Chap.119*How It All Started*

"What? This isn't how a relationship works." He frowned and reached me but I shook his hand away.

"No! You humiliated me, you abused me." I yelled at the top of my lungs, "I'm leaving you, you can now bring your sister here, tell Cierra that she can live here now that I'm leaving." I yelled and stepped further away from him.

"Ayleen!" he watched my face in shock, he thought I was the type, who will keep tolerating his bullshi* and not question him? He thought he could scare me away with his loud tone?

"No! I'm not your Ayleen anymore. You don't even want to start a family, your sister just occupies your mind all the Damn time." I screamed and walked away from him in haste. I found him following me, I even heard him calling after me.

"Ayleen! Stop! Please, this isn't how marriages work. I got angry, fine in sorry but you should accept your mistake as well," he kept babbling while he tried holding my arm.

I crossed the patio umbrella and when reached the main exit, I found somebody on the door.

"Surprise!" In front of my eyes was his sister along with her daughter.

"Cierra!" Desmond awkwardly walked past me to invite his sister in. The smile from Cierra's face faded off when her eyes landed on me.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, very concerned.

...

We were in the living room now, everybody silently seated on separate couches and sofas.

"Desmond! Why did you yell at her?" Cierra questioned Desmond, who had just came back to bring the food tray, helping the maid.

He never left a chance to embarrass me, why did he need to work with a maid? Wasn't this their job?

"That!" Desmond knew I have not told her all the things I said, I mean would he want me to tell his sister that I'm done with her? I did him a favor.

"A wrong file was sent to the client because of her." He had his tone lowered as he spoke.

"Is it going to get you in trouble?" Cierra asked concerned and when Desmond shook his head, she continued, "Then why did you raise your voice at her?" she was picking my side over him.

"It was just a reflex," he murmured like a coward.

"Now apologize to her," she ordered, making me sigh in exhaustion. Why did she have to get into our business?

And why did he need his sister to remind him how wrong he was? Why didn't he realize it himself?

"I'm sorry, Ayleen." Desmond slowly bent down on his knees and held my hands in his hands.

I didn't want to accept his apology too soon but the fear of making Cierra happy and satisfied because we were fighting, made me forgive him instantly. I passed him a quick smile and then attempted to be okay.

"So, Hazel, how is school?" Desmond asked his niece, as I said, she was a very polite girl.

"It's good," she responded with a mild smile.

"You guys must be hungry," I knew we had just put food for them, but they were waiting for some sort of invitation.

After dinner and a little bit chit chat, we all headed back to our rooms.

"You were shouting at me for someone who didn't even take your side." the moment we entered the bedroom, I rolled my eyes and mumbled to get Desmond's attention.

"But she took your side and you still don't respect her." Him being a sister's brother only, replied back to me.

The next few days were highly irritating, I couldn't for my life stand that Cierra and her daughter Hazel.

And then I finally started getting anxious very visible but before I could say something, I started feeling sick. I would throw up constantly and even be dizzy the entire day and since I've missed my periods, I kind of knew what was happening.

"Congratulations!" Cierra rushed to give me a hug, but I broke the hug and freed myself pretty quick.

"Be careful," I uttered under my breath, feeling really annoyed by her presence.

"Oh don't worry, I know how to take care of a pregnant lady, I've been pregnant myself too, once." she tried to joke but I wasn't laughing. I wanted to enjoy this moment with Desmond only.

"I'm so happy," Desmond was standing beside me, his arm wrapped around me.

"I'll take care of he--," as she was about to tell us that she had already planned to stay around with us my whole pregnancy, I cut her off.

"Actually, I've already called my friend to come and stay with me. She is also a nanny so she knows how to take care of kids as well." once I finished, I felt Desmond removing his arm from around me, "I thought you'd be busy since you have to move back as your daughter's school will start soon." I added very awkwardly.

I was glad that she took a hint but I needed to make sure that she knows she has not welcomed here again until I invite her over, "You can be back once I give birth." I mumbled again and that's when Desmond turned to me.

"Ayleen!" he growled, obviously, he did.

"What? I'm not being malicious, I am just worried that we are poking our nose in her business too much." I knew what I was doing, and thankfully, she understood me.

"Oh! It's fine. Desmond, she cares about us." Cierra, who knew this is not what I meant, tried to calm down Desmond.

The awkwardness lasted till she packed her bags and Desmond dropped her at the airport.

I have finally gotten rid of her and since I was pregnant, Desmond too didn't put pressure on me for upsetting his sister.

The next few days were calm and full of happiness. Desmond and I were now spending quality time together with no sister of his interrupting our peace and business.

My friend, who Desmond knew as well, was coming in today and I couldn't be happier than this.

"Ayleen!" she spread her arms wide open the moment she got out of the car that I've sent to pick her up from the airport.

"Ava!" I rushed to hug her. Now, this is what I called perfect life, I knew she will be a better choice than his sister Cierra.

"Oh my God! I'm so happy for you." she giggled, holding my hands and pressing them tightly out of happiness.

"Now that you are here, you can take care of this stubborn child." Desmond came out of the house and smiled, "Hey Ava!" after he was done mocking me, he greeted her.

"Desmond! I'm so grateful of you for taking care of her but since now I'm here, you don't have to worry about anything." she looked genuinely happy.

She was the only person who had always supported me, helped me, and even cared for me apart from Desmond.

Ava was my neighbor when I lived with my foster parents and every time they would hurt me or deny my request, Ava would arrive to save the day. She was a selfless and very caring girl. I mean, that's why she left her job and came here to take care of me with only one phone call from me.

She took care of me this entire time and then the time came when I finally gave birth to my first ever son, my Royce.

Life had never been better, Desmond and I only grew stronger from here. His Cierra did come to meet Royce but didn't stay for much longer.

Now I was the only one Desmond knew in his life. Ava was such a great help during this whole time but then she had to leave too.

Then time passed and our life started to get busy. Royce became Roy, and a very attention-seeking toddler. I had to hire and fire nannies every day, it felt like all the thrill from my life washed away.

I began to feel some changes in my body as well, the dresses I used to wear before wouldn't fit anymore.

Whenever I would be out in the public, the eyes were at me but now they wouldn't want to look at a mother with a crying kid in the stroller.

This wasn't the kind of life I had dreamed of, I wanted thrill, romance, and fun.

And then something big happened that changed our entire life.