Chapter 44… A Different Environment"Y-you have to kno-" she began but couldn't complete her words as she slumped into the table.Damien reached out to her in a haste, scared that she was harmed. He only breathed out when he felt her heart rate and heard her snoring."Is she okay, sir?" Andy asked, shaking at the side.Damien nodded.He pulled out his wallet and fetched some money, not minding how much it was and placed on the table before Andy."That should be enough" Andy nodded, still not convinced that Eleanor was alive."She's alive, right?" He asked again.Damien chuckled. He grabbed Andy's index finger and place it on Eleanor's pulse to feel her pulse. "Felt it?"Andy nodded and breathed in relief. Damien picked Eleanor up bridal style and turned to Andy."I'll take her home. Could you help me with her bag?"Andy nodded and grabbed the bag before following Damien up to his car."I'm sure her car is here somewhere, what would be done about it?" Andy asked.Damien placed Eleano
CHAPTER 45… COINCIDENCES?She asked, not knowing which to ask first. Was it who he was or where he was all this time?Somehow, she had always known that she was not just looking for him for the sake of the kids and right now, the tugs in her chest seemed to be confirming it"I know you have a lot of questions," Damien said calmly, his expression turning calm, placid and plain. "I do too. But, before that, I would like to invite you for breakfast."Eleanor opened her mouth to refuse but Damien beat her to eat."Don't worry, this is my home and I can assure you that you are safe. We can discuss and I'll answer every of your questions over breakfast. Also, you get to tell me about the kids… my kids… our kids"Eleanor froze in shock. He already knew of the kids?How did he know?Who informed him?She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded. It might just help that he already knew.Damien smiled. He showed her to the bathroom where he had already prepared a pair of Beverly's clo
CHAPTER 46… HIDDEN SECRETSShould he tell her about his mother or just continue with the lie that she was dead?Damien did not know what to respond. If he told her where his mother was, would she keep it a secret until everything is done?But, with the coincidences, it seemed like she was the only one who could help them as Eleanor's mother was dead.Damien sighed.Seems like he would have to take the risk and tell her."Can I trust you with a secret?" Damien asked, looking into her eyes. Eleanor nodded."Are you sure? It is a secret I have kept for years and not ready to share with the world." Damien asked again, wanting to be sure."I swear on my kids" Eleanor replied. She loved her kids and would do anything to keep them safe. So, they were her only oath taking materials.Damien nodded.He sighed and told Eleanor a few things before they left the villa.*****Damien parked the car where he usually did and came out. Eleanor came out from the other side, confused as to what they wer
CHAPTER 47… ANSWERS"By the time she reached her delivery date, Alexander was nowhere to be found. He had gone out with one of his mistresses to flirt. Zera was a strong woman. She called me and I rushed to the Andersons' Villa to get Sophie and Zara. Together, we went to the McKinley manor and brought her to the hospital. I was the only one who knew that she was having twins."When she gave birth to the first child, she named her and begged me to take her away. She told me to take her to Antonio and tell him that she died while giving birth. It was a hard thing to do but, I already promised her. And just like that, you were separated from you twin at birth."When she gave birth to you and named you, she fell unconscious. By the time she woke up, you were in my arms, craddling close to my son, Damien. I loved you just like I loved your mother. She never wanted to tell you this and I promised not to. But, today, I have broken that promise because it has been a weight around my neck." M
CHAPTER 49… SCORES "Child, you need to calm down." Zara whispered, trying in a futile bid to calm her raging niece. "Take it easy."Eleanor scoffed.She turned to Zara and sniffled back a tear."You knew, aunty." She turned to Sophie and flared her nostrils. "You all did! Yet, none of you moved a fucking finger. Why?" She asked."How can you all be so heartless and emotionless!?" She yelled."We could not do anything, Eleanor." Sophie cried out. "Believe me, our hands were tied."Eleanor took a step and knelt before the old woman. Her tears were flowing down without any restrictions."Grandma, she was your daughter! Your own blood. Yet, you watched her die!" Eleanor whispered through gritted teeth. She looked at Zara and scoffed. "She was your sister, your half."Steeling her emotions, she stood up and wiped her tears with the back of her palms. Pulling out her mother's journal from her pants pockets, she handed it to Zara."I think you should read this." She said and turned to leave
CHAPTER 50… DIFFERENT EMOTIONS The McKinley Manor…"I have told you countless times not to spoil that girl but you never listen!" Elaine could no longer keep herself calm. How long have they been searching for Penny, all to no avail. It has been weeks over weeks since she left the house with no traces to track her down. It seemed like she was no longer in New York City and everything done to find her failed woefully.The neighbors had started asking about her and even if they have been feeding them with lies about her being in school, they knew the neighbors did not believe them.Plus, the Huttons were threatening to call off the alliance between their son and Penny. An alliance that would bring them well over three hundred million dollars and lots of collaborations that would help them establish Red Empire was about to go down the drain because of their daughter's nonsensical attitude."Alexander! Did you see how I had to drop my pride and stoop so low as to go on my knees to beg M
CHAPTER 51… SOMETHING FORGOTTEN .*.*.*.*.*.The next morning, Eleanor drove to Damien's address. She had gone to get her car from the bar before coming down here.When she reached the house, she suddenly realized that she did not know if he was home or not as she did not have his number to call him.Eleanor pondered for a while before leaving honking loudly. The gatekeeper, a stout man with a very long beard, poked his head to check who it was.Eleanor poked her head out of the car's window and told the gatekeeper the purpose of her visit.The man informed her that his boss had not returned from his Saturday morning run, but that she could wait for him. Eleanor agreed so he opened the gate and let her in.After parking and coming out, Eleanor was led into the main house where the butler served her a warm cup of coffee.As she slipped the coffee and continued scrolling through her phone, Eleanor did not miss the torturous eyes of the butler that were glued on her. She did not feel com
CHAPTER 52… MOTHER-DAUGTHER "What was that?" Eleanor asked.She did not recall looking for something after that night.Damien raised his right hand and pulled the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing to reveal his wrist. On it, was a small bracelet with a love shape hanging on it.Eleanor gasped when she saw it."My bracelet!" She cried out, leaving the couch and going to where he was seated. She touched the love shaped object in it and met Damien's gaze."I searched every where for this." She said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mother gave this to me two days before she passed on. It was supposed to be my lucky charm to keep me safe at all times."Damien did not expect that the small bracelet would mean so much to her. Initially, when the cleaner had given it to him, he had thought it getting rid of it. But then, he recalled that he had seen it on her wrist when she was drinking from the cup of water. So, he decided that he would keep it on him. And true to his words, since the day