Elliot's POV"Stop screaming like some big baby," Olivia mumbled, taking a step back after I raised my voice earlier before she could approach me again. She was staring straight at me, her blinking just as slow and measured as her footsteps.I ran a hand through my hair, momentarily closed my eyes, and reopened them.When I felt I was collected enough, I asked more calmly."And what was that for, in the conference room?""What?" She asked pretentiously, biting her lips with her eyes darting at me.I leaned backward on the chair, adjusting my tie. "You know what I’m talking about, Olivia? What were you trying to pull by addressing me as a darling before my staff?"She stopped moving halfway and made a face by inflating her cheeks to show she didn’t quite get the point."What do you mean? Don’t they already know we are dating?" She asked with her brow raised, and I smirked."Dating?" I repeated with a grimace."Can you please tell me again what dating means in your words? I am kind of
GENERAL POVThe kids hung around Lucas in the waiting room, looking around the office area. Immediately after, their mom left with Candidate 1, which was Elliot Harrington, her boss, they looked at one another.Now they spoke among themselves in low tones as they observed Lucas's crouched figure. He sat forward and bent over his phone, all his attention completely lost to the device in his hand. "Hi, uncle," Owen called, waving his small hands to get his attention."What's up, big man?" Lucas replied playfully, but without looking up."Isabella is pressed, so we're just going to take her to the restroom." He passed on, making hand signals to his siblings."Don't be long," Lucas said woodenly, still without looking up."Sure." They said simultaneously, but instead of the general exit door that led to the restroom, they silently dispersed towards the hoist-way door of the adjacent elevator in smooth clusters. Lucas didn't notice; his eyes were focused on his phone.The elevator doors c
SOPHIE’S POVLucas tactically maneuvered the steering wheel as he tried to bypass a gully on the silent street we took on our way back home. I sat next to him, looking straight in one direction, and the kids sat wordlessly behind me. The car was awfully quiet except for the shallow, repetitive sound of my breathing due to anger. I was panting with rage."What a jackass..." I couldn't help but vent."What a stupid, arrogant Jackass." I continued, slamming my hand on the car dashboard."Imagine that man saying he warned me? Like, who the hell does he think he is? Stupid." I yelled, tapping my foot impatiently.Lucas took a quick peek at me from the corner of his eyes and then at the kids behind him."Hands on your ears, soldiers," he said, referring to the kids who still looked puzzled at my sudden outbursts. They immediately obeyed and covered up.When we finally arrived at our estate and got out of the car and then into the house, I immediately went straight to the kids' room and star
SOPHIE’S POVWe walked briskly into the Standard Grill restaurant downtown. The kids arranged themselves side by side, with Isabella fixing herself in between the two boys while I hovered over them from behind."You're welcome, madam,"A plump-looking waitress with a nice set of teeth greeted me and guided us to a vacant seat."Your kids look lovely." The waitress complimented.I smiled, but before I could respond, Owen interrupted."Mum, the woman's suit is so nice; does she want to serve Joe Biden?"I swallowed hard and quickly turned to the waitress, who was already checking herself out in embarrassment, to see if perhaps she had overdressed.“Keep shut, Owen."I'm so sorry. My boy is so loud-mouthed.""We're good, madam; it's not a problem." She said, waving dismissively."What can I get you guys?" She said, looking around with her pen and paper, ready to take our orders. Then she handed us an order book."I want pasta, Caesar salad, and a chocolate milkshake." Owen went first, lo
GENERAL POVBack into the house, Sophie opened the second door after the hallway, which separated the sitting room from the other group of rooms.She was carrying Isabella, who lay calmly on her arms, while Nathan and Owen tagged along barefoot. They were heading towards their room, and on entry, she took a moment to appreciate the beauty, the size of it all, and how expensive it was. It was so expansive that it accommodated three separate bunk beds without getting choked up. The colorful interior designs were pleasing to the eyes. The storage was stacked to the brim, alongside the toy segregator boxes in the corners, not forgetting the open shelves for their storybooks and gaming pads. The violet walls and the floors of the bathroom literally glowed with matching colors."Quite Nice." She couldn't help saying it aloud.Who would have thought Mr. Elliot could do everything possible to make living here so convenient for them? From her office space to the house, it was commendable.Whi
SOPHIE’S POV“Daughter of sin."That was what he called me.I was staring at him, and he was staring back. His zealot eyes and firm lips, the hostile snarl of my stepmother beside him, as well as the jesting of Olivia. I stood rooted in that same spot as I was 5 years ago, wearing those same clothes. I was also crying and sobbing, pleading with my father to believe me. Everything felt so surreal until I started to feel a hand tapping at my arm. It was a small hand, but the tapping from it was unusually fervent. I opened my eyes and rose with a jerk staring back at me. This time, it was the face of Nathan, my son. I blinked repeatedly; it was all a dream.He drew closer to me and hugged me."Mummy, are you still having nightmares?”‘It was indeed a dream’ I thought to myself,I sniffed and drew him closer, taking in his scent to calm myself.We remained like that for a while, and then I peeked through the window, noticing that the purple-gray of early dawn had not yet faded."What is t
ELLIOT'S POVI sat up on my Jado steel-style gold bed, reminiscing on some of the things that had happened yesterday. I thought about the financial analyst, Sophie Mack. My encounter with her was at the office and then again at the restaurant. My memories kept going back to her hazel eyes, how they had glowed with rage when she called Olivia a slut, and how my initial likeness for her had immediately dampened into a sort of hatred. The lady seemed like one who was uncouth and had a filthy mouth. If not, why on earth will she call Olivia a slut? Someone she barely even knew."What a rude lady," I said aloud as I stretched out before laying back, relaxing the back of my neck against the headboard.My mind flashed back again to how I had run into Sophie and her kids at the Stand Grill restaurant.A small smile brightened my face as I recalled how her three sharp-mouthed musketeers made their orders."Isn't that a little too much for their small bellies?"I remember humorously thinking to
GENERAL POVPriest Gabriel Mack, Sophie's father, had a strange dream. He was in his sitting room, which now had a paranormal celestial quality to its atmosphere.While Gabriel himself was dressed in white priestly regalia, with a flaming sword in one hand and a bible in the other, Victoria, his wife, and his second daughter Olivia sat beside him, both of them dressed like angels with wings.Standing before him was his first daughter, Sophie, whom he had sent out of the house five years ago. She was wreathed in an all-black gown, kneeling before him and pleading with him not to let her go. Also, her belly seemed to protrude greatly this time—so big, one would think it was harboring about ten babies."Daughter of sin, you are here again? I see you're pregnant.” Gabriel had sneered in the dream."Get out of my presence this minute and don’t come back again, or I shall cut you down with my sword." He thundered.Sophie slowly turned and reluctantly walked towards the door. When she reache