"Where is Elaine, Cannon?" Mary thought of asking him first. Bella had told her already that Elaine had left with her bags packed but she still thought Cannon might have known she had gone where to.
Even if Cannon didn't go, she would go to her to ask forgiveness. Not just because of her guilt towards her but on behalf of Cannon also. She didn't know Aiden was plotting all this and Cannon was using her."Why are you asking me!" Cannon scoffed. His patience was getting thin already. "You must have known where she is. After all, she is a part of you all."Mary closed her eyes trying to get control over her restlessness, "Cannon, I am asking you where Elaine is?"Cannon stood there staring at her. Getting no response from him, Mary opened her eyes, "You didn't do anything to her, right?"Cannon knitted his brows in confusion hearing Mary but didn't utter anything as he thought in mind what that was supposed to mean."Elaine didn't do anything deliberately, Cannon. She never wanted to marry you. When Evana disappeared if anyone was truly concerned for you, that was Elaine. She tried her utmost, even begged us to talk to you without doing all this. We forced her to get married to you. Her family and we forced her until she couldn't refuse anymore."Cannon stood there dumbfounded. Wrinkles formed on his forehead as he frowned at her in utter disbelief. He took a step to Mary as he read her face closely."Are you in your right mind? What are you talking about? You're giving me chills here." Cannon scowled, wanting her to say that she was just joking or tried to read something on her face that would confirm his thought.But nothing, as he expected, seemed to be coming to his way. There was seriousness and guilt to be flashing on Mary's face. Cannon didn't know why he was believing her words already when he knew he shouldn't. His mother had always lied to him. Her every promise to him was nothing but a lie. This should be one also like always.Mary continued stupefying Cannon. "It's the truth, Cannon. Elaine is innocent in this whole situation. She signed the legal papers and stood as a replacement for Evana under our pressure. She didn't do anything willingly. We used her for our own selfish reasons."When Cannon got, it was nothing but the bitter truth, he was enraged. "To get Aiden, your son has the leading position of the Elite Panel!"His heart squeezed in his chest at her words. Blood drained from his face as he yelled at her, "I just can't believe this. You two considered Aiden as your only child and made me live like an orphan. Still, I never complained. When you two came for me for the first time after ages, I forgot everything you two did to me. But, I didn't know you would be that cruel!"Mary didn't have any idea about Aiden's planning all this for the Elite Panel. All she tried was to get someone by Cannon's side. When she saw Elaine concerned about Cannon, she immediately decided that someone could be Elaine.She knew Cannon wasn't going to believe her but still she said, "I didn't know about Elite Panel. I knew you would be shattered after getting betrayed like this. So I just thought of making a person stay by your side. Elaine endured the punishment silently when she also suffered like you. We were the ones who dragged her into this mishap." Mary admitted guiltily getting Cannon out of his thought."You know why we made Elaine marry you forcefully in the first place? Because we were angry with Evana for leaving you hurt and with her family to let it happen. If you would have gotten to know it, then you would have been shattered and hurt yourself. We got Elaine to get you to divert your mind and hang on there even if takes Elaine to get hurt. She tried her best to stop us, to make us talk to you but we cared the least. But when Elaine really stood with you for every drama you created, her sincerity was there in her eyes. She never said she loves you, Cannon but she proved her love for you."Cannon voiced out in disbelief, "Just ridiculous! You didn't even think twice before using an innocent person. You made me a sinner too with yourself.""I know we did wrong. I know I am just a failure as a mother. But you? I thought you will get to know by yourself who was being sincere with you. How many times did I try to talk to you, Cannon? But you never let me.""So, you are saying I am the only one to be blamed in all this. Yeah, that's right. Do you know what's my biggest sin? To be even born.""Cannon, liste.." Mary tried to say something more but he interrupted, "Enough. I can't listen to you anymore. Just leave me alone."The reality was hurting him. He was enraged and remorseful at the same time. He remembered how they planted the seed of doubt in his head about Elaine and his mind automatically pictured her that way.His father's word got ringing in his mind.She said she loves you and she will handle it.He saw her handshaking with Aiden smilingly at their wedding reception party that was too away from everyone. Aiden would do anything good or even wish something good for him was out of the question and that thing turned into his doubts into beliefs though he didn't find anything against her checking on her background.Cannon could feel, Mary still didn't leave rather saying something to him. But nothing was going through him. He was drowning in his own