**Arielle's POV CONT'D**

I laughed maniacally at my thoughts, Liam was mine and so was every other part of his body.

To have him ogling another lady when we haven't married yet was bad for me.

Ever since I overhead his discussion, it had my thoughts flying in so many directions.

I didn't come all this way to lose him to that thing, if it was a lady of better class and was way better than me, it would have been better but then it was her, Natasha.

I parked at the driveway and surveyed the area for a while before entering her compound.

For a moment I contemplated doing this myself as the possibility of this thing not working out as planned.

I wanted to do something that would break her so much that she'd hate the name, Liam.

A word was enough for the wise.

I walked towards Natasha's door and knocked. No one responded making me frown, I was pretty sure that her mom was in the house.

"Just a minute! I'm coming!" I heard her shout from the inside making me smile.

I heard her hurried footsteps before the door opened, the woman looked at me quizzically and then asked, "Uhm hello?".

"Good Morning Mom, sorry Mrs Banks, I'm Ari, Arielle in full, a friend of Natasha" I greeted.

The frown on the woman face surely meant that she was very suspicious of me.

"Okay dear, is there a problem?" She asked me with raised brows and I knew her next statement was to say that Natasha wasn't around.

I laughed softly and tried as much as possible to calm her suspicions, "I guess I'm not welcome here, I…".

"Sorry dear, pardon my manners come in" she said before moving slightly so I can pass.

"It's no problem mom" I said softly before entering the house behind her. The stench of poverty in this house made me frown.

"Hmm okay, I guess you are welcome to our humble abode, you don't look comfortable" her mom began before she added.

"I'm sorry for acting in that manner, it's just that Tasha has never mentioned any of her friends to me".

I looked at the frail and sick looking lady in nothing but disgust, she coughed softly and immediately I ran to her side in fake sympathy.

I discreetly thanked my stars that she coughed because I had no response for her honestly, my stay here alone was infuriating me the more.

She didn't stop but rather coughed the more, here I was thinking earlier on that it was going to be hard to kill her while the universe was in my favor.

"Let me get you water" I said sadistically but she was in a coughing fit to notice.

I walked towards the direction she had pointed out for me. This was all for a greater good, Mrs. Banks needs to go to rest and I was going to help her.

My reflection on the shining knife smiled back at me.

**Natasha's POV**

I knew that fate definitely had good plans for me because I got the job.

There was nothing much again maybe all this had happened for a reason.

My heart stirred in pain making me frown, what was happening?.

For some weird reasons I felt something bad was going to happen as it was going to happen now.

"Are you even listening to me?" Sandy asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I was just lost in thoughts" I apologized immediately.

She sighed and opened her mouth to say something before shutting it, "you look troubled, go home we'll talk later".

"I owe you ".

"Yes you do but only the living can speak" she said softly.

I smiled at her and hugged her muttering thanks.

Having a friend was good but a friend that understands you even before you speak was a blessing.

I said my goodbye before flagging down a cab.

My heart thumped so weirdly against my chest as he drove home, something was definitely wrong and I knew it but what?

I tried calling mom's line but then it kept on going to voicemail making me more worried.

As we approached the house I could hear sirens making my heart thumb and I perked outside to see cops car parked in front of my house.

I quickly got down from the cab ignoring the calls of the driver towards my house.

My Mom was the first person that came to my mind and immediately I let it out.

"Mom!" I called out as I ran, she was all that mattered in that house and nothing else.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but you can't go in there" I heard someone said while holding me back from entering the entering the house.

"My mom is in there!!" I screamed before running away from their hold.

I haven't gone far when I saw someone being wheeled out in a stretcher.

I held my breath hoping my mom wasn't the person being wheeled out in a stretcher even though my mind was ringing otherwise.

As I saw the face of the wheeled out person, my heart crashed into pieces and my eyes shut before my legs gave way for me to slump.

I could hear them rush towards me and pick me before I could fall but my subconscious mind was still on mom.

How come she was dead?.

I was just about coming home to share the good news with her, we haven't even talked about what I had seen.

(At the hospital)

After spending a night in the hospital and I still haven't come in terms with the fact that Mom was dead and was never coming back to me.

No amount of tears could too, no amount of pleading too, she was gone and I was going to have to leave with it like that.

Upon waking up this morning, the police became my friends, asking questions and so much more.

They said it seemed more like a suicide attempt which I could understand, Mom didn't want a painful death so she made it more simpler for us.

All that filled my mind was the fact that she was dead.

"Ma'am are you here?" I heard him ask.

"I just want to go home" I said not looking at him but rather at the window, for some reason it seemed so attractive to my eyes.

My mind flew to our last interaction, we didn't even have enough time to talk but yet she's gone, just like that.

"Ma'am" I heard the pestering policeman call out again.

