FLASHBACK ENDS***
“I failed you, Leo. I failed our daughter” Mrs. Rogers said.
She held Layla’s hand.
“I promise to be the best Mom to you, I promise to take care of you baby, just wake up for me” she mumbled in tears.
****
Hailey walked dejectedly home, her face was filled with tears. Her mind went to her discussion with Mr. Monterio and she sobbed harder
**
“Leave my son’s life and your family will be safe” Mr. Monterio said coldly.
Hailey cried loudly, her tears wearing the tiles. This was a hard decision for her. Was she ready to give up her love for her family?
She wasn’t, she couldn’t even give up one one, she loved both her family and Charles very much.
Mr. Monterio brought out the bag of money and placed it on the table.
“I knew you were going to come back, so I kept this for you” he smiled.
Hearing that statement, Hailey grew angry and stood up, staring at him in anger.
“All this because I’m poor? You even think I’m going to accept your filthy money? I Hailey, will never stoop so low to that”
“I’m going to leave your son, but note this, you’re gonna regret it for the rest of your life. Your son will never forgive you and I too! I’ll never forgive you till I die. And…” She moved closer to the table and picked a handful of money, she tore it into pieces right in his presence.
“To hell with you and your money!” She threw the money to his face.
“Go closer to my family once again and I’ll kill you myself, take my words” she glared.
“Füçk me for thinking you are a nice person not knowing you’re a snake in a green grass” she stormed out of the place.
She might be poor and weak, but she would never stoop so low in collecting his money. Never!
****
“I’m sorry Charles,” she whispered.
She just needs to do this for her family, she loves him but she loves her family more.
She got to their house and met Charles outside, he was about to enter his car but stopped himself when he saw her.
Charles quickly rushed to her and held her shoulder.
“Cara Mia, where have you been? How could you leave without a word? Do you know how worried I was?” Charles bombarded her with questions.
Staring at his eyes which were filled with worries, Hailey broke down in tears. She couldn’t even bring herself to break up with the man in front of her, she couldn’t.
Charles wiped her tears with his thumb.
“Cara, your brother told me what happened and…”
“It was your Dad,” she blurted out.
“What?”
“Your Dad ordered some people to hurt my parents, they destroyed our restaurant too”
Hearing that, a vortex of anger swirled inside Charles and he went cold with fury.
“That old dog,” he gritted.
It took all of Hailey’s being to say the words she’s about to utter out.
“Let’s break up Charles, I can’t do this anymore please”
“Did he threaten you to say this?” Charles asked slowly.
“How could you? Something like this happened and you didn’t bother to inform me about it? You went ahead to meet him, how could you?”
“Did you expect me to stay calm when he almost ruined my family? My parents’ restaurant too,,” she bit her lips.
“Let’s just end it here Charles, please” she said, blinking back her tears.
“That’s not funny, Cara. I told you I’m not gonna leave you, remember? You promised me too, you said you aren’t going to leave me no matter the circvmstances!” Charles said, trying not to raise his voice.
“Do you think I can do that when my family’s life is at stake? I can’t, Charles”
“So, you wanna end it, is that it? You want to break up with me without even telling me about it?”
“I thought you loved me,” he whispered.
“I love you, Charles. I do very much, but….”
She removed his hand from her shoulder and shifted back, moving out of his reach.
“Let’s give each other some space” she muttered and ran inside the house before he could stop her.
Charles stared into space, his eyes wide open. It still felt like a dream to him, Hailey can’t break his heart this way.
“Andrius….” He growled, clenching his fist real hard.
***
Hailey closed the door and bent on her knees, crying her eyes out. Her heart hurts like hell, it was as if she was stabbed with a knife.
If it were up to her, she wouldn’t break up with Charles, but her parents were involved. Will they support their relationship knowing fully well his Dad tried to ruin them?
They’ll totally be against it.
“Hailey?” Jaime called.
“Are you crying?” He asked on noticing the tears in her eyes.
Hailey shook her head and cleaned her tears.
“You don’t have to, Mom is awake already,” he said.
“Are you serious?” She asked, getting to her feet.
“Yes,” Jaime nodded.
She went to the room and met Leah awake already, she’s sitting beside Sebastian who’s still unconscious.
“Mom!”
“Hailey” Leah smiled sadly.
Hailey went to her and pulled her to a bone crushing hug.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to go through this” she said.
“What are you saying, Hailey? It’s not your fault, everything just had to happen” Leah said.
“The restaurant, that’s your sweat, Mom, it’s…”
“Hailey, stop crying, you’re gonna make me cry too” Leah said.
Hailey broke the hug and cleaned her face, she stared at Sebastian
“Your Dad will be awake soon, you don’t have to worry” Leah butted in. She was trying to make Hailey calm but truth be told, she wasn’t fine at all. Her head which was bandaged hurts like hell, it was as if some sets of drummers were drumming in her head.