dismay and regrets that he couldn't continue to argue with her anymore. Besides, it was useless, the irreparable damage was already done now.Elaine did everything to prove her sincerity and innocence but he was blinded by his anger. He always felt infuriated about the whole marriage situation because it was unwanted. He had never done anything to get trapped into this muddle.He didn't get himself to think about what is right, what is wrong. All he went on doing was what his angry and infuriated self suggested to him. His hostile behavior, forceful decisions, and false accusations towards Elaine got crossing his mind.Her despaired eyes every time she tried to make him believe in her flashed in front of him.I didn't do anything intentionally, Cannon. I was forced. Elaine's voice echoed in his mind.He sat on the edge of his bed and grabbed his temples as old, bitter memories gave him a throbbing headache dropping the legal documents on the floor.The title written on the document caught Mary's attention. She picked up the document and turned to him, "Cannon?"Cannon was in no mood to listen to her anymore. He got up immediately and left from there. Getting out of his apartment, he walked to his car. Getting in, he revved the car into life and drove away. He couldn't believe he also turned out to be a person showing unnecessary power or control, dominance, arrogance that even on a female when all his life he followed all the principles that defined a gentleman.He was so remorseful that he literally wanted to go on his knees and seek her forgiveness. But then a mere apology wasn't going to undo the things worse he didn't even can change anything. This thought made his grip on the wheel tightening as he pressed on the accelerator.He wasn't ready to face her now let alone ask forgiveness. He didn't know how long or how far he drove until another thought crossed his mind only to get him stopped the car with a jerk.Memories from last night played in his mind and Elaine's voice echoed. "I am pregnant." "You are the father."He remembered the way Elaine look at him when said all those words refusing to believe her. Even if he was feeling guilty realizing his ill-treatment towards her but still he couldn't believe her on this matter. This just wasn't possible. He thought to himself.He again tried to remember the questionable night but the result was the same. After particular things, it was all blank, and Elaine's words from the very next day that she slept early that night and didn't even know when he got back home. Then?Whatever it was, he needed to talk to her. With this thought, he drove his way back to his apartment. But what he didn't know was Elaine was already out of his reach.......Getting back to his place Cannon found Mary waiting for him in the living room. He frowned as he didn’t expect her to wait for him this long but without bothering to listen to her, he spoke up, "Why are you still here? Just leave."Mary was thinking that Cannon was going to get Elaine back from wherever she had gone but when she found Cannon walking in alone, her face fell. She thought of following Cannon as he ascended the stairs without bothering to talk to her and she did.Totally forgetting Bella's words that Elaine had left, Cannon made his way to Elaine's room. But when the room looked empty, it hit him. Bella's words echoed in his mind.He took out his phone and called Elaine but it was switched off. After trying several times, Cannon thought of calling Hina thinking Elaine must have gone to her.Hina's number wasn't there saved in his phone book. Giving it a thought, he called Sam but it was answered by Sarah, Sam's sister on its second ring.Sam was taking a shower then and S
After Four YearsCannon was driving the car, with Sam beside who was briefing him about the project for which they were going to attend a meeting.Out of nowhere, a woman came in front of their car. Cannon stopped the car with a jerk and the car got stopped just a few inches before. Both of them rushed out of the car immediately and uttered in unison, "You okay?"The woman stood up holding a little puppy in hand uttering, "Yeah, I am." but when they came face to face, all of them were bewildered. Uttered silence occupied the place.Sam spoke up first breaking the silence, "Elaine? You?"Before Elaine could say something, a little boy got there running, "Mom, you okay?"Elaine stared at Cannon’s face who was looking at the boy with widened eyes. The boy also turned to him. Pulling out a serious expression, he scolded him in his baby voice, "Be careful."Cannon stood there dumbfounded, his eyes never leaving the three-year-old boy.But without bothering him, Elaine got down and assured
Cannon kept there sitting on the roadside bench all alone as his entire thirty years of life flashed by in front of his eyes.He was a talkative child, good to make friends and get himself him into trouble as well but then he had to realise the bitter truth of his life.His parents were never there for him. Cannon always heard in his childhood whenever he asked his nanny about his mom and dad that they were busy.The feeling being a child, he went through hearing that his parents were so busy that they didn’t even have a little bit of time for him was way worse beyond imagination for him.He was sent to boarding school forcefully and only got to visit his family once in a year but that time he got to realise, they were better off without him.He stopped visiting them despite his wish. Though he wished, they would visit him if he didn't come home or ask him to visit them at least but nothing of this happened. It made him feel unwanted, unworthy, worse and what not.He was gotten to be