"My mom would never commit suicide just so you know" I said quietly.

"She was so sick but would never want to end her life like that, so do your work as expected, stop these questions you have been asking me this".

He then excused himself and as he left the doctor walked in alongside Sandy.

Seeing Sandy made me burst into tears, another batch of tears as memories filled my mind.

Sandy talked to the doctor while I just sat down lifelessly staring into blank space.

She took me home afterwards, she didn't stop there but rather helped me with lunch alongside soup and made sure I eat it.

While I slept, she finally left.

It took me a while to finally come to the terms that mom was indeed dead and was never returning.

A call woke me up and sleepily picked up the call without looking at the call ID.

"Hope you aren't in bed" I heard Sandy say making me jolt in bed before answering in negative.

"You need to clean up yourself, it's been two days baby girl" she said softly before adding, "even for no one but for her".

We talked for a while before I finally decided to heed to her words.

She was right on every ramification, and sitting idle at home wasn't going to bring back the dead.

I walked down the stairs and tried pushing back the memories that tried blinding me.

After tidying up the house, I walked to the sitting room only to gasp as something pierced my leg.

I stared at the ear ring after picking it up, it looked so familiar to be ignored and moreover mom and I weren't fans of it.

I gasped as it hits me, the threat, Arielle, she was the one with the ear ring the other day.

So many questions were swirling through my mind as I wondered how it got here.

It couldn't be that she, I gasped in realization.

There was only one truth here and the last person my mom saw before passing away, she was definitely the culprit here.

Arielle was my mother's killer?.

So many things ran through my mind and I immediately called the policewoman she had met at the site.

I informed her of my findings but I realized this people wanted absolutely nothing to do with this case.

They didn't want to even further it and I was even advised to do so too.

According to the female cop, my accusations would be taken with levity since there were no concrete evidence to back up my suspicion .

More days seemed more like months and a week after moms death, the burial plans began.

I went back to the place I had gotten a job even though deep down, I knew there wouldn't wait till I was done mourning and I was right.

After a night with Liam , my whole world had turned upside down and leaving me in turmoil.

I decided to move, especially if the house kept on bringing terrible images and making me run crazy.

Somewhere far away even away from Sandy because it was beginning to seem like I was a burden.

At the Burial scene, it was just a few people are present even Sandy was absent too and I honestly didn't blame her.

"Natasha" I heard the priest after mom was laid to rest.

I stopped and turned back to face him.

"A word before you go please".

I nodded and sat down, after him. "How are you faring?" He asked staring at me like he could see my soul.

"I'll be fine father" I replied smiling softly. He stated at me for a while and I immediately bursted into tears and poured out all my fears and feelings.

I wasn't okay at all not even a tiny bit.

As I cried he blessed me with words that touched me, that made me believe all wasn't lost and moms death was not the end of my life.

After the burial, I held an open house and the outcome for the house sale wasn't encouraging one bit.

"Six million dollars" I heard someone say making me gasp on surprise and so did the rest.

A lady with a scarf and entered, staring straight at me she added, "six million dollars and we'd talk about its price in private". She then took off her scarf, I frown seeing her

"Why are you here?" I asked standing up and walking where she stood.

"Why don't we talk in private?" She whispered.

"We have nothing to talk about you murderer" I said wishing no one was here so I'd teach her a lesson, she would never forget.

"I didn't kill your your mom!".

"Do you think 500,000 dollars would take you anywhere?, Or is six million dollars small, I'll double it then".

"What do you want in return?" I found myself asking as the offer was just too good to ignore.

"I want you to go, leave here and don't ever return".

"Are you scared your darling Liam is going to leave you for me?" I teased making her snarl at me.

"Don't push it, are you taking the money or not?".

I stared at her for a while before nodding making her smirk, "that's better".

It was a though Arielle wanted me out as soon as she could make it happen because I was handed over the cash immediately.

Although it was to my distaste, she was with me while I booked my flight and had even sent people to escort me to the airport.

A phone call before the plane took off pulled my attention away from the window.

"Am i speaking with Ms Natasha?" I heard the caller ask.

"Yes, who is this if I may ask?" I quired back.

"Oh it's Doctor Savvy, you had checked In a few day but to my surprise you never returned to take the results of your test as your friend said you would".

"I'm sorry, what!!" I asked in confusion.

"You are pregnant, Mrs Natasha".

**Natasha POV**

It's been a month since I left home, a month since mom left me to the hands of this cold world.

Now I'm a mom, carrying the future of someone in my womb.

And he wasn't even aware of it, not that he'll care although I had played a part in it.

I didn't even want him to know, he didn't deserve to know after what an affair with him had caused me.

Waking up early in the morning was becoming a problem for me already.

