Chapter 1
Colin's phone pinged. He had a message, who would send a message this late?
"Could you come over to the room? It's pretty urgent" the message read.
It was from Catherine, she was his wife, Marissa’s sister.
He hurriedly rushed to the other part of the house where her house was located without as much second thought.
"Catherine? Cate? Are you in there? Please open the door" Colin called out when he heard no answer.
Colin was troubled, he wondered what could have gone wrong that was so urgent.
And to think he had left their room in a hurry without telling Mary first.
He had a lot of explaining to do knowing how his wife was.
He had moved into her family's home after they had gotten wedded as the family would have it no other way.
It was either he agreed to move in with them or risk losing Marissa.
He had chosen the former as he is so in love with Marissa.
Not that they had treated him any better than a servant.
He endured it all for Mary. She was the only reason he was here.
Despite the plots to throw him out, he had overcome every last one of them.
"Catherine!" He called only this time his voice a little louder.
"Shush!" Catherine warned placing her hands on her lips as she opened the door.
"What? What is going on?" A confused Colin had asked
"Do not shout, just come in" Catherine whispered
Something was not right, he could feel it.
"Cate? Did you get into some kind of trouble?" Colin inquired
Not like Catherine would seek his help when she got into any kind of trouble
"Just come in already, would you?" She persisted
"No. Not until you tell me why you called me out of my room at this ungodly hour. You said it was urgent" Colin countered
"Well, if you insist. It's about your wife, my sister Marissa" Catherine blurted out
"Yes, what about her?" Colin asked, becoming more interested in whatever it was she had to say.
He was very sensitive to matters that concerned Marissa.
A weakness of his he sounds difficult to put under control.
"You don't expect me to discuss that outside, do you? My mom or anyone could see us and we would be in a lot of trouble" Catherine reasoned
"Yeah, you're right. Can I come in?" Colin inquired
"Yes, sure" Cate answered opening the door wide
As Colin stepped in, Catherine wrapped her hands around his neck.
"Cate? Are you alright? What is this?" Colin asked, dumbfounded
"I need your help, we need your help. Mary's in big trouble" Cate explained
"Tell me, what is it? I can not help if I don't know what it is" Colin says, confused
"Of course. Promise you'd help her" Cate continued
"I promise" Colin assured. Of course he would do anything for Marissa. Marissa meant the world to him.
"Help! Help me!" Cate screamed this time her voice louder, confusing Colin.
"Stop screaming, Cate. You will wake the whole house. Tell me already what it is" Colin says in a whisper
"Help!" She continued and the door was pushed open.
Colin had turned to find her cousins had quickly rushed in and toward his direction.
He was still trying to make sense of the situation when he was pushed to the ground, kicks, and hits coming from every direction and landing on various parts of his body.
Colon's wincing in pain and screaming did not deter them from continuing their attacks.
"You bastard" one said
"Son of a bitch" another cursed
"We take you in and this how you repay us?" Someone chipped in
"You aren’t even worth our cousin, Marissa"
"Wonder what she saw in you in the first place"
And on and on, it continued.
Colin wasn’t even concerned about that, he was more worried about the bruises they had inflicted on him.
Colon struggled to stand to his feet.
His mother-in-law walked in admits the chaos
"What is going on here?" She asked, directing the question to everyone in the room
"It's Colin" Cate cried
"Of course, I can see the bastard. What happened?" She inquired
"I was sleeping when he came. He knocked over and over again and I was afraid to open but he said it was urgent, so I had no choice. I had let him in and he tried to force himself on me. I had to scream and thank God for the timely intervention of my cousins, or I would have been gone" Cate finished, still crying
"You lying bitch!" Colin yelled, unable to control himself this time, wincing in pain and trying to process how Cate came up with that story in a matter of minutes.
"How dare you call my daughter a liar? How dare you!" His mother-in-law queried, vexed that Colin would refer to Cate as a liar.
