The Hurdle
“What did he mean I hid their baby?” Ava is pacing back and forth in the room. Her hand is on her temple massaging it because she felt like her head would be cracked open by the revelation.
Apparently, he’s not joking when he told her he kills people as his means of living. That man is the head of the Druft family, the lethal mafia group that is feared by many cartels all over the state. No wonder Levi did not make a fuss with Daemon in the pub. He’s no match to his wealth and power.
“So I am Devon, his wife. I betrayed Daemon by contacting my family, which is his rival who gunned him down. I escaped with our baby but I was involved in a car accident and now he’s looking for the baby but I don’t know where I hid her because I have no memories.”
She stopped in confusion and stared at her reflection in the mirror. “But how was I able to hide the baby when I was part of the accident! Of course I’d be bleeding! I won’t be able to move! I could have lost my consciousness right there!”
Enraged, she marched out of the door and into the third floor of the house where Daemon told her he would be.
“You can’t deceive me, Daemon. For all I know you killed Devon and you wanted to pin the blame on me just because I look like her! Huh! I’m not as stupid as you think! I won’t let that happen.”
Not bothering to knock, she barged into the room unceremoniously where she saw Daemon in a very compromising situation. He’s kissing a very attractive woman on his lap while his hands were on her butt!
She doesn’t know why but she tasted bitterness in her mouth at the sight.
“I… I’m sorry. I thought…” She closed her eyes in embarrassment. “Please go on. Go continue what you’re doing.”
Turning her heels towards the door, she grimaced in shame. “God, Ava! Learn how to knock next time.”
“Devon,” Daemon called.
“Yes?”
“Where are you going?”
Standing straight, she clenched her fist and faced them.
“I have something to tell you but you’re with company.”
He gently lifted the woman out of his lap and took a tissue to wipe off his mouth as if wanting to remove her taste in him.
“Maddy and I are done talking. Come here. You can tell me about your decision.”
Maddy. She doesn’t like the feel of his name in her mouth.
“Oh hi, Maddy,” she greeted her awkwardly.
Glancing at the woman who was obviously hurt by Daemon’s remark, she stopped on her tracks and raised her brows. Wait, she’s quite familiar. Ava looked at her twice, thrice, until a realization came.
“Oh my gosh!” Devon exclaimed and covered her mouth in shock when she remembered where she saw the woman.
“You!” She pointed at Maddy. “You are a senator’s wife.” Ava’s eyes widened in shock and looked back at Daemon who’s sitting languidly on the chair. “So it means, you and her are both cheating on her husband?”
Maddy laughed. “Still the same old Devon Farrows. She still makes my blood boil.”
Grabbing up her purse, she left a peck on Daemon’s cheek. “I better go. The senator’s wife will have a long day ahead of her.”
Maddy is gone but her strong scent of perfume still lingers in the room.
Even her scent smells familiar, she thought.
“Hey, eyes here,” Daemon snapped at her wandering mind.
“Oh, right, right.” She gathered back her wits and emotion to intimidate the devil personified. “Mr. Evil Man, I came here because I want to make a deal with you.”
“Cool,” he blankly replied and opened the lid of his laptop. “Very interesting. Why don’t you tell me more?”
“First, you promise me that you will never try to kill me, understand?”
Daemon put his hands together and shrugged. “I’ll try. It’s already part of my nature. Instincts. Can’t help it.”
She pulled up a chair and sat on it. “Okay, that will do for me. You try but you can’t succeed.” Taking a long breath, she exhaled and finally nodded. “Okay, I’m accepting to be Devon, your wife. I will go to sessions you mentioned to get those memories back. I’m agreeing to all of that but on one condition.”
Daemon’s dark hooded eyes met hers. “What is it?”
“If I don’t remember anything in the first month of therapy then you’ll let me leave. I swear I would not lie to you. That must be enough for you to let me go. Devon or not, I won’t be tied to my past anymore. If I’m really Devon in my past life and I can’t remember being her anymore, there’s no reason to live like her.”
Without saying anything, he turned around the laptop to show her something. It's footage of a car wreckage.
“Okay? What is that?”
“Look closely.” He paused the video and zoomed in. “That’s you holding Emily after the accident. You are able to flee the area, Devon. This is the only evidence I have of you. It took me years to finally have a lead on your whereabouts, Devon.”
“That is me?” she murmured, taking her face closer to the screen. “T-That is really me! Oh gosh, Daemon! I saved the baby so why did you tell me that I didn’t?”
“Because this wouldn’t have happened if you did not frame me. Emily wouldn’t go missing if you only stayed as my wife. I’m even ready to risk it all for you, Devon. I was ready to retire as the boss and left the country with you and our child but look what you’ve done to me. Your father almost killed me. Because of that, I became impotent. I cannot have a child anymore, meaning I’d have no heir, sadly.”
Her hand trembled. The air grew heavy and the room seemed to spin. Time stood still as her mind raced to process the shocking revelation. She’s finally getting the reason why Daemon went out of his way to plot this.
“I want to see our daughter, Emily, whether she’s dead or alive,” he said, confirming her suspicion.
