As Jason entered the study, the first thing he searched for were cameras. He checked all the corners of the walls but didn’t find any, which relieved him of some of the tension he felt.His initial plan was to confront Miriam face-to-face about the issue and what her true intentions were, but now that she was not home, he figured that the next best thing would be to check the study for anything that could lead him to the answers that he was looking for.The space in the study was more expensive than he had thought it would be. From the ceiling hung an ornate chandelier. On the walls, there were mahogany bookshelves and bookcases that were filled with leather-bound tomes and a wide range of books, antiques, and artifacts.There was a big oak desk in the centre of the room, with papers and files sprawled all over it. Right behind the desk was a chair with velvet cushioning.Jason started his inspection with the bookcases and shelves. He scanned through them, making sure to put whatever
“What are you doing here?” Hannah shrieked, “You’re not supposed to be in here, sir.”"Hannah, what’s that? What’s going on?” he heard Miriam say, followed by the sound of her heels against the floor as she walked to the study.Thinking fast, Jason pressed his finger to his lips, signalling for Hannah to be quiet. He took a book from the shelf and opened it, pretending to be immersed in it."Hannah, have you gone deaf? I asked you a question." Miriam snarled as she reached the door of the study. Her gaze darted inside the study, where she saw Jason standing and looking into a book. “Can you tell me why you’re in my private study?” Miriam said, her voice cold.Closing the book, Jason looked up at Miriam and said, “I’m sorry. I was so bored, so I looked around the house and saw the study. The door wasn’t locked, so I assumed that I could come in.” Jason said his tone was calm, a sharp contrast to the rapid beating of his heart.Miriam’s eyes narrowed slightly, her brows furrowing in sus
Jason paced back and forth in his room, his phone pressed against his ear as he gave Reuben specific instructions. “Make sure the file is ready to be sent as soon as I give the signal,” he directed, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation.“You’ve got it," Reuben responded“And make sure my special guest gets here on time.”“The car is en route as we speak.” “Good, things need to go just as planned.”“As you wish." Reuben said, “Good luck, James Bond,” he added. Jason rolled his eyes and stuffed the phone in the pocket of the elegant suit. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he grimaced at the suit and what it represented. The day of the wedding had come. He peered through the window and saw the chairs arranged outside, along with the little altar. He breathed a sigh before stepping out of the room.As he walked through the hallway, he heard Miriam’s voice through the closed door of her room: “I promised you, didn’t I?" It’ll get done, damn it!” she yelled.It see
Rose’s appearance set off a metaphorical bomb in the room. “No, it can't be you,” Miriam said, her voice barely above a whisper.They all stared at her like she was a ghost that manifested in front of them. No one moved; it was as if they feared that if they moved, Rose would disappear.“I don't believe it... Is it really you?” Rachel voiced out.Rose nodded. “Believe it, it's me, sister.” She smiled at her sister.Rachel couldn't control herself anymore; she rushed to Rose and hugged her tightly. “It's really you... You're here; you're really here.”“Aunty!” Camila finally found her voice, and she joined the embrace, hugging both her mother and her aunt.Biting back tears, Rose embraced them back, saying, “I'm sorry I ran away, but I'm back now.” she said.She released herself from their embrace and then walked over to Amelia. ''Baby,” she said as he placed a gentle hand on her cheek, her voice shaky. “I'm back, and I'm never leaving again, I swear." She hugged Amelia, and Amelia me
"Aaaaah,” the women let out gut wrenching screams as Miriam's limp body fell to the ground in a pool of her own blood.One of the officers crouched down to check Miriam’s pulse. “She has a pulse; she's still alive.” The officer said, “Get medical assistance here now!” The officer barked into his radio.Amelia clung to Jason like a little girl, her tears staining his suit jacket as she sobbed into it. “She..she…” She tried to form a sentence, but she choked on the words."Oh, my love,” Rose said with tears streaming down her face as she comfortingly stroked Amelia’s arm.Rachel and Camila were also a sobbing mess, holding each other for support as they cried.The paramedics arrived at the scene swiftly, pushing through the crowd of officers and family members to reach Miriam. They knelt beside her, working quickly to stabilise her condition.Jason stood in shock, watching them carry her away as he absentmindedly stroked Amelia’s shoulder. He did not expect things to end this way. He wa
It had been a day since Miriam passed away.Immediately after she died, Jason, Amelia, Camila, Rachel, and Rose were brought in for questioning.They gave the police all the details, and Jason and Amelia chose not to press charges against Rachel and Camila, provided that they sought professional mental help.During Jason’s questioning, he insisted that the police look into Miriam’s partner. He told them about her study and every other detail he could remember about her having an accomplice. The police promised they would look into it, but they also encouraged him to calm down and told him that the threats were over, but Jason was not convinced in the slightest. He was sure that whoever Miriam was working with would come to finish whatever plan they had.He kept replaying her final moments in his head and wondering what she was trying to tell him.The police were also of the opinion that Miriam was the one who organized the shootout, but Jason was not convinced of that either.He was
As Jason drove to the hospital, his mind was full of anticipation. He was incessantly tapping his feet as he drove. Out of all the things that bothered him, Lana's paternity was the most sensitive.Even though he didn’t plan to be a father at this time of his life, a part of him hoped that he was her father, and he didn’t know why. When he held her in his arms, he felt so warm, and she fit perfectly in them like she was made to be there.They finally arrived at the hospital, and Jason saw that Diana’s car was already parked in the parking lot. As he got out of the car, he felt the anxiety rise inside him. “Are you sure you’re okay waiting in the car?” he asked Reuben.“Yeah, this is an intimate moment for you two,” Reuben replied.Jason shut the door and dialled Diana’s number as he walked to the entrance so he could find out where she was, but he heard her phone ring from the distance. His eyes darted around till they landed on her figure; she was standing at the entrance of the hos
Back at the apartment, Jason ran into Amelia in the lobby. She was wheeling a rolling suitcase and had another luggage bag in her other hand.She greeted Jason, "Hi.” Jason replied, “Hi. How are you?”Amelia’s lips curled into a small smile that did not reach her eyes. “I'm trying to be okay. I'm going to my hometown for Miriam’s funeral.”“Have a nice trip." Jason’s tone was soft and genuine.There was something different to him about Amelia. Maybe it was the fact that now she wasn't being pressured to marry him, so unlike before, she didn't give him big awkward smiles or try so hard to win his affection. She could just be herself around him now, and Jason liked that much more.“Thank you,” Amelia said.“Honey, wait for me!” Rose called out from the end of the lobby.“Hurry up, Mom; the taxi is waiting for us,” Amelia said. Soon Rose was by her side, saying, “Sorry for taking so long." Her eyes darted to Jason. "Hello, Jason.”"Hi, Miss Marren,” Jason greeted.Rose took Jason’s han