinner he wanted.Boma asserted that he could have told her and he apologized for it.Then he made small talk about how he was aiming to be a better person like Fidelis.Boma encouraged his goals and their food arrived.The dimly lit restaurant exuded an intimate charm, the soft flicker of candlelight dancing across the wooden tabletop. Boma's fingers traced the rim of her wineglass, her eyes flicking anxiously toward the entrance with each passing moment.Reuben, sitting across
Donovan clenched his jaw, his knuckles white against the steering wheel, as he drove through the dimly lit streets. Anger churned within him, a tempestuous storm fueled by a volatile mix of frustration and concern. He had intervened just in time, thwarting Reuben's sinister intentions. He had served justice the way it happened in his world. Reuben had to know he would meet his end by playing such a dangerous game. He had done what he had to do, but he couldn't shake the gnawing anger that had been ignited by Boma's reckless flight from him. Beside him, she wept softly, her tears a haunting melody of her fear and guilt. She believed that he would punish her for her escape, for her defiance of his dominating nature. The knowledge of her dread only intensified Donovan's inner turmoil. He glanced at her trembling form, his heart heavy with the weight of their tangled emotions. "Boma," he said, his voice softer than he'd ever heard it, "prior to your running away, I know how I was bein
Time passed, ushering them into a new day and to the hour that Donovan wanted her response. They had freshened up and were done with breakfast when Donovan demanded for his answer. Boma didn't see much of a choice. If she accepted the punishment, he would still force her hand in marriage. She would rather avoid the punishment. Donovan kept the ultimatum that way because he wanted her as his wife. He also knew that she would rather avoid the punishment. Either way, he was done being single. He was also done leaving her to her whims. "I'm waiting." he said. "I don't want to be punished." her eyes were locked to his chest. "Good. So this is how it will go. You will inform your parents that you have met someone because I can tell you didn't do that the last time I mentioned it. Did you? Don't even think about lying to me." "I didn't...I did not tell them." "I thought as much, given your scheming. In the end I celebrated my birthday without you because you ran away, ruining my eng