In the last three months, Genelia had settled down in London with a stable job as an Assistant Manager of Global Trade at Mason Holding Trading Ltd., which was an International Trading company that specialized in hard and soft commodities, refined products, and construction materials. It was just a ten minutes ride via Underground Tube and thus despite her pregnancy, she could always make it on time.

"The ultrasound went so well, Gia. I noticed how hyperactive your twins are inside, just the opposite of what I experienced. In my case, Rebecca was always quietly sleeping or maybe sucking her thumb that continued for long after birth. Robbie was not as quiet as Rebecca, but he was not this hyperactive either." Genelia smiled indulgently at her best friend's rambling as they walked down towards the café down the street. 

In her second trimester now, Genelia had started looking pregnant, her body having nicely grown and her abdomen expanding every week to accommodate the little devils inside. Although her health had improved, thanks to her landlady, Mrs. Hemphill's mouth-watering delicacies and care, it was the odd food cravings that drove her crazy most of the times. 

"Hurry, I have been dying to have their blueberry cheesecake since morning." Genelia caught her friend's hand and steered her towards The Treats, a café that was famous for its mouth-watering treats and a hot favourite of both. 

"I know, right? Even I was dreaming of having my favourite chocolate raspberry crumble. Mmm," started Cassie, going into her own dream world as she got dragged along. 

"Stop, everyone is staring at you." Cassie paid no heed to her words and continued with her moans, making Genelia blush at all the weird attention they were receiving. She elbowed her best friend, making her come to her senses. 

"What?" Cassie looked at her quizzically. 

"Stop or people would think you have just received your first orgasm!" Cassie rolled her eyes and started her non-stop giggling. They occupied a seat at the backside, facing the main entrance, while Cassie glanced at her watch continuously. "Are we waiting for someone?" asked Genelia, watching her friend's antics. Cassie turned to look at her excitedly and nodded, making Genelia groan, knowing who it would be. The one and only Craig Symonds, who was stuck to her forever like a leech. 

"Seriously? You had to invite him after the way he annoyed me the last time?" Genelia gave her best friend a look of utter disbelief. She had sworn never to have anything to do with Craig and was at peace with her life, but he appeared at her office every day after her duty to beg for forgiveness. He dropped her home, took care of her and was fine with just being friends with her. For a month, Genelia had not succumbed to his charms at all and stood her ground, but finally had to give in. Ever since, he had been tagging along with them to every outing of theirs. 

"He promised to be good this time." Genelia scoffed at her words, not believing Craig at all. 

"You know he cannot be good and neither can he stop his crude marriage jokes all the time. He will not stop hitting on me, even though he harps on being just friends." Cassie laughed and leaned in towards her.

"Marry him then, Gia. He loves you." Genelia's expression changed immediately, and she shook her head slowly. 

"There is no such thing as love. It is a word present in a fool's dictionary and I have wiped it out of my life for good. I will never marry Craig so it is best that he realizes it soon and stops wasting his time on me." Cassie looked a little restless, not knowing how to make her understand that the one she was waiting for would never come to get her. She did not inform her about the email she had sent Brandon three months ago. If he really loved her, he would have come over to London to get her, but he had not. It only proved that Brandon did not feel a thing for her! 

"Move on, Gia, because the one you are waiting for will never come. How can you live alone all your life with the responsibility of two children on your shoulders and no help at all?" Genelia looked at her friend, her eyes emotionless and hard. 

"I am not waiting for anyone and yes, I can live with my boys and bring them up single-handedly. This is my way of moving on. I am still married to Brandon and so I will be for the rest of my life." 

"My bad! Maybe someday I will be able to change that thought of yours," said Craig, and they both looked up to see him standing at their table, grinning like a Cheshire cat. There had been a tremendous change in him after she had thrown him out of her life. Now, he hardly got angry with her and never ever tried to dominate her or dump his decision on her. Yet it did not have any effect on Genelia's decision, as she was firm in her wishes and dreams and he did not feature in them. 

