They entered the lounge in high spirits– intending to have fun and leave every bad energy behind. They played different games, but the one they spent the most time playing was the hooker board game. They had fun and they forgot about the moody situations of some days ago. They were now sitting at the bar having cocktails and generally catching up with each other. The other three noticed that Jayden's cheerful aura had diminished, replaced with the one he had earlier. He seems to always be deep in thought and forgetting all about his environment.“Jayden…” No answer. “Jayden!” There was still no answer. “Jayden!!!” Cynthia yelled thereby startling him out of his thoughts.“Um… yes, you called me. Why did you call my name like that? You freaking startled me.” Jayden said, palming his racing heart.“Well, I'm not sorry cos I've been calling your name for what seems like forever now and there has been no response. So, that leaves me with the question, what were you thinking about?” Cynth
Jayden clears his throat and also takes a deep breath. “I used to live with my father's sister, who is my aunt. My grandma gave birth to three children– two boys and one girl. The first son was my late father, the second son is the one that my grandma went to see with his wife and the third child is my aunt whom I lived with– she has been behind bars for over one decade now.” Jayden paused when he heard the gasps from his friends. He knew that they were wondering what his aunt must have done to warrant such a long jail term, but that was what he was about to tell them if they let him.“We are so sorry for making a sound and thereby distracting you. We will try our best to listen attentively, as quietly as possible.” Cynthia chipped in almost immediately after he stopped talking abruptly after their shocked gasps.Jayden nodded and continued, “As I said earlier, I used to live with my aunt, her name is Sally Bartels. I was taken to her place by my uncle when my parents died in a plane
It's been over a week since the heart-to-heart conversation between Jayden and his friends. Alex, Sophia and Cynthia had taken it upon themselves to make sure that Jayden didn't miss any of his sessions. They were always there for him at any given opportunity. Even when he was having one of his nightmares, Cynthia was there to wake him up and remind him that he was no longer there in his past. Well, ever since Jayden opened up about his constant nightmares, Cynthia volunteered to stay with him so that he wouldn't end up doing something irrational. It is a sunny weekend, Alex and his girlfriend can be seen on their bedroom balcony playing a game whereby they ask each other personal questions about themselves and if any of them doesn't get it correctly, he or she has to drink.“When is my birthday, Mr Alexander Sterling?” Sophia asked. They had been playing this game for about 30 minutes now and it seemed like Alex had drunk the most because he had failed almost all the questions Sophi
Alex was still having fun with his girlfriend when a knock landed on his room door. He ushered the person in. “Mr Sterling, there are people who are here to see you. I came to ask you if I should let them in or should I ask them to go and come back later?” The servant reported.Alex looked surprised to hear this. He only has two friends and then his girlfriend, and all of them are well-known by all his staff which means that they would be let in even without coming to report to him.“Who are these visitors?” Alex asked inquisitively.“It's Mr Kingston and his family. They said that they have something to tell you. I asked them to wait outside until you give me the go-ahead order to bring them in.” The servant replied.Alex looked at his girlfriend to see that she looked as surprised as him. He arched one of his eyebrows signalling Sophia to advise him on what to do. At this point in his life, he always wanted a second opinion because he didn't want to take any decisions that he would
The next day, Sophia and her boyfriend drove to her parent's house after work. Alex revved the engine to a stop in front of the McLean resident. When Alex turned to look at his girlfriend, he saw how stiff she sat down and was looking ahead to the house which holds so many bad memories and a few good memories if there are any.“Babe, if you are not up for it we can always postpone this visit. It is not a must that you will see your father today.” Alex said, trying to relieve some of the stiffness on her shoulders.“We are already here, we can as well get it over and done with. Moreover, you are here with me to be my moral support, so nothing can possibly go wrong. I know that you would take me away from there before anything goes wrong.” Sophia said, linking her fingers to Alex's own. “You don't have to worry about anything, my love. I promise to stand by you. We will leave as soon as you start feeling uncomfortable in their presence.” Alex said, pecking the palm that was entwined wi
