As soon as Zade stepped into the house, he was confronted by Helen. "Zade? You're back? Where is Tyrone?" Helen asked him. Zade's eyes raked through her like he wasn't expecting the question. He'd known Helen for a long time so he wasn't surprised by her questions. She loved Tyrone to a fault and even though he treated her like she was worthless, she still cared about him. "I don't know," Zade replied quietly. He attempted to step in but Helen blocked his path. "Where is Adera?" "She stepped out to get some milk. I… you were with Ty, weren't you? If you know where he is…" her voice cracked, "...or what happened to her, please let me know. I beg of you." Zade gave her a long look. There was no way he could tell her about Tyrone's business. "I already told you, Helen. Indeed, we were together but we went our separate ways. I have no idea where he is or what happened to him," Zade told her. Her eyes glistened with tears. "Are you telling me the truth? You really don't know wh
Zade went to see his grandfather in the office. He knocked twice before walking in. Zachary lifted his head from the file he was working on. "Zade?""I went home but the guards informed me you were here. Didn't you say you've stepped down or was I hearing things?" Zade asked. "I just dropped by. Aren't you supposed to be out of town? I came to help you clear your desk. You should thank me for helping you clear your desk," Zachary but back."I didn't ask you to. It was your decision solely influenced by the kindness of your heart, I dare say," Zade shot back. "You insolent little imp!" It all happened in a flash one second, Zachary was on his seat, and the next, he was on his feet, smacking him across the face. Zade staggered back, surprised laughter ripping through his throat. "You know I could sue you for child abuse," Zade reminded him lightly. "If you're not careful you might end up in that cell," Zachary smirked. Zade rolled his eyes and took a seat."I came to see you regar
"Tell me the truth, Dera. Do you think Zade is lying to me?" Helen asked Adera. "Uhm… lying about what?" Adera asked. "About Tyrone's whereabouts. He said he didn't know where Ty was but they were together, at least that's what they told us. How can he suddenly be back without his cousin? Don't you think it is a little strange?" Helen explained. Adera didn't know what to say. It was an obvious lie. No way Zade wouldn't know about Ty's whereabouts. Though she felt that the tables might have turned somehow. Maybe Ty was the one supposed to return, claiming he had no clue about Zade's whereabouts. Then she would be the one asking the same questions as Helen now. "You know Zade cares about you, very much. If he knew where Ty was, he would have definitely told you. Maybe he doesn't really know," Adera lied. "You're right. Zade cares about me a lot, which is the more reason he wouldn't tell me about Tyrone even if he knew where he was," Helen huffed. "I don't understand," Adera mutter
Adera and Roselia were having a stare-down, none willing to back out for the other. Helen soon got exhausted from watching them and pulled Adera back to let Roselia in. "Why did you do that?" Adera glared at Helen. "Because your little staring contest won't solve anything. Let her in then you both can discuss properly," Helen answered. "I have nothing to discuss with her," Adera asserted. "Well neither do I," Roselia concurred. "I only want my share of my father's wealth.""What the hell are you even talking about?" Adera bellowed. Roselia walked past her, taking a look around. "I like this. Is this one of Father's properties?" She asked sweetly like it was just an innocent enquiry. Adera clenched her fists, "Unfortunately, this is my boyfriend's property.""Boyfriend," Roselia tested the words on her lips. "You mean Zade," she drawled. "Yes, do you have a problem with that?" "No, just surprised by the caliber of men you term boyfriend. Couldn't you find someone better? Someon
Both women sat side by side in the hospital, throwing each other occasional glares as they waited for the results. Helen sat away from them, silently watching the exchange. "I can't believe you really threw me out of your car in the middle of the streets," Roselia broke the ice."I am not about to get into an argument with you at the doctor's office. If you have any complaints, put them in writing and forward them to my secretary. I'll look at it when I have the time," Adera answered evenly. Roselia muttered something incoherent and slumped into her seat. Adera cast her a glance before returning her attention to her phone.They were silent until the doctor came back with the results. They straightened up as the man took a seat. Adera didn't like the smile he wore on his face to address them."I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, Miss Anderson. The results…""Miss Harper. I mean I know I'm still going to be an Anderson but she needs proof so you can just address us separately as Miss A
"I don't understand, mom. What are you talking about?" Adera asked. Mrs Anderson paced the room restlessly, mumbling a series of inaudible words. Adera had to grab her shoulders to get her still. "For goodness sake, talk to me, Mom. How do I have a sister and you never mentioned it?" Adera half-yelled in frustration. "Because I didn't know, dammit! I don't know! I don't know anything!" She yelled back. "How can you not know?! You're my mother! Didn't you know if you had another daughter or not?" Adera fired. Helen clasped her hands on her ears with a groan. "Because you're not my daughter!" Mrs Anderson fired back and everywhere fell silent."What?" Adera whispered, releasing her grip on the woman's shoulder. Mrs Anderson staggered back as well, shocked by her own words. The silence stretched into minutes. Everyone is in a different layer of disbelief. Mrs Anderson walked to the couch and took a seat. She could see the questions in Adera's eyes. The trembling movement of her li
