NIKAELEON***Uriel continued sobbing, her tears making it hard for her to speak.“Come on, Uri, talk to me. You said you need my help, I can’t help you when I don’t know what’s happening, what’s the problem?” I asked impatiently.“Sophia is s.sick… she needs blood… they don’t have her blood group available at the hos.spital b.blood bank. You’re the only one I know that has the same blood group Sophia has, p.please, Nik, I will do anything you ask of me, anyt.thing at all, just please, help me, save my daughter.”Uriel’s words were barely coherent. Her words were flowing fast and with her crying, I could barely understand her but I got the message… Sophia needed a blood transfusion, and at the moment, I’m the only one who can give to her if I decide to.“What hospital are you in?” I asked her.“Sans Memorial, near…”“Davy Block. I know the place, I’ll be there in less than thirty minutes, I promise.”“Okay, please hurry, thank you.” She said and disconnected the call.“What’s wrong?”
NIKAELEON***Uriel turned to face me as I asked about Connor. She seemed surprised that I would be concerned about his location.“Don’t look at me like that, I don’t actually care about him, I’m only concerned for Sophia’s sake. When she wakes up, she’ll want to see her mummy and daddy.” I said.“Connor told me you guys would be really busy at work today. He said there was a new project assigned to him so he would be home late. I’ve tried calling him but the call isn’t going through. The few times it did go through, there was no response. I just assumed he must be away from his phone since he’s working so much.” Uriel replied to me.I knew for a fact that today was Connor’s day off work for the week. He lied to Uriel that he was going to work, the problem is, why did he do that? Did he meet up with people from the Black Knights or any of my enemies, is he planning something? Or did he just lie to cover up so he could go meet his mistress?“Is there any way you can contact the office
NIKAELEON***Before I had a chance to reply to Connor’s angry question, Uriel stepped forward. I knew she was even more angry at Connor for being unavailable, than he was at my presence in the hospital. But, unlike the insensitive bastard, she didn’t yell or try to cause a scene, mindful of the fact that we were in public and there were patients close by in other rooms that didn’t need to be disturbed.“He is here because I called him, Connor.” Uriel replied to him and he turned his furious gaze on her.“You called him? Why? Is there something I’m missing here? Because I’m sure you’re not supposed to still be in contact with your ex boyfriend. How did you even get his number? How long has this been going on behind my back?”“You arrive at the hospital after being summoned because your only child is sick, and the first thing you do when you get here is to make stupid assumptions and ask unnecessary questions.” Uriel said to him.If Connor had any sense left in his brain, he would see
NIKAELEON***“Going to the hospital was a distraction from what happened today, and I know you’re not okay, but on a scale of one to ten, Aina, how are you?” I asked her after a few minutes of silence in the car.She sighed heavily and the strong facade she had been putting on because we had been in a public space seemed to crumble before my eyes. She looked weary, like the events of the day were finally catching up to her, and weighing her down.“I don’t know honestly. Like you said, going to the hospital had been a distraction, and while I do not wish anyone to be in Sophia’s position now, fighting for life, I am grateful for the reprieve from tumultuous thoughts that it gave to me. For a while, my own pain did not matter, it was overwhelmed by the pain of another, the pain of a mother afraid for her child’s life. If I’m to grade my current mood and how I feel inside, I would say five, because I’m undecided. I don’t know if I should break down and cry or if I should force myself to
NIKAELEON***“Your mind works in strange ways. Your plan is a long shot but it’s actually feasible, not far-fetched.” She said and I sighed.“But in my experience, things don’t usually go as planned. A lot of things could go wrong. They may also have an ace up their sleeves that we are not aware of and therefore cannot account for. They may try to stir up trouble for me, just to distract me when they’re relocating their base of operations in the city so I’ll be too busy fixing my own shit to come after them. We’ll have to be prepared for anything. That aside, we also have the problem of the media, they’ve been all agog since I showed up at the funeral with you.” I said to her and she sighed.“Do I even want to know what they’re speculating about us?” She asked wearily.“Just the usual I guess. I haven’t actually checked to see what they’re actually saying, but I’ve received messages from my secretary, informing me of the interview requests I’ve been receiving.”“Interviews?” She aske
NIKAELEON***I sighed and Aina turned to face me with a scowl.“We had a deal, Nik. Don’t even think of reneging on it. I’ve told you my own embarrassing experience, now tell me yours. Whatever we both say stays in this car, remember?” She said with an arched brow.I was going to tell her anyway, but I decided to tease her a little bit first.“You know, our agreement was only verbal. Verbal agreements aren’t binding. I’m not obliged to keep my end of the deal. If you want a better deal, then next time get it in writing.” I said to her with a stoic expression.“Are you kidding me? Where was I supposed to get a lawyer to draft a contract? We’re in a car in case you haven’t noticed.” She asked with a glare and my impassive expression almost faltered.I really wanted to laugh at the expression of betrayal she had on her face.“Do I look like I’m joking? Did you really think that I will keep to the terms of your little agreement? That’s hilarious.” I said to her.For several seconds, she