After what feels like an eternity later of standing, Alessandro and his wife, Ellie sat down across from Sophia and Alex.“I thought that you would never sit down. I was even contemplating talking to you while you kept standing. Well, I'm still waiting to hear what you've been wanting to say to me all these while that gave you the effort to disturb my boyfriend at will. It'd better be worth it cos I don't condone time wastage.” Sophia spat. Alessandro cleared his throat, “I just want you back in my life. I know that your late mother wouldn't be happy to see the way we are living.” Alessandro simply stated.“Do you genuinely want me back in your life or do you want me back because you both can no longer afford your lavish lifestyles and you are looking for someone to fund it?” Sophia asked suspiciously. She knows her father too well to know that the man doesn't care if she was in his life or not, he is probably looking for a way to ask her for money and this is what he could come up w
It has been up to a month ever since Alex and Sophia visited the McLeans. It is a sunny afternoon and Alex can be seen in a meeting with Jayden and Cynthia. They looked to be discussing something they were planning.“Is it possible for this arrangement to be ready before the end of the year? Cos I want the party to be on the 30th, Sophia's birthday.” Alex asked his friends. He was planning a surprise proposal to his girlfriend and his friends were suggesting a few ideas to him on how to make it perfect and spectacular for Sophia.“It depends on the event planner. If she doesn't have a very tight schedule, then she would definitely plan the whole event before the year runs out. I will make sure that everything is done according to your jurisdiction.” Cynthia answered. Cynthia was so happy when Alex called her a week ago and sought her help on how to make the perfect proposal for Sophia. He asked her about the things girls like. He also asked her if Sophia had ever told her about her f
It's Christmas Eve and Alex, his girlfriend and his friends went to the movie theater to spend it. They had been outside the whole day, going from one fun place to the other. They already mounted a Christmas tree earlier in the day before leaving the house. They were going to place their gifts on the tree after they got home from the theatre. “This is like the hundredth time I'm seeing this movie and it still ended up making me emotional as always,” Cynthia said dabbing her eyes and wiping the snot running down her nose. “Yeah… Romeo and Juliet always have a way of penetrating someone's heart. Every time I watched the movie, I kept praying that they would live happily ever after while still knowing that they would still die.” Sophia chipped in. They were done watching their movie and they were on their way home. As the women conversed about the movie, the men sat down quietly and listened to them. They don't want to say anything that would make them call any of them inconsiderate or
“Please explain what you mean,” Jayden said, still looking a bit taken off guard by her response.“I knew that I was pregnant. Well… I didn't know for a fact because I didn’t do any tests in the hospital but I did a urine test with a pregnancy test kit and it came out positive. I didn't know how to tell my boyfriend because I didn't know how he would take it. I also knew that I would lose the child when I started bleeding out.” She was a bit sceptical about telling him because they had only been intimate just once and that was on the night after his birthday. They had already been aroused even before they went to the party venue, it was only natural that they completed what they started earlier.“I can't believe that you are saying this. Why would you keep something like that away from me? Have I ever given you any reasons to doubt my love for you? It takes two to tangle, have you forgotten?” Alex asked a series of questions. He was bothered that Sophia would think that he would by an
Sophia woke up to see her boyfriend and her friends surrounding her in their various positions. There was this happiness that filled her soul to know that they slept in the same room with her without considering the uncomfortable position they slept in. The closest person to her right now is Cynthia who was sleeping an inch beside her. She gently tapped Cynthia which made Cynthia open her eyes almost immediately she was touched because she thought that Sophia might be in any form of discomfort.“Sophia, is everything okay? Do you want me to call the doctor?” Cynthia rushed out.Sophia shook her head sideways, “No, I'm fine. Just help me and touch the men.” Sophia requested.Cynthia walked over to them and tapped them. They both woke up with a startle, just like Cynthia, they thought that something was wrong with Sophia. When they looked around, they saw Sophia who already sat up on her bed. In a split second, Alex swiftly rushed to where she was sitting down and engulfed her in a hug.