“Mom….” Hailey called slowly.
“I broke up with Charles” she mumbled but Leah clearly heard her
“What?”
“His father is against our relationship because we’re poor, he was the one who sent the men to the restaurant because I refused to leave his son”
“I love him Mom, I love him so much and it hurts” Hailey whispered as she burst into tears.
“I don’t think I can do without him, I’m addicted to him already” she continues crying.
“Come here, baby” Leah pulled her to a hug.
“It’s fine, I understand those rich folks h@të it when their son is in love with a poor lady. It’s fine, you’ll find another man”
Hailey shook her head.
“I don’t want another man, I want Charles,, only him” she cried like a baby.
All Leah did was to rock her. She understands her daughter’s plight, this was her first time in love and it will definitely hurt.
One thing she’s sure of is that Sebastian will never approve her relationship with Charles again, not after this incident.
****
MONTERIO’S FAMILY HOUSE***
Lilian came out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn in her hands, she was heading to her room when the door to the house suddenly flung open, revealing an angry Charles.
“Brother” she exclaimed in happiness and was about to rush to him when Charles walked past her, heading to his Father’s room.
“Huh? What’s going on?” She mumbled, following him behind.
Charles barged into his Father’s room to find it empty.
“Where’s he?” Charles growled.
“Who?” Lilian asked behind him.
“Dad? Oh, he’s in his study room,” she said.
Charles walked away and she followed him in confusion.
Charles entered the study room and met Mr. Monterio sitting on a chair, he looked like he was deep in thought.
He quickly went to him and held him by the collar, dragging him to his feet.
“How could you?” He growled.
“Brother!” Lilian tried to caution him.
“How dare you harm her parents?! How dare you!” Charles roared.
“I did it for you, son”
“Stop telling me that! Stop saying that bullSh|t, it irritates me! No father would ever do this to his son! No father would ever try to chase the person his son loves away!”
“Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten we were once like them? Have you forgotten we were once poor? Have you!” Charles yelled. His eyes by now were filled with tears.
“Can you at least put yourself in their shoes, you destroyed their only means of survival! You made her break up with me!”
By now, Mr. Monterio’s eyes were already filled with regrets.
“You’re not looking out for me, you’re only being selfish. And you know what, I’ll never forgive you for this, even till eternity”
“Forget about me, forget about my name because you’ll never see me here again” he went out of the house in anger.
Mr. Monterio slumped to the chair and placed his hand on the table. His son’s words hit him a million times.
“Dad, what’s Charles talking about? You didn’t do it, right?” Lilian asked.
“I’m so disappointed in you” she left the room.
“Am I a beast now?” Mr. Monterio asked himself slowly.
****
NEXT DAY, BROOKLYN’S RESIDENCE**
Hailey came out of her room dressed for work, she never wanted to go to work but Leah pestered her to do so.
“I’m leaving,” she announced.
Sebastian came out of the kitchen and her eyes widened.
“Dad!” She screamed.
Sebastian hugged her with a smile on his face.
“Dad, I was so worried. I thought…” She sniffs.
“Hey c’mon, Dad is a strong man, remember?” Sebastian smiled.
Hailey chuckled against his shoulder and hugged him tighter.
“I’m sorry” she whispered.
“We’ll close the restaurant for now, that’s the best,” Leah said behind them.
Hailey broke the hug to stare at her.
“Your Mom is right, the restaurant isn’t running well anymore so we have no choice but to close it” Sebastian added.
“I love you, Dad,” Hailey whispered and hugged him again.
***
RUSSI@*
The door to Cecilia’s room opened and the maid entered.
“Good morning, ma’am” she smiled at Cecilia.
“Your breakfast is ready,” she added.
“I’m not hungry” Cecilia looked away.
The maid looked around before moving closer to Cecilia.
“Ma’am, you need to listen to me. You have to eat because it’s very important”
“I already served your food separate, make sure you don’t touch any other food except the one I serve you”
Cecilia stared at her.
“I told you I’m going to save you, right? I might be new here, but I’m telling you to trust me”
“Alexa,” Cecilia called.
“Do this for me ma’am, I won’t be in trouble, trust me” Alexa smiled.
****
MONTERIO’S INVESTMENT***
Hailey entered Charles’ office as soon as he arrived. Her legs were trembling badly.
“Good morning, sir…” The rest of the word ended in her throat as Charles slammed his lips on hers.
Immediately his lips landed on hers, she lost all her sense of reasoning as she opened her mouth, welcoming his tongue with hers.
Their lips bit, teased against each other as their tongues rolled together.
Charles removed his lips from hers and placed them on her neck, sucking it deeply.
“Don’t leave me, Hailey. I can’t do without you” he mumbled against her neck.
Hailey breathes in slowly, she was against this but her body proved otherwise.
“I love you, Charles” she blurted out before she could control herself.
TBC
I was already dozing off while typing this ?
