Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 29: awry . Gael slid off the chair, onto his knees, and bowed, tears fully streaming down his face at this point. He could hear Irene’s slight gasp, the cameras whirring as they focused and centered on him. “To Willow’s family– you raised a strong, smart girl, and I’m so sorry her life was ended so quickly. She was doing something good for me, for us, and she lost her life, and I will be forever in your debt. To her family, to Willow, I’m so sorry.” He said, aware that his tears had yet to abate. He pulled himself back up to his kneeling position, eyes focused intently on the lens of the camera, moisture slipping down his features. “I ask for your help. I ask that you help me find Jonathan Baldwin and hold him accountable for the murder of an innocent teenage girl, and for the abduction and abuse of the love of my life.” He said, his voice surprisingly steady. He knew the photo he had given the director would have been put up, Jona
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 30: faraway . At first, it was like a warmth. A gentle warmth that caressed the nape of her neck, traveling up to her head. But as the temperature around her neck grew, so did her awareness–and the warmth was nothing more than her brain trying to convince her that there was no pain. She groaned as she was jostled, head hanging over something, and she swore she heard a little ‘shh’. She couldn’t open her eyes just yet, headache fierce and mouth dry–but whatever cloudy, submerged state she was in, it seemed to be dissipating from her. She almost longed for it for a moment, given that the pain that she was experiencing was quite uncomfortable, but she hadn’t had this much lucidity in such a long time. She could hear now, not feeling like she was dunked underwater. The crunch of gravel under someone’s shoes, the quiet breathing. There was a chirp, and suddenly, Arabella was being shifted away from someone’s arms, into a container. Th
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 31: two sides of life . The police receive intelligence that a person of interest is en route to their location, and tensions rise at the checkpoint. As the suspected vehicle approaches, officers prepare for a potential encounter. With a stern hand signal, an officer instructs the driver to pull over. The driver complies, slowly coming to a halt on the side of the road.The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as the officers cautiously approach the vehicle. They exchange quick, hushed words about the situation. The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous, and the police are on high alert.With the driver's window rolled down, the officer at the driver's side cautiously asks for identification. As the driver reaches for their documents, there's a sudden, unexpected twist. In a split second, the driver seizes the opportunity and bolts from the vehicle, leaving the door ajar. The officers are taken by surprise but quickly
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 32: an end to a tormentor . Inside Gael's sprawling, luxurious home, the atmosphere was thick with anxiety. The walls adorned with awards and accolades seemed to pale in comparison to the dread that hung in the air. Gael, the charismatic superstar, sat on a plush sofa, his face etched with concern that seemed almost out of place in his glamorous surroundings. Beside him stood Louis, his steadfast manager and friend, his usually cheerful demeanor overshadowed by the weight of the news they had just received.News of the accident had spread like wildfire, leaving Gael and Louis in a state of shock. They had been trying to contact Faye since they heard about the accident, but the unanswered calls only deepened their unease. The television in the background played reports of the collision, and the pictures of the accident scene sent shivers down their spines. Faye's house lay along the route she should have taken that fateful evenin
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 33: all over? . In the dimly lit and hushed confines of the police station, the superintendent, a seasoned officer known for his relentless pursuit of justice, was locked in a deep conversation with the chief of police. Their faces bore the weight of the challenge before them, a formidable obstacle in the form of Jonathan Baldwin, a man shielded by money and power. Their duty was clear, but the path to apprehending Jonathan seemed obscured by his influential connections.The superintendent leaned forward, his voice a low and determined rumble. "We need a breakthrough, something that can pierce through the veil of wealth protecting Jonathan."As they deliberated on strategies and potential leads, the room was suddenly disrupted by the entrance of a police officer, who bore an expression of urgency. The superintendent and the chief of police turned their attention toward the newcomer, their curiosity piqued.The officer spoke with a
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 34: words unsaid . In the softly lit hospital room, Gael sat by Arabella's bedside, holding her hand in a tender and reassuring grip. Her face, still marked by the traces of the ordeals she had endured, bore an expression of both fragility and strength. They were both aware of the unspoken emotions that lingered between them, the words they had yet to share.As Gael began to speak, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and joy, he whispered words of comfort and affection. “Arabella, everyone missed you so much. We've all been waiting for you to come back to us."Arabella met Gael's gaze, her eyes brimming with emotion, her voice soft and grateful. "I missed you too, Gael. I missed my baby tiger. I've missed everyone."Their moment of reunion was interrupted by the hurried arrival of Louis, whose face was flushed with excitement and the weight of the news he carried. He paused at the door, a mixture of concern and joy evident i
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 35: family wins again . In the warm and inviting sitting room of their home, a sense of anticipation hung in the air, along with an air of quiet excitement. Arabella sat on the couch, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of joy and longing. She had been waiting for this moment, a moment that had felt like an eternity.Hudson, the precious five-year-old boy, was led into the room by Gael. His small voice, filled with curiosity and a touch of apprehension, rang out, "Daddy, what's going on?"Gael, his heart swelling with emotion, knelt down in front of his young son, his eyes tender and full of affection. "Hey there, champ. I have a surprise for you."With a sense of ceremony, Gael gently removed the blindfold that had obscured Hudson's vision. As the world came into focus, Hudson blinked in surprise, trying to make sense of the surroundings. And then, he saw her.Arabella, his beloved momma, stretched out her arms, her voice trembling
. Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 36: . *MONTHS LATER*It was May 21st, a Tuesday, Hudson’s last day at school, the day Arabella and Gael and Hudson all moved in together again in a new home. They found a place close to Gael’s work and in a good school district for Hudson. Thankfully, the school was only a ten minute drive down the road as well. But it was Tuesday and Arabella was holding Whiskers as Gael unpacked another box of books. Arabella has interested in a lot of books lately. Gael didn’t mind it at all. The alpha had gone out and bought a new shelving unit for her. “I just want you to be happy here, Bella.” She felt weird. She was standing there, the wood flooring cool on her bare feet. The kitchen flows out into the living and dining, all fairly sized. There’s the couch and dining table as well as Gael’s desk in there. They bought an actual desk chair for Gael, Arabella scolding him for his posture. The book shelves sat on either side of the tv, on