The ladies knew that they were in for a lot. They trembled in fear and strikes of tears ran down their faces, “Please spare us.” Cassandra pleaded in a shaky voice. She was against this whole arrangement at first because she knew that there would be no easy way out if they were caught, but they had to emotionally blackmail her into taking part in it, now look where that had gotten them.Cassandra’s answer caused Alex to chuckle in amusement, “I just lost my child because of you guys and for some shitty reason you think that I would want to let you go?” He asked in his newly adapted mild voice. This particular tone of his feared them more than the loud and snappy tone.“We didn't know that she was pregnant, and the poison wasn't even for her,” Clare replied.Alex huffed in disbelief, “Should that make me feel better? If it wasn't the baby who died, it would have been Sophia. And… would it have been better if you guys succeeded in your plans to kill me? There's one particular question t
‘Kaboom’ Alex's fist lands on Victor Mancini's face.“You had the nerve to try to kill my girlfriend. You must really be fearless.” Alex spat. Over the past 10 minutes after Sophia's call, he had been with the Kingston family, or better put– the notorious four. They were tied up in circles with their backs to each other on the floor. He had the urge to just end them completely, but he knew that the law would take its course no matter his status in society. He had to come home after hearing the news of Sophia's miscarriage. He had to look for where to let out his anger and the only place that came to his mind was the perpetrator's body. He wanted them to feel half of what he was feeling right now. This is very much unlike him but they have done more than enough, whom much is given, much is expected also.“As I said earlier, your girlfriend was not the target. We wanted you to be the one to take the drink but no! Sophia had to get in the way of our revenge. Well, I guess that half-bread
“Please can you repeat what you said earlier?” Alex reiterated, still shocked by the news.“I said that my team and I are so sorry to announce to you that she lost the baby. We did our best to save her but the poison in her system would have succeeded in killing her if it didn't kill the baby.” The doctor repeated while he thought that they didn't hear him the first time.“Shit!” Alex cussed out and punched the closest wall. This motion startled both the doctor and Cynthia who was too dumbstruck to say anything. “Um… we didn't know that she was pregnant.” Cynthia finally speaks.The doctor looked surprised at this. It was then that he realised that they asked him to recap what he said earlier not because they didn't hear him but because they were hearing it for the first time– they were shocked at the news.“She was a few weeks gone from the scan we carried out on her earlier… precisely 4 weeks gone.” The doctor answered. He saw how the news disoriented Alex– how he was going around
“Cynthia, please ask my baby to wake up.” Alex strained out from the driver's seat. He looked between the road and at his girlfriend through the rearview mirror. He frustratedly hit his hands on the driving wheel when the traffic light turned red. If he were to be the one in front, he wouldn’t have minded the traffic light at all.At the back of the car, Cynthia was shaking profusely. Her lips trembled and her eyes kept overflowing with tears. They were all to be blamed for Sophia's current condition. If anything happens to Sophia, they will all be doomed.“Is there no other way for you to get to the hospital? Sophia is bleeding profusely– Alex, she's losing a lot of blood.” Cynthia was able to get out of her jittery nerves.Alex looked to his right to see that the cars were moving to the right side, but he was supposed to take the straight road cos that's the road leading to the hospital. It was about 30 seconds remaining for the traffic light to turn to green but that felt like an e
Sophia picks up a gift card from the list of items lying on the floor, “Oh… this is not for me.” She hands it over to Alex, “This card has your name on it.”Alex took it and looked at it. It didn't go beyond his notice that his girlfriend totally avoided what he said to her earlier, but he would just let it go.They ended up exchanging their gifts. At some point during the process, they all got emotional about the thoughtful gifts they all got. Sophia got a box of diamond pieces of jewellery, a Christmas card, a big teddy bear– that got her cackling though, and a MacBook.Alex got a Christmas card too, some sports attire– he had an inkling that it would be from Cynthia cos that girl wanted him to go boxing on his birthday, he got a headset too because he likes music a lot and he finally got a Rolex designer wristwatch.Cynthia was the only one who didn't get a Christmas card. This made them conclude that the lovely cards were from her. Well, She got some cake equipment like an oven, a
“Merry Christmas.” That has been what has been exchanged so many times since daybreak. Alex invited all his staff to have Christmas dinner with them. The dinner was to start by 7 pm while the exchange of gifts between him and his friends was to happen by 5 pm. It was half past 4 pm already and they were all now surrounding the Christmas tree. It happened that every one of them sneaked in their Christmas gifts for one another before daybreak. They did it in such a way that the recipient of the gift wouldn't know the giver– the only way to know that the gift is for you is from the name written on it.As for what they had been doing since morning, Well, they all woke up quite late and when they did, they had their brunch and drove to the cemetery where they stayed with Mr Christopher for quite some time. On their way back, they dropped by the orphanage and celebrated Christmas with the children there. They took pictures and played around with the babies. When they were about to leave, th
It's Christmas Eve and Alex, his girlfriend and his friends went to the movie theater to spend it. They had been outside the whole day, going from one fun place to the other. They already mounted a Christmas tree earlier in the day before leaving the house. They were going to place their gifts on the tree after they got home from the theatre. “This is like the hundredth time I'm seeing this movie and it still ended up making me emotional as always,” Cynthia said dabbing her eyes and wiping the snot running down her nose. “Yeah… Romeo and Juliet always have a way of penetrating someone's heart. Every time I watched the movie, I kept praying that they would live happily ever after while still knowing that they would still die.” Sophia chipped in. They were done watching their movie and they were on their way home. As the women conversed about the movie, the men sat down quietly and listened to them. They don't want to say anything that would make them call any of them inconsiderate or