Her cousins took offense at his words and only hit him more
"I took you in just the way you are. I raised you, fed you, and you betrayed me by going behind my back and getting to fall in love with my daughter. I let that pass and let you move in with us. And as if that wasn't enough, you try to rape another of my daughters? Is Marissa not enough for you?" She continued
"You are an ingrate, a liar, and one who would never be satisfied. I should have known, a dog will always remain a dog" She finished
"Ma'am, I would never do a thing like that. Check my phone, she sent me a message asking me to come. I am not tagging her a liar, but all she said isn't exactly the truth" Colin tries explaining, almost tearful.
One of the cousins had picked up the phone and tossed it at him, saying,
"Show us the message." He ordered
"Can't seem to find it, eh?" He jeered after waiting a few minutes for Colin to show them the message and he didn’t.
"I thought you had proof" another mocked.
"I swear, the message was right there when I walked in. You guys are trying to set me up, I know you guys have never liked me..." Colin stammered before being interrupted by his mother-in-law
"No one would believe you, now, would they? It is your word against ours. You have no proof, no witness. Catherine on the other hand has us. So, what is it going to be?" She asked and Colin was confused
"So, this was indeed a trap," Colin said to no one in particular, analyzing the events of the evening and understanding all that had led to this.
From Cate's message to lying to him that Marissa needed help, hugging him and now, this. Colin could only nod his head in understanding.
"Before you say anything, photos were already taken of you holding me. I have more than enough to put you away for life" Catherine had warned, pointing a finger to his face.
"What do you all want from me?" A frustrated but angry Colin had asked
"We either have this all over the news media with your face in every corner of the city, labeling you a monster or we could take the easy route" She offered
"Is there ever an easy route with you?" An enraged Colin had asked
"You could divorce Mary" The mother-in-law finished
"I would never leave Mary, I would never do that" Colin objected
"Why don't you ever want my happiness? Would you rather I die?" Colin inquired turning to each and everyone one of them
"That would be a start," Catherine said, smiling evilly
"Look at me, look at me. Look what I have been reduced to, all thanks to your family's mischievous ways and controlling scheme. I lost all my friends, and everybody around me no longer regards me as a man" Colin yells
"How can you not see that this is true love and that I would do anything for Mary?" Colin blurted out
"Then do this for her. Safe her from the torture of being labeled as the wife of a rapist. This would ruin her reputation and what she stands for. You should know more than anyone what that would do to her" She advised
"You have 24 hours" the mother-in-law finished walking out and beckoned to the rest to leave him alone.
Chapter 2"What do you want from me?" Colon yelled, to no one in particular. This was all a plan, a very good one at that to get him to divorce Marissa. If he agreed to the divorce, he would give them what they have always longed for: him being out of their lives. If he didn't, he would be risking his image and the reputation of his wife, something Marissa would not want. He was left in a dilemma, perhaps dilemma was an understatement for what this was. It wasn't always like this. No, it wasn't this way 3 years ago. Three years ago, Colin was someone they had wanted. He had gotten married to Marissa then, all thanks to the old lord of the house. He was a great man of honor and respect and treated him as such. Perhaps, they only endured so much because he was here at the time. Just a few months after he had died, Colin noticed a change. They no longer served him food, he was made to perform domestic chores. Hell, they became so bent on getting him to divorce Marissa. Only
Chapter 3 Colin was left speechless, if anyone had told him Marissa would betray him like this, he wouldn't have believed it. For three years, she had stuck with her, come rain or sunshine. Despite his love not being reciprocated, he never looked at another woman. Yet, this is what he got in return. She said she wasn't ready to have or be intimate with him, so he waited. Patiently, he waited for when she would be ready and come to him. Today, he sees her in the arms of another man, a stranger. He fights the thought in his head. The one of her being in bed with another but him.The thought of her moaning to someone else's touch but not him. How could he live like this? Like a fool, one with no direction or purpose. For three years, he was their puppet and did all the dirty work they dared not do. He did every last thing they had asked him to do yet, it wasn't enough. They wouldn't even let him go find a job and work like everyone else. They had insisted he stayed home and
