Chapter 1 Alex

• H U G O
• I could hold his face with my huge hand and his eyes looks so adorable as it were about to close. I wish he'd finally go to sleep. I've been carrying him for almost two hours now. My arms are aching and whenever I put him down on top of his little mattress, he ends up opening his eyes again. And whenever I sit down, he cries loud so basically I've been standing here to put him to sleep and he still isn't.
• I gently sway him around.
• Hum him some songs I know.
• Tap his little bum covered in his diapers.
• Then sway him a little bit more.
• I have so many papers needed to be read and to be signed but he's consuming all my time. The nannies can't even put him to sleep which ended him in massive loud cries. So I volunteered to put Alex to sleep and I ended up with my loads of work left undone.
• I gazed at the clock and it was already midnight. It's getting pretty late and I wonder where Audrey is. She said she was out to meet a friend and she's been out for too long.
• I reached for my phone inside my pocket and she still hasn't left any call or messages too. She haven't even answered any of my calls since a while ago. I'm worried where she is.
• Finally!
• Alex was really in his deep sleep. I just wish he won't wake up when I put him down. I slowly walked to his crib and gently placed him in it. He twitched when I placed him down but he didn't wake up cos I slowly tapped his little thigh with my fingers. I carefully placed his little blanket over him and placed him in between his two hotdog-like pillows.
• I exhaled and smiled at my great accomplishment.
• I walk back to where my desk was and stretched both of my arms up above my head. I'm tried but I have so much work left to do.
• I turned on my laptop and saw a message from Ned.
• From: @thenedhall
• To: @hugosaintclare
• Subject: Wedding Photos
• Here are the wedding pics sent to me by Landon. Still need to send it to the other lads as well. Thought maybe you wanted to see them first.
• I waited for all of the photos to appear and wondered how Landon and Rose's honeymoon is going. I wonder if they're enjoying it. I wonder if she's having fun. I wonder if she is even thinking about me.
• Of course she'll have fun with Landon.
• I wonder if I ever crossed her mind.
• When all of the photos started appearing, I began downloading it to my laptop, transferring it to my google drive and started scanning through each photo. There were some photos of us eating, talking to each other and we even smiled for the camera looking so happy. There were even some group photos with the lads, then the photos of us dancing respectively with the ride started appearing. When my photo with Rose appeared I paused on it because I wanted to.
• It feels like it is something I can only do now.
• Our hands held on to each other while my other hand was holding her waist, I seemed like I didn’t even want to let her goo in the photo. We didn't talk when we danced that night but all I ever told her was that she was beautiful. She didn’t answer.
• She was though, like an angel.
• When we almost finished dancing, she just smiled at me and thanked me for coming over her wedding then we didn't say anything else after because I did not know what to say and I think she didn’t know what to say too. I look at her on the photo and we were both staring at each other intently with need in our eyes. I stare at it for a little more before I moved to the next ones as it makes my heart ache. More pics appeared and it were the ones when we gave our speeches to the couple.
• Then a photo caught my attention, it was a picture when Ned was giving out his speech. My eyes landed on Rose because she was smiling so beautifully and she looked so naturally happy. She was probably laughing at Ned's jokes and Landon was even smiling on the photo too. He placed his hands over her shoulder while she held onto his hand which causes me to hurt more.
• They do look so happy together.
• They look so perfect for each other and it fucking hurts.
• I have always regretted the day that I gave up on here, but that's what's left for me to do.
• Fucking coward, Hugo. That’s all you are.
• I zoomed on Rose's face and that smile was precious to me, always will be. I smile when I saw her smile and I've realized, I terribly miss her smiling sweetly like that at me.
• Suddenly the bedroom door swings open and it was Audrey. I glued my eyes on her and she smiles at me, wryly.
• She's drunk.
• "Hey husband." She slurs as she marches her way inside the bedroom.
• I rested my back on my chair and crossed my arms over my chest as I stare into to her intently. She begins to walk in an intoxicated manner and even stumbled on the carpet while she approaches me. She laughs at herself and picked up her purse that fell on the ground. She struggles on pulling off her five inched heels and begins to walk barefoot while she takes a hold of her heels on her hands.
• She reaches to me.
• "Oh honeeeey, don't give me that look." She spits while rolling her eyes.
• She bends over to me to kiss my cheek but I pulled my head away from her in a snap second. "You're drunk." I say strictly.
