Chapter One
Enzo Finds Genelia
Genelia smiled at the screen, watching the twins move about in her womb. Hearing their heartbeats gave her a lot of happiness and, for the first time in months, she smiled. Mrs. Hemphill gasped with joy at seeing the twins and held her hands to comfort her.
“A month more, Genelia and you’ll have them in your arms,” she gushed excitedly, and Genelia smiled at the kind woman who had supported her in her time of need. After realizing Enzo’s motive, she refused to stay in Coatzacoalcos at uncle Perez’s house any longer. With aunt Mariah helping her financially, she booked a flight back to London where Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill welcomed her with open arms and unlocked her old apartment for her. Genelia was glad of their support and bought a few essentials with the money she had in her bank, leaving some for her delivery. She took up an online marketing job with Mr. Hemphill’s help and was glad of the income. She refused to think about Brandon and Bianca and the wonderful time they were having back in his house. For her, she was a single mother to her children and would remain so all her life.
“Yes, I can’t wait to hold them. I’m glad that I could pull this far after the struggle I’ve been through,” she admitted, feeling a little emotional. Her pregnancy had been a roller-coaster journey she had to go through all on her own. While she saw others having a memorable experience with their better halves during their final trimester, she was fated to suffer everything alone. She knew she could never have the dream life she wanted, but she wasn’t complaining. At least she was alive and able to give birth to her babies, something she had not expected at all while in Ross Moretti’s custody.
“I know, dear, and you will always have our support as long as you need it,” consoled Mrs. Hemphill. Genelia was indebted to the old couple, who unconditionally accepted her back into their lives, without prodding her for details about her personal life. Despite not being related to her by blood, they were more of a family to her than her own siblings or her husband. She knew what she would do once her children were born. She would file for divorce and free Brandon for life since it was clear he didn’t need her in his life. After that phone call she had made, every day, she had expected him to call back, but when he didn’t even after a week, she gave up hope. Maybe she would have to spend her whole life with her unrequited love pining for him.
They reached home, and Genelia started her work for the day. She couldn’t afford to take a single day’s leave, as she needed to save the money she earned for her future. Ever since she had returned, she hadn’t informed Cassidy or Craig about her whereabouts and mostly kept to herself. She had left Enzo’s phone at the Perez house before leaving and therefore Enzo did not know where she was. His warning did not scare her since she could deal with him now, with Ross Moretti dead and the danger looming over her head gone forever.
Lost in her work, she didn’t have any idea what was happening at the Hemphill’s apartment. The old couple exchanged looks on seeing Zander Reid’s number flashing on Mr. Hemphill’s mobile phone. What did he want now? They had never prodded Genelia for the reason she escaped again and welcomed her without questioning her at all. For a week, they waited for her to talk to them, but it seemed as if she was reluctant to share anything about what forced her to leave her husband for the second time. Seeing Zander’s behaviour with her, they were sure that it would be a misunderstanding and nothing else, since the man seemed to love her unconditionally.
“Take his call David. It might be important,” urged Mrs. Hemphill, and her husband accepted the call immediately.
“Yes, Zander. How are you?” he asked warily into the phone.
“Not good, Mr. Hemphill. I’m looking for Genelia and her last bank transactions indicate that she’s in London. Do you have any idea where she is now? Is she renting your apartment in London?” His direct question made Mr. Hemphill hesitate a little and glance briefly at his wife, who nodded at him.
“Yes, you’re right, Zander. She’s here, but I don’t think I shouldn’t be telling you this considering that she has escaped from you the second time,” said David Hemphill worriedly, feeling a little guilty for giving Genelia away. Was he doing the right thing?
“No, she hasn’t escaped me, Mr. Hemphill. A most wanted drug lord abducted her and held her captive for a ransom, and I’ve been looking for her everywhere. Please keep this between us, and I’ll explain everything when I come over.” His statements confused Mr. Hemphill, but didn’t prod him further, noticing Zander’s hoarse and desperate tone.
“Alright, son, as you wish.” True to his promise, he didn’t tell a word about Zander’s phone call to Genelia. However, even after six days, when Zander hadn’t arrived, the old couple started speculating about what might have gone wrong.
Genelia wrapped up her work and was about to prepare herself a simple dinner when the doorbell rang. She frowned, wondering who it could be since the Hemphill’s had a spare set of keys and used it instead of bothering her. With the twins lying low in her womb, they knew she had difficulties moving around. She had no option but to travel so far to London under such a critical pregnancy, but now she tried her best to avoid excessive movement.
The doorbell rang again, and she felt irritated by the impatient visitor. Slowly waddling towards the door, she opened it to see who could have arrived to disturb her. Her face paled, seeing Enzo standing there with an angry scowl on his face.
“Enzo? What are you doing here?” she asked, feeling annoyed that he had to follow her here. Enzo brushed past her into her apartment and angrily turned around to face her.
“What choice did I have? I was so worried about you. How could you just disappear without informing me?” he scolded her, his eyes burning with a strange fire in them. Genelia looked away, at a loss for words. How could she tell him she knew why he was worried about her? How could she tell him she overheard his conversation with Carlos?
“I didn’t wish to be a burden on anyone for long, Enzo.” Enzo looked at her with disbelief.
“Did aunt Mariah and uncle Daniel ever make you feel that way? With the threat still on your head, shouldn’t you have stayed where I asked you to? Why did you have to put your life in danger?” he scolded her, but Genelia scoffed at his lies. How could he harp on that excuse when Ross Moretti was already dead and there was no threat at all?
“I know Ross Moretti is dead, Enzo. I know my husband has killed him. So what threat are you talking about? I couldn’t live there forever,” she stated, unable to stop herself while Enzo’s mouth hung open with surprise. He hadn’t expected her to know.
“Who told you?” he hissed with anger, suspicious that she might have had a word with her husband behind his back despite his warnings.
“I overheard you talking to Carlos.” Enzo’s face paled, and he felt dumbfounded for the first time in his life. So, did she know about his feelings for her? Was that the reason she fled Coatzacoalcos? To avoid facing him? Thinking of it, he noticed that after the conversation with Carlos, he hadn’t seen Genelia at all.
“I see. So, what have you overheard?” he couldn’t help but ask her.
Genelia looked away impatiently, not wanting to deal with Enzo at all. She was tired after the day’s work and needed to make dinner and rest.
“Whatever I needed to know. Look Enzo, I’m thankful to you for saving my life, but I can look after myself and my children. I don’t need anyone’s help and I don’t want to depend on anyone. I’m happily settled here and wish you stay here all my life.” Enzo gaped at her rebuff, realizing that she was actually dismissing him from her life.
“I’m not like that husband of yours, Genelia. I’m a one-woman man and I’ve been true to you for the last eight years.” Genelia sighed, hearing his words.
“Even I’m a one-man, woman, Enzo. I have loved Zander for the last ten years of my life, despite what he did to me. I’m still married to him and can’t think of another.”
“Come out of your dream world, Genelia. He has moved on from you. Why can’t you move on from him? I know you can’t handle so much all on your own. Please let me help you?” he pleaded with her.
“You can help me as a friend, Enzo.” He grunted with anger at her offer.
“I want to be more than a friend to you. Don’t you realize that?” he asked desperately.
“You can’t. She’s mine, only mine,” said a voice from the open doorway.