Chapter 4 "Are you denying these allegations?" The judge had asked "Yes, I am" Colin answered, almost in a whisper "Then we have no option than giving you a weightier punishment" the judge had declared."A weightier punishment? Why?" Colin had asked, already knowing the answer. He should have known better, that he was fighting a lost cause and his would be no different. "You know why. You have refused to admit your crimes to reduce your sentence" one of the members of the families gathered had said "There was no crime in the first place, this is all a setup" Colin had objected "Do you have any proof?" Catherine had asked and Colin went silent. There was no way he could prove what he had just said. The text message she had sent to him, the cousins had made sure to delete. There were photos of him holding her inappropriately. They had too many thongs to prove that he did what he did. Any judge in a court of law would readily accept the evidence before him. It would be fooli
Chapter 5 So much for trust and love, Colin thought and gave a wry smile. Just then, when he was about to go see what to do with his life, his phone rang."Why would anyone be calling at this time?" Colin wondered and decides to not pick up the call. The phone rang another 2 to 3 times and Colin finally decides to answer, perhaps it could be important. He feared it could be one of the Williams calling to further humiliate him. Or give him a piece of their tongue, something he was tired of listening to. He had heard enough to last him for a lifetime. "Hello" the caller had said at the other end "Yes, hello" Colin had answered, he had immediately recognized the caller and it was not who he had feared. The voice was one of an elderly man, probably in his late fifties or middle sixties. "I just saw the news" he started "Of course you did, so much I had to take" Colin answered, his voice sad. Besides, he already knew what the caller would say next, talk about Marissa. "I warne
Chapter 6"You have three months to do whatever it is you have to do. After the three months, I am not sure there is anything I can do to convince your father anymore" The housekeeper finished, sighing."Three months is more than enough time for me to get my revenge" A smiling Colin had said, he knew his plans were starting to come to life"One more thing though, activate my deactivated accounts" Colin ordered "All of it?" The housekeeper asked in surprise"No, just one of it""It is done, I'll send you your card and bank details right away, be careful" The housekeeper advised "Will do, thank you. How much do I have in this account you just activated?" Colin inquired"About 300 million?" The housekeeper responded proudly, he knew he was going to get in trouble if Colin's father found out, but ig was worth the risk"That should do, thank you" Colin replied joyfully"I'll be waiting for when you are done then" "I will keep you updated" Colin promises. Taking one last look at the Wi
Chapter 7"Call a member of this family in charge of the hotel and ask about it," he says "Yes, that I can do" Marissa agrees. Marissa takes out her phone quickly and dials a number. "Yes, did we not judge to your satisfaction?" The voice had asked when he answered the phone"No, you did too well. However, it is not why I had called" Marissa says "What is it then?" He inquires"It is about Colin" Marissa starts"Him again? Didn't you say there is no problem?" He asks confused"I did but this is about you" Marissa blurts out"I'm listening" Marisa could hear him take in deep breaths from the other end of the phone"Did you not promise to keep him out of play and without a job?" Marissa asks"Of course and I intend to keep it" He answers sharply"Looks like you are not" Marissa objects"What do you mean?" His voice twitches "It looks like Colin might likely have been offered a job in your hotel" Marissa explains in a haste, she wanted to make sure Colin's life was miserable"That i
Chapter 8 "How did you even find me?" An angry Colin had asked "My family owns the hotel, dumbo" he finally spoke up."How did you even get in here in the first place looking like that?" He had asked, pointing to Colin's ragged clothes "It's one of the things money can do for you" colin answers smiling "You mean to tell me that all the money you spent here is yours?"he asked sarcastically , his eyes looking at colin from his legs till his head as way of mockery"Of course, who else's would it be?" Colin folded his arma "You lying son of a bitch!" Marissa cursed "Marissa, tell me, why would I lie about something like that?" Colin raises an eyebrow "For three years you stayed in my home with no job, three years" Marissa explains"Okay?" Colin urges her to explain herself "There is no other way you would have been able to afford this but my stealing my family's money" Marissa explains "So you are trying to say that I have only used the last three years to steal from your fami