NIKAELEON *** “No. I had a girlfriend in high school, she was my first. Her parents were rich so they wanted her to go to college in a different country. We broke up when I graduated from high school even though she hadn’t graduated yet because I left earlier, we both knew it wouldn’t work out long distance. We weren’t in love, we just liked each other. ” I replied to her. “So, inexperience wasn’t the problem, my anxiety and maybe shame that I was basically prostituting myself was what made it impossible for me to get hard that day.” “And she spread it to the whole college, didn’t she? I wonder what awful thing she told everyone after what happened.” “She didn’t just spread it. There was a camera in her house that day to record me having sex with her so she could use it as blackmail against me. Instead she got a recording of me not even able to get it up. She decided that humiliation was a better punishment for me so she showed that video to everyone that cared to see. She didn’t
NIKAELEON***“Mr Roch, Miss Koevel, what’s the relationship between you two?”“Miss Koevel, have you been living with Mr Roch since you disappeared?”“Mr Roch, are you getting married to Miss Koevel?“Will you merge your companies?”“Miss Koevel, your step mother is charging you to court for fraud, is it true that you manipulated your father’s will?”“Miss Koevel, why did you send your step family out into the streets?”The questions were never ending as Aina and I got down from the car and walked towards the entrance of my company. There were reporters everywhere, and not just here. It had been a war to drive out of the mansion gate because there were reporters waiting there for us too, my driver very nearly hit one of them. The last thing I need this morning is a murder charge over my head added to this scandal about Aina and me. My security tried to push them all back but the damn reporters weren’t having it, they could only clear a path for us to walk through in the midst of the
EPILOGUE *** NIKAELEON * I thought I understood nervousness when I was about to get married, or fear when Aina had been held at gun point, none of that compared to the feeling of watching my child being born. Aina and I had already agreed before hand that I would be inside while she was giving birth. She needed my support because this was her first birth, and I wanted to watch , it would help me treasure her sacrifice to have our babies. Yes, babies. It seemed Sophia's prayer for a brother and sister came to pass. We found out we were having twins when we went for a late ultrasound scan. She screamed as another contraction hit her and her grip on my hand almost crushed my bones but I just stroked her hair with my other hand. "I don't think I can do this anymore." Aina sobbed and my heart broke for her. I wish I could take her pain away even if just a little bit and I hated being so helpless because at this point, there was nothing I could do for her. "Just a little bit more, Mr
NIKAELEON *** I never expected to be nervous today. It was usual to be nervous when you’re getting married, but I didn’t expect to be nervous, I expected to go through it calmly like I usually did everything in my life. Instead, I was fidgety, checking my reflection in the mirror a hundred times even though I looked perfect physically. “You look great, son. Stay still before you make a hole in the floor with your pacing.” My father chuckled as he walked into my room. “I don’t know why I’m even nervous. I was fine yesterday.” I said to him as I adjusted my tie again. “I was the same way when I married your mother. A lot of people no longer value marriage, but it’s supposed to be sacred. A lifelong vow of commitment to the one person you choose to live the rest of your life with. And you love her, you’re afraid of making a mistake and ruining what you both have.” I was about to protest and tell my father that this marriage was just an arrangement, after all, as a mafia boss, love w
NIKAELEON *** It has been weeks since Connor was arrested along with the leaders of the Black Knights. Some other lower ranked members had also been apprehended these past weeks. Connor and the leaders had already been tried in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. The others were still awaiting trial but it didn’t matter, they were just pawns, the main players were already in jail. Last I heard, Connor had been nearly paralysed and had to be hospitalised for almost two weeks. I had no sympathy for him and neither did the government, he was still sent back to prison on crutches to continue living with his assailants. My revenge on him was complete. Uriel had also been tried for illegal possession of a firearm and threatening people’s lives with it, but she hadn’t been sent to jail because I didn’t press charges to add to these ones. She was on house arrest for a year, with community service and court ordained therapy. I went to visit her occasionally so she could video call Soph
