Gerald looked at her sorry state, her red eyes and finally her pale lips. His mind seemed to have shut down and as if under a spell he leaned in to kiss her. However, Ali shoved him away and what followed next was a resounding slap. The slap forced Gerald back and he landed on his butt. A look of surprise appeared on his face the same time Ali gasped in horror. The both of them stared at each other in shock, as if not believing what happened between them. Gerald touched his cheek where he could feel the sting from the slap. He stared at Ali without blinking for a few seconds. "You dare to slap me," he asked, looking up at her. Ali's soul had already left her body, as she struggled to stand, her legs were wobbly. She looked down at Dylan and began to apologize. She was terrified, and stared at Gerald with a terror-stricken expression. It felt like the slap wasn't given to Gerald but instead a knife was stabbed into her stomach. "I'm s..so sorry...I didn't...mean to...i..
"Has she left yet?" Gerald asked, taking a sip of his liqueur. He was seated in front of the bar counter. "Yes. I asked Nell to send her home," Barry answered, standing a few steps away from Gerald. Gerald stared at the glass in his hand before drinking everything in it. The cup made a loud thud sound as it came in contact with the table. "You seem to be losing your reasoning to pick a random woman who came to your doorstep to serve me," Gerald stared at Barry from the corner of his eyes. "Tell me Barry, do you need a break?" He asked. Barry quickly shook his head, "No. It was a foolish mistake. We couldn't find Lily anywhere and since the girl was a virgin...." "You thought it was safe to be with her. Because I once said, I've never had a virgin huh," Gerald cut him off with a sigh. He poured himself another drink before turning his seat to face Barry. "It's my fault," Barry hung his head low, his face was plastered with guilt. "Why do you keep your head low? Want me to c
Joe played with the toy in his hand as Ali fed him his lunch which was a bland porridge. He grimaced everytime he was given a spoonful of the food. "You shouldn't make such a face when eating Joe. Look, I can see wrinkles on your face," Ali's best friend said, pointing to Joe's forehead. She was a journalist who just returned from her vacation in Australia. She wasn't aware about Ali's predicament untill she returned a few hours ago. "Aunty Emily, the food is very bad," Joe complained, even though he opened his mouth to take another spoonful. "That is what convalescent patients take. Eat and don't trouble your sister," Emily lightly scolded. She pointed at Ali, "Your sister already looks like a shrimp worrying over you. So you better get better and grow bigger okay." Joe looked at his sister, his eyes watered. "Hush, don't cry. If not me who would care for you?" Ali asked, as she wiped her brother's face. "You have no one except me, aunt Vivian, Emily, Dr Wood, and yes,
"What are you talking about? You should leave. This is a hospital, and creating a ruckus here is a crime," Ali stated. She looked unblinkingly at Mary as she tried not to show weakness in front of the woman. Cheyenne scoffed when Ali denied the accusation. "Mom, take a look at the ward. Joe is taking treatment in the VIP ward," she said pointing at the luxurious looking corridor and doors. "How did you get the money to transfer Joe here? Don't bother to hide it, we already know about your disgusting activities." Cheyenne glared at her with disgust that Ali couldn't help but tremble. She was scared that they found out her secret and were going to expose her. "Disgusting activities? The only disgusting things I am seeing right now is the both of you," Emily interrupted furiously, not liking the way Cheyenne's words affected Ali. "I didn't come here to fight words with you Ali," Mary rolled her eyes and showed Ali the photos Jared's men took the previous day. Ali paled on seeing
"What are you doing? Y..you let go of me," Cheyenne cried out, trying to pry Vivian's hand away from her arm. "Keep quiet you little wench," Emily muttered, through gritted teeth. Ali anxiously peeked to see how far Martin was and found him talking to a doctor. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she stared at the women they were trying to force out. She couldn't afford to let Mary see Martin as it would cause a lot of drama. "Ali, you dare to disrespect me because you have Jared now. You can't escape from your responsibility, the bride price belongs to your father," Mary ranted. "Bride price? Oh please don't make me laugh. I don't owe you anything and instead it is you, and that scumbag of a father that owes me and my brother. I will take back all my mother's properties. Just you wait and watch!" Ali retorted, glaring daggers at Mary. Cheyenne struggled with Vivian to escape the woman's clutches. When she gazed down at her arm, she found red bruises around the area V
Ali looked like a doll that even the men they met on the way out couldn't take their eyes off of her.Martin led her into his red Bugatti that was waiting at the front of the building. Like a perfect gentleman, he opened the car door for Ali and waited for her to settle down properly before closing the door. "Let me help with that," he said, when he saw Ali struggling with the seat belt. He leaned over to her and took his perfect time putting the seatbelt around her. In the meantime, Ali felt her heart beating like a war drum. Her breath caught up in her throat and she tried to hide the blush that was creeping to her cheeks. Martin pulled away and admired his handiwork. He flashed her a handsome smile before starting the car and driving away. The Laverock family estate was a place Ali could never dream of visiting or living, but because of her kind act of saving Madam Harriet, she was invited there and was going to be a member of the family. The first gate had more than twe
Ali looked at Harriet, her eyes bulging like a bird of night. Her lips opened, and closed as she was short of words over what Harriet said. She couldn't understand why Gerald's mother wanted to hurt her and the fear of having a sniper in the shadows watching her every move, and waiting for a perfect opportunity to shoot her made her heart pound. "Why is she after me? I don't think I have offended her in anyway, and besides I am getting married to Martin and not Gerald," Ali forced herself to say after a moment of speechlessness. Harriet heaved, and looked outside towards the sky. She said, "The political structure of our family is quite complicated. Gerald is the first son by right, and should be the patriarch of the family, but my husband made a new rule because of my late son," she looked at Ali again. "Anyone who gets married first would be the patriarch, leaving aside competence. I hated the rule and wanted to change it but changed my mind when those two rascals refused to
"I am not married to him," Ali hurriedly refuted, sending a glare towards Gerald for messing with her. "And that is where my question comes in. Why?," Gerald strode towards her slowly, "you needed help, and he wanted to help you. You didn't think sleeping with a total stranger and becoming his mistress were two different things, did you?" Ali pressed her lips tightly against each other, willing herself not to get angry and snap at him. He was Gerald Laverock, the cruelest businessman in Asia. She wasn't ready to die yet. "Mr Laverock, my decision is none of your business anymore. Didn't we agree not to bring this up as it would lead to more problems," said Ali, wearing a calm front even though she was fuming inside. "Someone needs a reminder about who they are and where they come from," Gerald coldly spoke, his tongue poked into his cheek. He stepped closer to Ali, and she took a step back everytime he moved until her back touched the wall behind her. Ali felt her mind turn