"I don't get it. How is this happening right now? How did I not recognize him? I dated him for nearly a year but..... Elvis.... This is giving me a headache" Ellise frowned, pacing back and forth as she rubbed her temple.
"Hey, hey. You have to calm down. Stress isn't good for the baby. I'm sure there must be an explanation for all of this. Why would your ex do something like this?" Alex said, sitting her down on the couch. She frowned, biting her lower lip.
"Why would he send Cornelia? Why would he send her to do his dirty job for him and why did she do it?" She said.
"It just doesn't make sense. Cornelia has been ranting about her wanting to avenge Gomez's death. What does it have to do with him?"
"I guess we're about to find out" Valentino said walking in with a file. Dre stood up, giving him a puzzled look.
"What's in there?" Ellise asked.
"Information. Everything you need to know about Zack Thompson is here"
Dre took it and sat down on the couch beside her, dark locks of hair covering one of his eyes. He clenched his jaw as he opened the file. He looked so tense and rigid. Who wouldn't be so pissed off in situations like this?
"When I get my hands on that bastard, he'll beg to die" he muttered and she placed a hand on his back, gently rubbing it to ease his tension.
He tucked the stray strands of hair behind his ear, letting out a sigh. His wife watched him as his eyes scanned the first paper in his hands. It was Zack's photo.
Brown eyes, brown hair and the familiar sharp nose.
He looked just the same as the last time she'd seen him. He was the same age as Dre.
Something else caught Ellise's attention. He was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder few months after she'd started living at the Loides mansion.
Dre's gaze met hers and I
She could tell what he was thinking.
'Another psychopath'
"Why are our enemies always insane? They're all psychopaths" Dre said. Val shrugged.
"A sane person would know that they're messing with the wrong person" Val said.
There was a hospital record in the file.
He was involved in a fatal accident and his face was practically ruined. 'That's why his face was operated on and that's why I couldn't recognize him. He changed his name to Alfredo. Now, it all makes sense' Ellise thought.
...
Ellise and Dre were getting ready for Ellise's doctor's appointment. They were both fully dressed. Dre pressed a kiss to his wife's forehead, gazing at her affectionately.
"Let's go" he said, taking her hand in his.
"What if I'm actually carrying twins or triplets?" Ellise said as their new driver, Pierre drove them to the hospital. Dre's eyes widened, a smile tugging at his lips. "Well, I won't be surprised" he replied, placing an arm around Ellise's shoulders.
She placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I'm really excited but I'm nervous too" she whispered.
"Hey, you don't have to be nervous at all. I'm going to stand by you forever and always, No matter what happens" he said.
"I'm really glad I met you" she said, leaning into his touch.
....
After their visit to the doctor, the couple discovered that Ellise was carrying triplets in her womb. The scan showed that she was going to have two boys and a girl.
Dre had a proud smirk on his face. He had been pampering his wife all afternoon. The couple was excited and they couldn't wait to finally meet their children.
Dre and Ellise was reclining on the couch when the door bell rang.
"I'll get it" Dre said as he rose to his feet. He opened the door, surprised to see Ellise's parents alongside his parents.
"Mum? Dad? What a surprise. You didn't tell us you were coming" Dre said, letting them in.
"Mum? Dad? What's going on?" Ellise said.
"We have something important to talk about" Alessio said, sitting down.
"How are you and the baby?" Alicia asked, embracing Ellise as much as her stomach could allow. "Actually.... it's babies...." She said, giving her a smile.
Her eyes went wide and she let out a gasp.
"Really? I guess Andre takes after his father after all, even in that area" Alicia said, beaming at her daughter in law.
"I can't wait to see my grand children" she cooed.
Alessio smiled.
Everyone settled down after Dre had brought them wine.
Ellise sat down beside Dre who was basically wearing a confused look on his face.
"We heard about Nadine and Zack, our daughter's ex" Ellise's mum began. Dre and his wife exchanged puzzled looks.
"How? We didn't tell you about it" Dre said.
"Actually, Zack told us himself" Ellise's dad said, grimacing.
Her eyes went wide.
"What?"
"He told us everything and he...." Her mum sighed.
"What did he say?" Dre asked, wearily running a hand through his long hair.
"He told us about how he sent Nadine to split you two apart" her father said.
This time, Alessio spoke up.
"He came to see Alicia and I, told us that his name was Zack Thompson. Then the bastard went ahead to introduce himself as Ellie's exboyfriend. He told us everything too. His parting words are not to be taken lightly, Andre. He had a crazed look in his eyes"
"What did he say?" Dre questioned.
"He said and I quote 'My quest for what is mine has just began'"
Ellise froze, her blood running cold.
"What is he talking about?" She said. Her parents looked at her with guilt in their eyes.
"Mum? Dad? What are you hiding from me?" She asked.
Her dad heaved a sigh and Dre's hold on Ellise's hand tightened.
"It happened twelve years ago, you were just ten years old" Ellise's mum began.
Ellise swallowed hard.
She could sense that she wouldn't like what she was about to hear.
"You were diagnosed with a major kidney malfunction. The only way to save your life was to have a kidney transplant"
"We were worried because we couldn't find a donor. Your father had a deal with Fletcher, Zack's father. Zack became the donor under one condition"
Tears filled her eyes, her heart aching. Her mum and dad had lied to her. When she'd undergone the transplant, they'd told her that a random donor had agreed to give her one of her kidney. Her mum had even made her meet up with a girl to thank her for it. Ellise had never felt so betrayed....so hurt.
"He made us agree that our daughter would get married to his son no matter what happens. The only thing that would cancel the agreement is death" Ellise's dad croaked.
Dre looked surprisingly calm. There was no crease or frown on his face. He just looked so..... relaxed.
"In order to avoid complication, we made Ellie go out on a blind date with Zack as soon as she clocked eighteen" her mum said.
That explained why her mum had wanted her to date Zack at all cost.
"You didn't care about my feelings" Ellise said, tears filling her eyes.
"Oh honey, we thought you would grow to love him"
....
Dre was very much aware of the fact that he looked calm but inside of him, there was a raging storm arising. He was pissed. He couldn't blame Ellie's parents for trying to save their daughter but why on Earth did it have to be that psychopath?
Why would they keep such a huge secret from them?
"We're so sorry for keeping this away from the both of you. It's our mistake" Ellie's mum said, tears filling her eyes.
"Now, he won't stop until he gets rid of you, Andre" Alicia said, her voice trembling.
Dre closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. "Is there anything else I should know?" He asked.
"Fletcher......owned a mafia gang which is presently controlled by Zack" Ellise's dad sighed.
Dre groaned.
"Just great" he muttered.
He was really sick of being stuck in that kind of mess.
His initial intention had been to steer clear of all form of violence and mafia related troubles after he'd gotten married to Ellie. But, he couldn't do that now.
....
"I don't know what to feel. I should be mad at my parents for making a deal with Fletcher but I'm not" Ellise said to her husband who held her free hand, squeezing it gently.
"They wanted to save you. It's quite unfortunate that it had to be Zack" Dre said.
"Now he's not going to stop until he gets me" Ellie choked out, tears filling her eyes.
"Ellie, look at me. Don't cry" he said, reaching up to wipe her tears away with her thumb.
"You don't know Zach. He's so ambitious. He never gives up even if it means him dying"
"We have to be strong. This is one more challenge. Nadine wasn't a piece of cake but we conquered her. I just need you to stick with me" Dre said, stroking her hair. She pressed a kiss to the back of his palm, squeezing her eyes shut.
"We'll be okay" Dre rasped.
"We'll get through this, together" she said.