CHAPTER FORTY ~NORA~I was still panicking, as my eyes were fixed on the phone that was ringing in front of me. I didn't know what to do, or the next step to take. "Mom, your phone is ringing, " Aria informed me. I turned to her with a smile and picked up the phone from the table. "Who is calling you so desperately, so early in the morning?" Aria asked me. It was then it dawned on me that I had missed the first call and the phone was ringing for the second time. I ignored her and made to leave with my phone, but Ethan held my hand, so I stopped moving against my wish. "What do you want?" I asked. It was difficult for me to hold in Al my anger, but I tried my best to do so. Ethan was a pain in my neck, I wouldn't lie. I swallowed I'm my anger and remained still as my phone continued to ring. "Who is calling you so desperately? Isn't it too early?" He asked me. "Why does that have to be your problem? Do I go around monitoring who calls you and who doesn't?" I fired at him. "Y
CHAPTER FOURTH ONE~NORA~I got outside the building and picked a cab to the venue we had agreed to meet. I tried to stay put and not make the driver wonder the reason for my panic. Soon, he stopped me at the place I had asked him to, and I paid him before alighting from the cab. My feet and hands were wobbling so badly that I was scared that I might fall. I tried to steady my movement so I wouldn't resolve into falling against my will and wish. I found somewhere secluded to hide myself a bit by the coffee shop. I looked around for Chris, but he wasn't anywhere near. Why would it take anyone so long to just get out of his office and stroll down here? I just had a feeling that all wasn't well, and I have been trying to shove the feelings aside, ever since I walked out of the house. I felt as though something had gone wrong already. My heart was pounding in my chest as I checked her watch for the umpteenth time. Chris was late, and I was starting to get even more worried. What if som
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO_NARRATOR~"The coffee shop would be the best place to meet," Chris suggested. Nora thought about it for a while, and then she nodded. It was even closer to the office, so Chris wouldn't take too long outside, and draw suspicion and unnecessary attention to himself. The two agreed on where to meet and then ended the call. Chris placed his phone in his pocket with a deep sigh of relief. He turned around, and his heart sank as he saw Allison standing behind him, a dark look on her face. "Hello, Chris," she said, her voice cold and menacing. "We need to talk." Chris felt his knees go weak. He knew he was in trouble, and he had no idea what Allison was capable of. He followed her, his mind racing with thoughts of Nora and what might happen to her if he didn't play along.She led Chris outside the company and made him sit by her side while she took the driver's seat. Chris's heart raced the whole time. As they drove far into the wide road. A cunning smile appeared
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE~NORA~I ended the call, and a sense of satisfaction washed over me. I had done it! I had outsmarted Allison, and she hadn't even seen it coming. I couldn't help but feel a little smug about it, and I allowed myself a moment of pride. Then, the reality of the situation sets in.What if she decided to take revenge? She would want to. But I wouldn't care. I should relish in the moment and not let anything distract me for now. I heard a knock on the door. It interrupted my celebration, yet I had to attend to it. I walked towards the door knowing fully well that it was my kids, or at least one of them. Immediately I opened the door, I saw Aria standing outside the door and staring into my eyes. "What do you want honey?" I asked. I wanted her to just state her worries and leave, so I would go back to my celebration, but it didn't seem like she wanted to leave at all. She pushed the door and walked into my room. I made sure I closed the door before returning to meet
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR~AIDEN~I was sitting at my desk, my eyes glued to the computer screen, when there was a soft knock on the door. I looked up to see one of my staff members, her hands full of papers. "Mr. Aiden, I have the reports you requested," she said, her voice polite and professional. I waved her in, and she placed the papers on my desk. "Thank you," I said, and she nodded before turning to leave. But before she could get to the door, I called out to her."Hold on, Alicia!" She traced her steps back to my desk and stood in front of me with her hands, locked behind her back. I leafed through the papers, my brow furrowing as I took in the numbers. Sales were way down, and I could feel my frustration rising. I looked up at Alicia, who was watching me nervously. "What's going on?" I asked, my tone more sharp than I intended. Alicia shifted uncomfortably. "Well, it seems like our buyers are starting to lose interest in our products. They need something new and exciting. Al
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE AIDEN Ethan rushed down the stairs when he heard Nora's faint shriek before she passed out. Her kids also rushed out, and the domestic servants were not left out. The kid's nanny saw the expression on my face and the signal I gave her. Quickly rushed to the kids and carried them upstairs. I could hear Aria questioning the nanny as the three walked upstairs. "Did grumpy man hurt, Mommy? What has grumpy man done to our mom? Is she going to die?" Ethan quickly called the ambulance, and they helped us carry Nora to their car. Then, they drove off to the hospital. I and Ethan got into my smaller car, and Ethan toom the stirring as we both drove behind the ambulance. We finally got to the hospital and alighted from the car. I stood in the hospital parking lot, my mind racing. Ethan stood next to me, a worried look on his face. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Nora was rushed into the hospital in a bed and was called Rory immediately. The ambulance arrived
CHAPTER FORTY-SiX ALLISON I paced back and forth. My nerves frayed. I had been moving about the room aimlessly for the past two or three hours, and my patience was wearing thin. And then, at last, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I called out, and a maid from the Brookes' mansion entered the room. She held a piece of paper in her hand, and I knew it was what I had been waiting for.I walked forward. She walked into the room and closed the door behind her. The maid handed me the financial records, her hands trembling slightly. I took them from her, my eyes scanning the pages. But then, I looked up at her, my expression stern. "You're too late," I said, my voice cold. " Next time, be quicker. Do you understand?" The maid nodded, her eyes wide with fear. I could tell she was intimidated by me, and I felt a small sense of satisfaction."You don't have to be sluggish at all times. I hate sluggish people and do not like to work with them. Is that okay with you?" I asked her.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVENAIDEN I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the work in front of me. But it was difficult. My mind kept wandering to Nora. It had been two weeks since she had been in a coma, and I was starting to feel hopeless. And to make matters worse, sales for my company were plummeting. It wasn't getting any better. I was starting to feel like everything was falling apart.As I stared at the numbers on my computer screen, my heart sank. How was I going to turn this around? For how long was it going to continue this way?I couldn't take it anymore. I gathered my things and decided to leave work early. As I walked out of my office, I checked my wristwatch, and it was almost time for the kids to close for the day. I decided to pick the kids up from school myself.As I stepped into the office of my secretary, she saw me leaving with my briefcase in my hand and made to stand up. I knew she wanted to help with my briefcase, but I wasn't in the mood, and I didn't want to stress h