Chapter 9 "You are something. Why would two of the top families in the city lie against a nobody like you?" The cop inquired "He is a sore loser" The hotel owner had added and Colin was taken away to a waiting vehicle."He almost had me there" Marissa admitted, sighing "Me too" The hotel owner had added And all three of them together laughed and joked about the call, with Marissa trying to mimic the phone call that he had made. "He is something, isn't he?" Marissa says "Tell me again, how did you find this guy?" Marissa's new lover had asked "You ask me how, and I don't know how" Marissa says "Now that I think about it, I believe something must have been wrong with me" Marissa admits "Well, I am glad that you got out of it" Her new lover says in a low laugh"Yes, I am glad too" Marissa agrees "I don't think this is the time to be sad, it is to be happy. You two just go home and enjoy yourselves as a couple, you deserve it" The hotel owner had said dusting his clothes
136 At the station, both Axel and Martin were locked up in a cell while Shawn, Eric and Jenny sat with the detective, giving evidences of all what they've done."I think there is one more person that needs to be arrested" Eric said"Who?" Shawn asked"Jackson Dream. I think he works with them too" Eric replied "About that..." The detective meddled "Our boys are on our way to get him""Really?" Shawn blinked in surprise "does he really work for them?""Yeah. You remember the doctor who died in our cell, right?""Yeah" Shawn nodded "Turns out he was actually the one who came in and strangled her""Ugh? How is that possible, what in the world were your boys doing?" Eric scoffed in disbelief"He paid the lieutenant in charge a handsome amount and also paid the security in charge of the CCTV so the footage was deleted" the detective explained, looking kind of disappointed that his fellow officers joined hands with a criminal to kill a human who they should protecting"That's just so bad
135"Where in the world are we going?" Shawn asked as he was not aware of where Eric has been driving him to for the past 30 minutes."Somewhere important" Eric replied, paying good attention to all the houses around"Can you at least tell me the important place? I don't think it's okay for me to just appear somewhere without being prepared" Shawn got even more curious "Don't tell me you are taking me to Axel, are you working for him too?" He gasped"That's offensive" Eric clicked his tongue "Fine. I am trying to look for someone who knows Axel well""Someone who knows Axel? I don't think someone like that exist, he is so sly and pretentious so much that he deserves an Oscar. Why are we wasting our time searching for someone when we should....." Before Shawn would complete his sentence, Eric stopped the car in front of a bungalow"We are here" he mouthed as he made signal for Shawn to alight."What is this place?" Shawn couldn't stop staring as he came out of the carThere was nothing
134"Babe, your stomach is getting big" Colin smiled while taking a look at Marissa's tummyOf course it was getting big, the pregnancy has been months now"I know right? I can't wait for pumpkin to come out" Marissa smiled back, slicing an apple for it to be easier for Colin to eatDue to the punch, his jaw hurts so it's hard for him to take a bite from the apple himself."You should really take a rest, I am okay""Says someone who can't drink a cup of water by himself""That is because my hands are in bandage""Because you broke them while fighting" Marissa nagged "Next time, don't even think of doing something like that, if you do I will kill you myself""You are being cold to someone who is hurt" Colin pouted "What should we name our pumpkin?""Why don't you think about recovering first" Marissa clicked her tongue "I am really fine" he emphasized "Should we name our pumpkin, Annabelle? Ella? Because she will be a pretty princess""How are you so sure it will be a girl?" Marissa s
133Marissa couldn't stop crying as she sat in the waiting room at the hospital with Shawn and Emerald who were trying all their best to console herColin's last words before the Ambulance finally arrived was stuck in her head, she felt like he was really saying his last words.What If he doesn't survive?What if he really pass away?It was hard to predict what would happen to him.But she was desperately hoping he would be okay so they can spend more time together.Ever since they got back together, they haven't been able to spend time together because they have been busy trying to catch a criminal who was right under their nose.That made her even more furious as more tears rolled down her cheek.She doesn't care anymoreShe would do all her best to catch Axel and make sure he pays for everything he has done."I am sure Colin will be okay, to be honest I am surprised he is still alive" Shawn said, leaning on the wall"How can you say that?" Emerald snapped "You are not helping""I a