Zade returned later that evening but Adera was nowhere in the house. He called her number severally but she didn't answer the phone. He thought about filing a report but they would probably talk about the twenty-four hours bullshit. He decided to call Helen instead since they were together when he left. Thankfully, she picked up at the second ring. "Where's Adera? I've been calling her since I got back but she's not picking up. Is she there with you?" Zade asked."Actually, a lot happened today. A woman showed up at our front door, claiming to be Adera's sister. She went as far as demanding her own share of Anderson's property," Helen informed him."Her sister? Where is Adera?" "I left her at her mother's place. She was in a very foul mood. She almost got into a heated argument with her mother, over a slight misunderstanding," Helen answered. Zade paused, trying to process the whole information."Who was this sister?" "I don't know, but I think her name is Roselia. She's blond w
"Hey.""Where have you been, Dera? Do you know how worried I was? I was just about to file a report even though I know you're not missing. Do you know how frustrating that is? I understand a lot happened while I was away but that's not enough reason to ghost everyone. It's been three fucking days," Zade poured out his frustration to her. "I'm downstairs, come get the door. You can scold me after that," came a weak response. Pool aaa"Are you serious? Don't answer that, I'm on my way," he said quickly, hurrying down the flight of stairs. He got to the door and turned the lock. Adera looked at him with a weary expression. He pulled her into a hug and her arms immediately wrapped around him. She felt smaller than the last time he, her. More fragile."Are you okay?" He asked softly."No, I'm not. I'm tired of everything. I need a break," she muttered. "Let's go in and get you something to drink, yeah?" After he made sure she was settled on the couch, he went to brew coffee for he
The hospital was in chaos. Just a few hours ago, they were busy trying to deliver a woman of her baby and now, there was a blood bath. Doctors, nurses, and patients scampering for their lives. Edgar arrived at the hospital just a few minutes after the Delamontes did. With the guards positioned around, he knew there was no way to carry out the initial plan. He wanted Elsa. As revenge on Zade for ruining his life, he wanted to kidnap Elsa and the baby. Unfortunately, the security was too tight.Even if he succeeded in getting into the hospital, there was no possibility of getting out unscathed and alive. So he decided to face them squarely and it resulted in a bloody gunfight. The Delamontes were with Elsa in the private ward, with the Doctors and nurses attending to her.No one cared about the blood bath outside. Their priority was for Elsa to deliver safely.Edgar was able to take down the guards at the entrance but just when he thought he'd succeeded, more came out the through th
“You sure this plan is going to work?” Elizabeth asked for the umpteenth time.“Why do I feel like it's not the plan you're worried about but the person you might find,” Elsa crossed her arms. Elizabeth let out a sigh. “It's just that, I really like him, you know. I desperately want him to be the good guy. It will break me if he is actually the mole here.”“It's okay to be terrified. It's normal when you love someone, you want them to be an angel. A misunderstood villain and all of that but we need to face reality here. If Zion is not who he pretends to be, then we need to purge him out of your company before he ruins you,” Elsa said frankly.“But why would he?” Elizabeth threw her hands in her hair, confused and frustrated. “I offered him a job as my PA with a heavy paycheck and mouthwatering allowances to enable him to better the lives of his grandmother and son. I got him a fucking luxury apartment. Why would he repay me by sabotaging my company?”“You've said all the good things
“Who do you work for?” The question was accompanied by a punch to the man's guts. He let out a groan but that seemed to be all he was going to do. Groan and groan until they got tired of hitting him.“I asked a question! Who is your boss?” He barely acknowledged the question, focusing on the wounds on his body. He had been stalking Elizabeth as usual when three cars entrapped him and he ended up here. The men had been torturing him for three days straight but all attempts to get him to speak were futile. The highest he did was scream and curse at them.“Tie him on the electric chair,” came an order. The man wasn't even panicked by it. They weren't going to oil him because they needed answers so nothing they did scared him.After tying him to the chair. They bathe him with water. His heart heart accelerated a little. He knew what electricity and water could do and frankly, he didn't want to experience it. “Are you ready to talk?” He was given a last chance.“Never!” “Perfect.” T