Cassandra was just done preparing some cake and cookies as per his preference. She tasted a cookie to check and got pleased with the taste.Not sweet at all but yummy. Sometimes, she wondered how come a little child hated sweets with such a passion!When chocolates, ice-creams, candies, different types of sweet cookies are the things children seemed to love generally,Ryan was a bright exception in this case.Well, he just liked ice cream among all of these but for other sweet things, he had a big fat No.Smilingly Cassandra shook her head at her thought and was placing the cookies in a box when the doorbell rang. She knew it was them only and walked to answer it.She opened the door to reveal Elaine standing there with Ryan holding her finger and Tom, their pet was standing in the row."Cassie!" Ryan squealed in joy and when he saw his nanny bending and opening her arms for him, he literally jumped to her."How's your outing, honey?""Good." Ryan answered smilingly and Cassandra nodd
It was early in the evening. Elaine, Cassandra and Sienna, Cassandra's friend were decorating the living room with all colourful things. Most of them were of moon and star-shaped things and balloons. Ryan was jumping around happily seeing all these.Cassandra and Elaine were astonished to see Ryan not minding Sienna touching him and talking to him as Ryan didn’t get along with strangers easily.Knowing the reason behind their shocked faces, Sienna spoke up smilingly, "Well, that’s my charm." making Elaine smile back to her whereas Cassandra rolled her eyes.When they were done with the arrangement and all, Cassandra placed the cake on the middle of the coffee table that she baked herself. Though a cake couldn't be but sweet, she made it otherwise with the thought that the birthday boy had to like the cake no matter what.When Cassandra set the candles on the cake, Ryan blew them off while clapping himself being all excited. After wishing him, when Elaine reached to his mouth with a pi
After getting into the room, Ryan laid flat on his stomach as he opened a random page from the book, Damien brought him. After staring at the moon there for a while, he pulled back and turned to Cassandra, "Cassie, who is he?"Cassandra was thinking about what must have happened between Elaine and Ryan's father. She had asked Elaine but she never talked about him. Not even his name. She didn't even know if Elaine was married or just a single parent. She didn’t push her into this much seeing her fallen face every time she asked. Something might have gone wrong between them but then what could be it? She couldn’t just get this.Elaine was a nice girl and Ryan was nothing but a sweetheart.. Then?Well, his father might not have known about Ryan as when she met Elaine, Ryan wasn't even born and she had never seen him visit them before. And when she saw Damien treating Elaine and Ryan with nothing but sincerity, she couldn’t help try playing a cupid.Ryan's voice pulled her out of her thoug
The next day when Elaine entered the office and barely settled on her seat, Rivan, the PA of the CEO made an appearance there. "Elaine, sir is expecting you with your team." With his words delivered, Rivan was about to leave but Elaine stopped him, "Rivan, what is happening?" She had met with the CEO very few times because he only called heads of departments in his office and no other employees. If he called for them, then it meant something unusual was waiting for them. He was polite but very rigid at times. The staff generally got scared of the way he talked. Because he talked in a very serious tone and that tone explicated that whatever he said or ordered was an ultimatum and it wasn't going to be changed anyway. Rivan replied, "I am not sure. Be quick, okay?" Elaine turned to the other members of the marketing department and spoke up, "Well, as you all heard already, Sir is calling. Let's go." Jenny, one of her team members was already beside her as she uttered in a whisper,
Sam stood at the entrance of the gym, eyes wandering to find Cannon. When he got the sight of Cannon working on the punching bag, he reached there with long strides. He thought Cannon had already given up getting Elaine's rude behavior and thought of knocking some sense into him, "What's wrong with you, Cannon? What are you doing? After whatever you have done to Elaine, how can you expect her to forgive you this easily? You can't give up. Think about.." Cannon held the punching bag and gave Sam a disbelieving look, "Who told you I am giving up? I am not." Sam let out a sigh being relieved but confessed anyway, "Thank god. You came back here without me just after talking to Elaine. So I thought.. Anyways, aren't you angry with Elaine?" Cannon sat on the floor, "No. Elaine isn't wrong in her place, Sam. After making her go through all this, I can't expect her to forgive me easily. I know it." Sam nodded at him as he sat beside him, "I tried to convince her but.." Cannon nodded thou