“Mommy?”“Yes?”“Those aunties in there kept staring at us. I know they were gossiping about us. I could tell,” Ariel whispered to her mother as they got outside the cafe each holding a cup of coffee in their hands. “What aunties?” Bree frowned. After picking up the child from the Boston mansion, she decided to clear her mind and take the child shopping. Luckily, Ariel was in a good mood and was eager to shop with her. As they walked through the busy place, Bree wondered who it was that her daughter was talking about. She wasn’t as observant as Ariel so she didn’t notice anybody staring at them when they were purchasing coffee the other time “Those aunties who stare at us like they were going to eat us.”“I didn’t see anyone. What do they look like?”“One had black hair with cherry pins and the other was blonde. I don’t know who those Aunties are but I don’t like them at all.”Bree patted her daughter’s hair. “No worries, baby. Keep calm. You’re not going to see them again, okay? Co
“What the..” Spencer groaned as he reached for his buzzing phone on the bedside table, his head hazy as hell. Just as his eyes fell on the caller ID, he immediately sat up on the bed. “The fuck?” He wiped his eyes to see if he was seeing correctly. Cursing, he answered the call. “Mom, what happened this time?” His mom only calls him this late whenever there is a problem or whenever she wants to scold him. He wondered what it was this time and for the likes of him, he surely wasn't in the mood to answer her scolding. It was midnight for goodness sake. It had been a rough day for him and he had only managed to sleep when the call came in, breaking him from his sleep. “Nu Nu.” A female voice rang from the other line. “Not the name again. What do you want?” He pinched the space between his brows. His Mom was fond of calling him his baby name Nu Nu and honestly, he wasn't a fan of people calling him that. He stopped being a child when he was ten and even after that, his mother would n
Storming out of a five-star hotel was Bree. She made her way to the parking lot in hurried footsteps, stacks of files that she struggled to carry in her arms. Her footsteps hurried further as she glanced at her wristwatch. She was about thirty minutes late for work. She had woken up late and had to hurriedly dress Ariel up for school and drop her off first before coming back to the hotel so the child would not be late for school. Cursing her damn heels, she pressed her keys, the car lighten up in the quiet parking lot. Dumping the files that she held in the backseat of the car, she turned around to get into the car but not without looking at herself in the window of the car. Although she barely had time to dress and do her makeup, she still looked stunning. In the milky-colored two-piece suit. Her long-suit short-hand top was all the way to her thighs with a perfect design at the side. Her hair was tied in a ponytail leaving just a few strands at the edges. She would have bunned it
“How have you been?” Bree asked. “It was hard, Bree. Especially that first year. I never wanted to become a surgeon.” Back then, Nary had refused to train him to school if he didn't do the course that she wanted. He had no choice but to do her bidding. “I’m so sorry for not coming. Mother made sure to stop me from coming. Forgive me.”Bree’s eyes fell on Gaspher’s fingers that held her hands. Her eyes widened seeing the glinting band encircled in his ring finger. “Wait, Gaspher. You're married?” “I’m not.” He replied. “You’re not? Then what is that ring you're wearing?”“I’m not married, just engaged. I know you want to be part of my wedding. I'm definitely not getting married without you.”She nodded. “That better be the truth because I won't forgive you again if that's the case. You better don't get married without me.”“Yes, my queen. Does that mean you forgive me? That I'm your big brother again?”Slowly, Bree nodded. “Well, yeah. It was hard for you too. Mother even forced y
“Oh, universe. Why are you never good to me? What have I done to deserve this,” Bree complained, her head thrown backward, her fingers in between her teeth as she paced around the hotel room. “For the love of God, why can't this child stop giving me heart attacks?” Not like she has had one before but from the look of things, she would be having a heart attack soon. Her heart was beating so fast and her ears were as red as ripe tomatoes. Different scenarios playing in her head.Hours earlier, Ariel had left the room to go play with her newfound friend on the second floor. She wasn't worried because Ariel had a new friend or anything, she was apprehensive because the friend was no other person than Spencer. For the past four days since they returned from Gaspher’s condo, there hasn't been a single day that Ariel didn't meet with him pinning that he was her new playmate. For the love of God, she couldn't afford to let Spencer discover her secret else it was over for her. Over, like capi
“Mommy, where are we going?” Ariel asked as they got into Bree’s car the next day. It was the weekend and as always, Bree was taking her daughter out to have fun. It has been their usual practice ever since Ariel turned one. “Well, you'll see when we get there.”“Have I been there before?”Bree shook her head. She turned on the accelerator and drove out of the hotel.“So how come you’ve been there without me? Did Mommy take other kids there? I can't believe this.”“Oh no no,” Bree laughed. “I took no one there. I went there when I was still little. It's a beautiful place so don't worry, hmm.”“Ahh,” the child nodded. “Mommy better don't take anyone there without me. Arie would be angry.”“Yes, my princess. You're the only one I'm taking, hmm.”She turned on the music and for the rest of the car ride, Ariel sang her favorite song, bouncing lightly, her play phone as her mic. Bree couldn't help but join her. Somehow, she envisioned Ariel as a teenager singing in her car while she dropp
“Mommy, Mommy.” Ariel’s wails pierced Bree’s ears. Bree’s gaze followed Spencer as he dashed towards Ariel, her heart leaping in her chest in relief. But as he drew closer, her blood ran cold when he took another child, sweeping him up and silencing his cries. She finally got to Ariel, swiftly unbuckling the strap around her. “Mo…mommy.” Ariel must be so scared as she cried bitterly, her wails causing Bree’s distress. She threw her arms around her mother’s neck. “It’s okay, baby. Mommy is here, okay? Stop crying.” Gathering the child in her arms, Bree turned around to make her way out of the merry-go-round only to find Spencer’s gaze fixed on them. The kid in his hand was now asleep and he held him like a father would his son. Her breath hitched before slightly pressing Ariel’s head on her neck to make sure she did not see the man. Without sparing him another glance, she made her way out of the ride to the other side of the playground where their car was packed. “Mommy, my legs hu
“Where are we going?” Bree struggled to get her hands from his hold as he dragged her up the stairs. “You don't know where this is headed?”“Why are you taking me there?”Silence followed after her question. Finally, they got to the end of the stairs and he kicked open a door, leading them to the rooftop. Dragging her to the middle, he let go of her hands. Bree gazed at him in suspicion, her eyes turning to look around her. Slowly, she took steps backward. “Dont you even dare.”“Ar…are you trying to ki…kill me by throwing me down?”His eyes flickered in surprised and in the next minute, he burst into laughter, gazing at her in disbelief.“Oh, you're scared?”“You look like that's your plan. Why did you bring me here?”“If I wanted to kill you, Bree. I'll do it with my hands not throwing you off some goddamn building,” his foot moved toward her. “That will be so unsatisfying.”“Either way is death. Why are we here, Spencer?”“Who is she?”Bree’s breath hitch at his question. Her hea