132Colin laid on the floor, holding his groins in pain.He couldn't not throw a punch but on the other hand, Axel was not in any way lacking, he kept throwing punches without minding how much pain his opponent was.Colin's nose had been bleeding for the past 30 minutes when Axel had punched him so hard, breaking his nostrils.He was in so much pain but had no other option than to get up and keep fighting"Axel, please stop this" Marissa whimperedShe hated herself for not being able to do anything while the person she loves is suffering.She couldn't help but think this was all happening because of her, if only she wasn't kidnapped by her crazy cousin then she wouldn't have to watch Colin groaning in so much pain."Why are you telling me to stop?" Axel scoffed as he took a quick break to drink a gulp of water "At this rate, you are going to kill him" Marissa sniffed back her tears "Please.... I am begging you, just stop""You are so annoying" Axel dropped the bottle of water and wip
131Marissa kept struggling to untie herself from where she has been tied to in a place she has no idea of.On her way to the airport, a car just suddenly hit theirs but even though it wasn't fatal or ghastly, she had no idea how the young bodyguard Colin had ordered to escort her to the airport just stopped breathing.She was so scared, trembling, she opened the door of the car and made attempt to leave but was dragged and blindfolded by an unknown person.But there was no doubt the person behind this all was AxelHe really needs a serious beating.While struggling to untie herself, she heard footsteps approaching which made her stopJust how close was she with Axel?They were so close that she could recognize him just by hearing his footsteps "Do you mind removing this blindfold? I already know it's you" She said"Alright then" Axel scoffed and removed the blindfold just like she wanted "I am sorry they brought you here in this manner, I told them to bring you safely because of you
130While preparing to leave for Islighton, Marissa was almost all dressed upHer stomach was slowly starting to get big so she put on a comfortable dress, her hair was all done and she was done with her make upYeah, Axel is currently being a jerk but that won't still stop her from looking good for her dear.Her eyes moved to her shoe rack, trying to check out a heel which would be great with her dress but then she noticed some of her foot wears were missingAnd they were mostly heelsThere is only one person who is so obsessed with heels and that is Catherine.She sighed, trying to hold in her anger as she walked out of her roomOn her way to Catherine's room, Mrs Williams came out of her room which was just in between the two sisters room, all dressed for work."Marissa, I am sorry I won't be eating breakfast with you guys, I have......""It's fine" Marissa interrupted.This isn't Mrs Williams first time of skipping breakfast so why was she suddenly making up an excuse?After the i
129Shawn was so stressed out in his room, he kept dialing Jenny's number but one minute she wouldn't answer the call, the next minute her phone would be turned off.It's been a day now and she isn't back home.Her parents are not really bothered about her not being at home since she do that a lot of timeMany times she stay over at Colin's houseBut they were frustrated about her not being at home.It was quite a lot of work for them as no one could sleep the whole nightMr Rodman had gone to the nearest station to report a missing daughter even though Shawn persuaded them so many times not to do it."Do you know where the hell she is?"Is the question they kept asking him anytime he does that so he just had to let them be.He couldn't tell them she was captured by her own so called boyfriend because if he did, Shawn knew his father would be so eager to go there.Capturing Jenny is already a pain in the neck and now he wouldn't want his father to be captured to.He pick up his phone
128Marissa sat in her room with a puzzled lookShe knew Axel used to be her favourite cousin and all but now he is now in a position he can no longer be trusted.But her mother is not someone she can trust either.She didn't know who to believe exactlyWhy would Axel be her brother?And why would her mother lie about that?She hesitated a lot before giving it a thought to go to her mom's room.Without knocking, she barged in and met her mom working on her laptop"Why are you here? I am busy, I can't talk right now""But I have a lot to ask you" Marissa replied coldly."We can just talk about it later""I said I wanna talk!" Marissa blurted out and furiously turned off the laptop"What in the world do you think you are doing?! I was so damn busy!" Mrs Williams yelled back her "I said we can talk later!""I need to know the truth about Axel, who is that guy for real?""What do you mean who is that guy? He is your cousin obviously""Mom!""What?! What in the world do you want me to say?