NIKAELEON***A FEW DAYS LATER*The courtroom buzzed with tension as the arguments echoed through the room, each side presenting their case for Sophia's custody. It was Manolo’s turn to speak now."Your Honor, We have substantial evidence to establish that Ms. Uriel is mentally unstable and unfit to provide a stable and nurturing environment for Sophia. We also have expert testimonies from qualified mental health professionals who have evaluated Ms. Uriel and have concluded that her mental state poses a risk to the well-being of the child."We gave the court a video clip from the security footage from the mansion showing the moment Uriel had grabbed Sophia roughly after Sophia announced that she was having a sibling. There was no sound because it was CCTV, but it was evident that Uriel was being aggressive to Sophia. That was enough to help our case.Uriel's lawyer countered with equal enthusiasm.“Your Honor, I assure you that my client is mentally sound. Those reports were taken wh
NIKAELEON***“I know what you’re going to say, Aina. You want me to release them without punishment, but I can’t do that. Yes, I know they’re in love and no one is above mistakes, I also know that this crime isn’t as bad as it would have been if he had been the traitor.” I said to her as we stepped out of the interrogation room and began to walk towards the back entrance to the house.“If you know, then why can’t you just release them?” She asked.“I’m sure you already know why. I set my rules for a reason, and if someone breaks any of my rules, no matter how justified they are, there has to be a consequence or no one will respect my rules. That’s why there are laws, and prison is the consequence if those laws are broken.”“Can’t you make an exception just this once? She’s pregnant, Nik.” She said and I sighed.“I’m not sending them away if that’s what you think. For their own good and mine. If they aren’t here, they’ll be easy to kill by my enemies or captured and tortured for infor
NIKALEOEN***“Fine. You can come along. But don’t interfere.” I said to her and the look she gave me said she would definitely interfere.“Don’t interfere too much.” I acquiesced with a sigh and she smiled.“And you better not cry.” I said to her and she huffed.“I’m not a baby.”As much as I wanted her by my side, I knew the path that lay ahead would test the limits of her resolve. "I never said you were a baby, Aina, this won't be easy. I may have to resort to violent means, and I may do things you may not approve. I don’t want you to resent me for it and begin to see me as some kind of monster. I really don't want you to witness what might transpire in that interrogation room. It could get ugly." I admitted.“I’ve always known there is a dark side of you, Nik. And I’ve made my peace with it. I know you don’t just go about torturing or hurting people on a whim or for fun, and when you do anything, it’s for a reason. I won’t blame you for anything you do today, you’re trying to pro
NIKAELEON***“And I also wanted to apologise for the scene I caused, it wasn’t my intention to let Sophia know that you’re my baby’s father. I just wanted to get her mind off seeing you both fighting so I told her I was having a baby and showed her the sonogram. When she asked me who the baby’s father was, I just replied without thinking and then she bolted out here to tell you before I could stop her.” Aina explained.“It’s fine. I know you didn’t have an ulterior motive for telling her, and I could see the look on your face when she ran here with the sonogram, I knew it was just a mistake and I don’t blame you for it. In fact, I think I’m relieved, I’ve been thinking of a way to tell Sophia that she would have a sibling soon, wondering how she would react. Now I know that I was just worried for nothing.” I replied to her.“Yeah, she’s so excited to be a big sister. She has already told me in detail all the things she plans to do, and by the way, she says she wants two siblings, one
AINA***I led Sophia away and she followed me, her tiny hand clutching onto me tightly.I took her to my room and sat down on the bed with her in my lap. I put her small hand on my tummy.“I have a baby in my tummy now.” I said and her eyes widened in surprise and childish delight.“You swallowed a baby?” She asked incredulously and I burst into startled laughter.“Oh! Heavens no! I can’t swallow a baby, I’m not a cannibal. The baby is growing in my tummy.” I said to her and there was a look of childish wonder in her eyes.“Babies grow in tummies? I thought they were sent from heaven by storks, I watched that in a cartoon. All the animals were on a train and when it was time for them to have babies, the birds carried the babies in white cloth and dropped them off one by one in the mummy and daddy’s cages.” Sophia said and I laughed again.I definitely wasn’t having the talk on where babies come from with her. It had been awkward when my own mother had ‘the talk’ with me, and I wasn’t
NIKAELEON***“We need to talk, Nik. That’s why I’m here.” She replied to me and I nearly chuckled at the audacity she had to show up at my house to demand an audience with me.“We have nothing to talk about, Uriel. Or rather, I have nothing to talk about with you even though you may have something to say. I have no interest, nor do I have the time or patience to listen to whatever nonsense you want to say to me. So leave before I have you arrested for trespassing.” I said to her.“You can’t do that.” She said and I scoffed.“You have no idea what I’m capable of, Uriel. I suspect it’s the reason why you dare defy me so often.” I said to her. “If the police come, I’ll just tell them that I came to see Sophia and you denied me entrance. It will look bad on you while the custody case is still being deliberated on by the court.” She said.I was about to tell her to go fuck herself when Aina put a hand on my forearm. I turned to look at her and she didn’t need to speak to communicate her