Chapter One
Zander's mouth hung open with surprise, seeing the picture of a beaming Bianca clad in a bikini, and holding a pair of baby mittens onto her bare abdomen. He had not expected her to pull such a stunt at all, and he blinked twice with disbelief as a feeling of dread filled his mind. He noted she had uploaded the photograph approximately five months back when Genelia had left him. The backdrop was of Queensland, Australia, where Bianca's family lived, but more than anything else, it was the caption that made him frown.
Six years, endless love, pregnant with his baby!
Who could she mean? Was it his baby? How could that be possible when he had always used protection with her? He blinked with confusion, remembering that he had not touched Bianca for the last nine months. She was fine when he saw her five months ago, so how could she be pregnant with his child in Australia? He wondered if Genelia had already seen it!
Already at his wit's end, he checked the next photograph and fell onto his bed in shock. Dated two days ago, he gaped wordlessly at the picture of a new-born baby in her arms as she posed for the camera. Zander's breath got stuck in his throat as he read the write-up.
Although realized late, I am delighted to give birth to my baby girl, Ziana Sara Reid. Now it's time to bond with her loving dad.
Zander gulped for air, realizing that she had named her daughter after him. Was this a joke? He was sure that this was a hoax, since Bianca was not pregnant when he last met her. So how could she give birth in just five months? He noted that her abdomen in the earlier picture did not look distended even a little. Was she really pregnant?
Just then, his phone buzzed with an incoming call from Cameron and he accepted it in a state of daze. "Did you see her posts?" Cameron could not contain the anger he felt at Bianca's behaviour. If she were indeed pregnant, she would have told Karen at least, but she didn't and her pregnancy surprised Karen as well.
"Yes, but how can she give her child my name and brag about it in a public post? She should have confronted me first, furnished me proof that I am indeed the father."
"Exactly! In fact, even Karen is sure that she was not pregnant when she left Cape Town."
"I know she was not, but what do I do now? What if Genelia sees her posts? She will be more upset with me and never agree to come home with me."
"Karen will call Bianca tonight and talk to her and you could, too. Why don't you demand an explanation and proof from her?" Zander knew he would never call her since this was all a ploy to get back at him as she had threatened, she would. Maybe she expected him to go crazy after seeing her post, which he did, but he would not ever let her know.
"No, I will not call at all and would prefer to wait and watch what she does. I am sure she is waiting for my call so that she can dictate her terms and conditions to me."
"Yeah, you are right. Just ignore her and I am sure she will land up at your doorstep with her child. Have you thought about what you will do then?" asked Cameron, but Zander did not want to think that far, as his mind could only think of Genelia.
"Can we change the topic?" Zander had other priorities to consider now, and Bianca and her child didn't feature at all in his thoughts.
"Sure. So, tell me, when are you coming down to the office?" asked Cameron curiously. Although his doctor had given him permission seeing his progress, Zander wanted to surprise Cameron, so he had not informed him he would go to work the next morning!
"I will see you at the office tomorrow. I was planning to surprise you, but you have spoiled the fun now." He chuckled, hearing Cameron gasp with surprise.
"Even I was planning to surprise you, dude," Cameron blurted out, and then clamped onto his mouth, but Zander's interest was piqued by now and he was dying to know what his best friend had planned.
"With what?" Cameron did not reply, making him more curious.
"Well, I'm getting married in two weeks!" he blurted out, shocking Zander completely.
"To whom? Last I met you, there was no one in your life?"
"To my new PA, Miranda Drew." Zander blinked with disbelief, knowing what a perfectionist Cameron was. He never appointed a PA all his life and preferred to do all his work himself, so what changed now?
"PA? I thought you hated the idea of a PA. I am really dying of curiosity, so I must go to the office tomorrow and I want to know everything." Cameron chuckled at his best friend's demand.
"Sure." After he disconnected the call, Zander's mind went back to Genelia and he could not help but long to have her back in his life. With Cameron happily settling down with the love of his life, Zander knew he would miss his wife more now. He had to find her and bring her back and desperately thought of a way when suddenly the thought of checking Genelia's social media accounts struck him. He knew it was creepy, but hope filled his heart and he sat down at his desk, searching her account like a stalker. To his surprise, he found a post where her best friend Cassidy had tagged her and he blinked with surprise, wondering why he had not thought of this before! So Genelia was with Cassidy, but she was Craig's sister if he was not mistaken! Did that mean that Genelia had moved on and now was with Craig? His whole body burned with jealousy at the thought and he started checking Cassidy's account to find her location. At last, a smile broke out on his lips as he found out that she lived in London.
"Found you, Gen, so that's where you've been hiding all this while!" No wonder the cops could not find her, as he had asked them to look for Genelia in California. They had been collaborating with the police there to look for Genelia while all the time she was hiding in London! Not anymore though as he was fit enough and could travel to London to get her, but where would he look for her in London?
He absent-mindedly got up to get change for bed and went to the closet to take out a fresh pair of clothes when his glance fell upon his drawer. The moment he saw his drawer where he kept his important documents, he remembered the letter that was delivered four months ago, along with Rafael's threat note. He had been so busy that he had stored it there in the drawer and had completely forgotten about it later. Curious, he opened the drawer and searched, finding the envelope below a pile of important documents.
Taking it out, he checked the envelope and his eyes popped out, seeing that Cassidy sent it with a return address to London. Why hadn't he checked it before? He quickly tore it open with his breath stuck in his throat as he realized the importance of the paper in his hands. Out came a white sheet of paper with his address written on it and a note below it that Cassidy had written to him.
Brandon/Zander,
I thought I should fulfill my duty as Genelia's best friend. So, I am sending you her address in case you are worried about her. If you love her, pursue her! She has gone through a lot and deserves to be happy. Best of luck!
Cassidy.
Zander read the note again and again as his heart filled up with excitement. Of course, he loved her! There was not a doubt about it. So, London was nothing when he could pursue her to the end of the world.
"Now, no one can save you from me, Gen. I will abduct you and bring you back if you don't co-operate," he swore, keeping the note in his wallet. Changing into a pair of sweatpants, he lay down, but sleep was elusive tonight as a pair of beautiful hazel eyes kept on beckoning him towards her. Restless and unable to sleep, he started packing for his London trip. If he could, he would have booked the ticket and left, but he needed to consult his doctor first and then go to his office and talk to Cameron. He knew it could take him longer than a week to convince Genelia to return with him, but he would not give up. What if she was involved with Craig? It would take more time to snatch her away from him, but he would. She was his!
After a restless night, it was late, when Zander fell asleep, exhausted from all the exertion but still woke up on time. Excited, he first visited his doctor, asking him for permission to travel. After a thorough check-up, the doctor gave him permission to travel but with limitations which Zander promised to pay heed to. Afterward, he went to his office and updated Cameron about the latest developments in his life.
"I need to get her, bro." Cameron nodded in understanding, but he looked a little thoughtful.
"My wedding is in a fortnight, and you must attend it with Genelia. We have made all the arrangements and we cannot postpone it, dude, so try to be back before the wedding." Zander felt bad that he could not commit to his best friend, but going to London was his topmost priority now.
"I will try, but there is no guarantee, since I don't know if I can convince Genelia so easily. She is stubborn, and it would take me quite an effort to convince her after the stunt Bianca pulled." Cameron looked worried, but he seemed to understand his predicament.
"Fine, take your time. I will ask Carter to be my best man, since you aren't available. Anyway, you too got married without me, so you can meet Miranda afterwards." Zander laughed at his reasoning and, after taking an update about the business, he was all set to leave for London to get his wife back.
His flight was in two hours and he drove home excitedly to get ready to leave.