I arrived to work late again, and I knew I will soon be queried. I sneaked into my office and was about to sit down when Lisa startled me.

“Your late coming is turning to a routine, you will soon be queried” Lisa said with a sad smile

“I know Lisa but you of all people know that I am not doing it intentionally” I replied.

“How are you and the baby doing” She asked after pulling me into a side hug.

Meeting Lisa on the plane was one of the best thing that have ever happened to me.

I was broken and shocked that I had given my virginity to a man that cared less and now I was carrying his baby.

Almost immediately his call came in, he called me and the call make me break down on plane though I didn't pick up.

She was there, that stranger that had comforted me and let me stain her shirt.

We began buddies after that, turns out that she was heading home and I had no way to stay so she agreed to accommodate me.

She helped me to me to get a job in the entertainment industry as an editor.

“I haven't gone for checkup to know how the baby is” I replied.

“And yourself! How are you coping with the job and the pregnancy” She asked again.

“It's getting hard day by day, I am finding it hard to cope with my job and my cravings are increasing day by day” I said.

“Why don't you quit for now” She said.

“I can't possibly quit now, this is my only source of income” I replied.

I agree that working with pregnancy was very hard as much as stressful but quitting this job was not an option.

I needed it to take care of my baby when I deliver.

“But you have saved a lot that can cover up expenses when you are dew, right now, you need to stop stressing yourself and the baby” Lisa added

"Okay, I will think about it” I replied.

I knew deep down that what she was saying was true, I am getting close to my delivery date.

I decided to submit my resignation letter tomorrow.

Lisa recommended a Yoga class for me, I guess she didn't want to hurt my feeling by telling me I was getting fat and at a very fast rate, but I knew myself.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I knew I was adding in size, rapidly making me look ugly.

I accepted the offer and started Yoga classes, it was easier than I thought, I also felt welcomed.

I was on my way to the class, Lisa said she will meet me there.

Entering the place, I sighted Lisa she was with someone, I waved and few minutes later the class started.

The class was half way gone when Lisa walks up to me with a guy.

"Wassup babe, you look hot" Lisa says and I blush but didn't reply her.

I was still curious as to why the guy was staring intently on me.

"So sorry I didn't introduce you, meet my friend Andrew" She said again finally introducing the guy.

'Nice to Meet you Andrew" I said.

"The pleasure is mine beautiful", He replied and I smiled at him before looking away while Lisa talked with the instructor.

The Andrew guy seemed to find something on my face because He was staring and his stare was making me so uncomfortable, I couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry but Is there something on my face?".

He chuckled softly before asking, "sorry but I'm I making you uncomfortable?". I nodded my head at his question

"It's just that your beauty is ravishing and I can't resist asking you to spend the evening with me".

"Smooth, do you like to say that to all pregnant women you meet?".

"No you are definitely different " he said with a chuckle.

"I doubt because I'm pregnant and so are they, I'm married" I said bluntly before folding my hand under my boobs.

"No ring, just one dinner and you won't regret it" he said looking at me as though he could see my soul.

I opened my mouth to give him a befitting reply when Lisa came back.

"So where were we?" She asked.

"I just want to go home" I replied staring straight at Andrew.

"I'll take you on that date, we will see", I gulped looking at the sincerity in his eyes before looking away.

Liam's POV

I can't understand why Natasha's phone wasn't going.

It's more than a month now and her line is not going through, I had called her after I heard what happened to her mother but she didn't pick up, I looked for her everywhere but it was like she went hidden into a deep hole

I am lost of ideas now, she is not living in her formal residence, and I am confused at what to do.

“Give me her file” I said to my new secretary, this will be the 20th secretary I'm hiring after firing her.

The rest are fired cause they either tried seducing me or they irritate me without reason.

“Am sorry sir, but her file still holds her former residence” she said.

I was getting frustrated already, had I known I wouldn't have sacked her.

I finally decided to meet Arielle, maybe she would have a hint of where she went.

I went out and got into my car, I drove straight to her house.

We had to cancel the wedding few days because I caught her cheating on me, I love Arielle so much but she broke my trust.

Since then, we didn't held a tangible conversation except her always trying to beg me.

The engagement wasn't broken up since the two families still want us together, to them, we are still In love with each other.

I got to her house in no time and drove in, I parked my car and went in knocking on her door, she opened it and rolled her eyes realizing it was me

She was confident I wouldn't be able to marry another lady except her

“Hey, did you by any chance know the whereabouts of Natasha” I said not even sitting down

“Don't tell me you are searching for Natasha” She replied with a frown

“Yes am I, can you now answer my question” I gave her a cold glare

“Quit looking for her darling it's useless” she said smiling.

“What do you mean by that” I asked her?

“She is gone, gone forever and would never come back” She said as she walked out on me