“Mommy!” Helen heard from a distance.“Mommy, wake up!” She heard again. There was a slight pounding in her head. She was surrounded by darkness.“Mommy, wake up!!” It sounded so much like Elaine. She could feel the girl shaking her but she couldn't see her. “Mommy!”Helen tried to speak but her mouth was not cooperating. It felt like it had been sewn shut.There was another voice in the background. It didn't sound like Elaine’s but there was a familiar feel to it. Her hazy mind couldn't comprehend anything at that moment. Even her mind was struggling to process her situation. Why couldn't she open her eyes? It was obvious now that she wasn't in the dark, she was still unconscious. “Mommy!!” The little girl was weeping now. Helen struggled to get her eyes open. To tell the girl that she was fine. That everything would be fine.“Is Mommy dead?” She heard that familiar voice.“No, she's not. Look here, she's breathing.”Helen was a little relieved. At least her little girl was sensib
Elizabeth arrived at the office looking tacky which was so unlike her. Zion followed her into her office curiously. She'd never been an hour to work before and definitely not looking the way she did now. The eye bags were evident and her lips were chapped coupled with the rough ponytail she had on. She looked sick.“Good morning, ma'am," Zion greeted but she gave a mere nod in response. “Uhm… is everytime alright? You don't look fine. Yesterday, you left the office suddenly and today you look like a mess,” he observed. Elizabeth glanced at him before scampering through the files on her desk. “Ma'am, I know you might not feel the need to talk to me after my behavior yesterday and I apologize. I just had a lot going on so I might have taken out some of the frustration on you," he said lowly.“What makes you think this is about you? Look, Zion, you are just an intern here and I advice you focus on what you're here for. Don't bother yourself about me, I'll be fine," she said coldly.
Zachary and Zade were at the prison in less than an hour to retrieve the body. The body was still warm suggesting that he just died recently.Elizabeth wasn't with them. She had gone in search of Helen as soon as she got off the phone with Zade. Zachary made sure she was heavily guarded. He didn't want anything to happen to her too.“So, may I know why my son who was entrusted in your care is lying lifeless on the floor,” he asked the chief officer.The man exchanged frightful glances with his colleagues. Words could not express how much trouble he'd gotten himself into. He was in the comfort of his home, ready to have dinner with his kids when the officers informed him of the situation.“We… we are working on it, sir. We don't know what killed him but I assure you I will get to the bottom of this,” the man shakily responded.“Not the response I want to hear. I'll ask you again. Why is the man who was entrusted in your care lying lifelessly on the floor?” Zachary asked again, his to
Her heart picked up as she noticed this strange car taking every turn she took. Once she arrived home, the car sped past but Elizabeth knew it wasn't completely gone. Hurrying to her father's room since her room was bugged, she took a look out the window. Just as she thought, it was packed at the other side of the road, directly facing her house. Elizabeth tried to make out the figure in the car but she couldn't tell who the driver if the driver was male or female because the glasses were tinted. With this person monitoring her, it was unsafe for her to stay home. Who knew how many cameras they planted in there. Shooting her father a quick text, she exited the house with two bodyguards. Her next destination was her grandfather's house. If she went to one of her penthouses or another mansion or even called someone to check the bugs in her room, it was very possible they could use it as an opening to plant more. Releasing the nudes was no problem. Anyone could tell from the footag
Elizabeth was signing documents with Zion on the other side of the room answering emails. “Zion,” she called. “I'm not doing anything after work. If it's okay by you, I'd like to see Noah afterward.”There was no response from him. She looked up and found him buried in work. Of course, he wouldn't hear her. It was childish but she folded a paper plane and threw it at him. He looked up with a mortified expression that almost sent her wheezing in laughter.“I suppose that would be funny to you,” he said dryly.“Come on, you don't have to be so uptight. I only threw the plane at you because you were too engrossed in work to hear me,” she said lightly. His brows knotted together in displeasure. He was not enjoying the conversation.“I couldn't hear you because I am deaf,” he gritted. “Why are you being so cranky today? First, you get upset over a little joke and now, you're making it seem like I'm making fun of your disability and I don't like that. I was only asking if I could come o
“I am not dead yet, there is no need for y'all to pamper me,” Zachary complained.“We know you're fine, father, we just don't care. You just woke up and it is only right we take care of you until you are strong enough and well rested,” Elizabeth said. Zachary didn't like the sound of that. He did not like to be babied.“I don't plan to spend another day here. All you need to do is sign my discharge papers and I will be on my way…”“On your way to where?” Zade questioned. “Neither of us will sign those papers until we confirm you are fit to move.”“Fit to move? Was I diagnosed with paralysis? I can flex my legs as much as I want to. You kids are the ones making this a big deal,” He stated. “We don't care what you think. We will sign the papers only when we feel like,” Elizabeth crossed her arms stubbornly. Zachary glared at them, “If you don't sign those papers, I will…”“You’re smart, Grandpa. I expected you would understand that threatening us would not change anything,” Zade int