"Can we order please? I am dying here." Genelia completely ignored Craig's statement, as it would lead to more marriage related jabs, and she refused to be provoked. 

"Oh yes. I completely forgot." Cassie got up and went to order, leaving her alone with Craig.

"How did the ultrasound go?" Genelia looked at him and smiled, since he had been accompanying her to all her doctor visits, except this one. A last minute emerged, cropped up, and he had to cancel it, but called Cassie instead to accompany her. 

"I'm expecting hyperactive boys!" She rolled her eyes with horror even at the thought while Craig's eyes crinkled at the sides as he stared at her tenderly, his heart skipping a beat or two. He had changed his ways as it was driving her farther away from him, and now his only mission in life was to convince her one day to marry him. 

"A perfect reason for you to marry me, don't you think so? I will calm them with my patience and love." Genelia looked down at her mobile phone to avoid reacting to his statement. 

"Don't you tire of your jokes?" She glanced up to see a strange look of longing in his eyes. 

"I don't joke, Genelia." Genelia looked down again, not wanting to encourage him at all.

"I do not want to marry you or anyone for that matter. After two failed marriages, I am done with marriages for life," she admitted, unconsciously releasing a staggering breath. It was something she had never admitted out aloud in front of him. Craig's sharp intake of breath was enough to make her realize her slip of tongue. Of course, he would feel shocked since he did not know about her marriage to Rafael. Cassie had left LA before her marriage and did not know about it either. 

"Two marriages? You are married to just Reid, right?" Cassie walked back to the table and sat down, looking from one to the other, trying to comprehend their topic of discussion. 

"What are you guys discussing?" 

"Did you know Genelia was married twice?" Cassie's mouth hung open with shock and she looked at her friend curiously.

"You were? To whom? How is it I know nothing about it? Does Brandon know?" She bombarded her with questions while Genelia took in a deep breath and looked at the two curious faces in front of her, ready to spill the truth.

"After you left LA, a drug lord confiscated our business and forcefully married me. He abused me for two years and one day he died mysteriously in a car crash, along with my entire family. Yes, Brandon knows everything." Craig frowned and looked angry, clenching his teeth just like he used to before. His entire cool façade was gone and replaced by the same mad look she had seen in him before, and it seemed nothing had changed in him.

"What's the bastard's name?" he gritted out gruffly. 

"Rafael Moretti." Genelia noted how he paled after hearing Rafael's name while Cassie sat frozen, unable to speak a single word. Genelia wanted to laugh at their reactions, since it was, she who had faced the criminal while they were trembling with fear, even after his death. Their food arrived, and they dug in, but she noted a change in Craig's demeanour. It was evening already, and Genelia needed to go home to prepare a presentation for a meeting tomorrow at work. 

"I will go home now. I have a big meeting coming up tomorrow and need to prepare for it." Cassie nodded and waved at her, still relishing her food. In fact, it was strange that even Craig did not offer to drop her home like he always did. She paid for her food and walked towards the nearest station. In ten minutes, she reached Sloane Square Station and started walking home, wondering what suddenly went wrong with Cassie and her brother upon hearing Rafael's name. Did they know him? 

She was deep in her thoughts as she walked, but strangely, she had a feeling of being stalked. Was it her imagination? Turning around to check, she did not find anyone apart from strangers walking home. It surely should be her imagination! She walked briskly this time, the hair at the nape of her neck standing up and she just could not get the feeling off her mind. She almost ran down towards her building as a feeling of dread gripped her heart. The discussion with her friends brought memories of Rafael fresh into her mind. So, was Rafael actually dead? As she reached the short alley where her building was located, she could hear firm footsteps behind her. She was right, someone was following her. 

"Do not look, Gia! Run!" prodded her inner mind, and she bolted towards her building as fast as a five months pregnant woman could, reaching her building in record time, but the footsteps behind her did not stop. 

Unable to control the urge, she entered her building and turned around to check who it was that was following her. The moment her eyes fell upon him, she froze with horror, her mind reeling from shock! 

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