• I shut my laptop close and stood from my chair as I began to walk away from her a few inches back. I stared back at her from head to toe while she looks at me with furrowed brows as if I have done something wrong that actually hurt her.
• "I am.” She admits. “Yes. I had.... A greeeeeeat time actually." She slurs and drops her heels to the ground. "God I swear I hate heels sometimes." She muffles to herself.
• "Will you be careful? I just put Alex to sleep." I warned her.
• She smirks. "Look who's being a great father."
• "Shower up. You smell liquor. That isn't good for Alex." I told her.
• "Alex. Alex. Alex. Alex.” She whines like an annoying child. “You only worry about Alex." Her voice begins to grow louder.
• "I don't wanna fight with you again." I hiss.
• Her eyes beamed at me. “Oh yeah? I thought fighting with me was your hobby.” She laughs maniacally.
• "I've had a long day at work, I come home only to find you out with god knows who. Do me a favor? Tone down your voice because I had dreadful hours putting Alex to sleep." I added.
• I began to walk away to avoid a tiring argument with her even though I have the right to be mad at her for going out drinking instead of staying here and taking care of our son. I should be mad about the fact that she came home drunk and starts picking a fight like a child.
• In a split second, she caught my attention when she begins to open my laptop.
• "Don't touch--"
• It was too late for me to stop her as her eyes were already squinting on the photo of my screen and her eyes grew wider when she recognized Rose on it. I stood there frozen as she begins to move her eyes back to me. Anger and jealousy, I instantly felt it from her.
• "Seriously Hugo." She spits.
• I didn't answer her.
• "Are you fucking serious right now?!" She begins to yell a little louder.
• I slammed my laptop close as I respond, "I looked through the wedding photos that Ned sent me."
• "Oh yeah of course! You did! You actually did and you fucking literally zoomed into Miranda's face?!" She screams.
• "Alex is sleeping." I grit my teeth.
• "Fuck that baby. I don't care." She spits at me.
• I gaped in surprise at her words,. "Do you even hear yourself? You're the mother to that child!"
• "I don't care about that now!” She screams at my face. “All that matters now is the fact that you are staring into Miranda’s photos?! I'm mad you!"
• "Oh come on Audrey! You don’t have to make this a big deal when I should be the one who needs to be mad at you right now. You come home late as if you don’t have any responsibilities to your child. You went out drinking and you come here throwing a fit at me!?" I raged.
• She scoffs sarcastically, "That's not the point here Hugo!"
• "It is Audrey! It fucking is." I rant.
• "You're the problem here!” She points at me. “No. Let me correct that, I think your friends are the problem!"
• "What?!" I responded in surprise because this was not making any sense at all. “Why in the world are you blaming my friends?!”
• "You and those other guys who plays pretend that you’re all so good and you have a clean reputation! You act as if you’re all saints! You’re all pretending to be someone you’re not anyways! Those guys are bunch of fucking pretentious assholes!" She yells at my face.
• “You fucking take that back!” I screamed at her in anger.
• Alex begins to wake up and cries loud as it echoes through the bedroom.
• I'm so mad at her for how she's acting and how she is being absolutely stupid. I could slap her for staying things like that to my friends. I can't believe she just said that in front of me. As my anger is building up inside of me, seemingly over my head now, I grabbed her elbow abruptly and she grunted as soon as I pulled her close to my face. I stare at her and I'm trying to control myself from hitting her.
• "You're so lucky you're a woman." I hissed.
• She grins. "Or what? You'll hit me?” She offers her right cheek with a smile. “Go ahead. I am more than willing to be hit by you. Hugo Saintclare will hit me? I wonder how the people will react to that."
• I stared at her angrily and I just want to punch her so bad for saying those rude things about my friends. She is being totally nonsensical right now and I don’t know where her anger is coming from.
• "You're not worthy to be married to me Audrey, you can't even accept my friends." I spit.
• I pushed her away from me with force and she stumbles a little bit. She stares at me intently with that stupid smile o her face, “You make me regret choosing you.”
• I walked to where Alex was and carried him over my arms. I swayed him a little bit to tame him down and began to walk out of the bedroom without looking back at Audrey while she screams where I was going to and she ordered me to get back inside the room.
• I didn't say anything and just shut the bedroom door loud enough that I think the maids heard it.
• I regret it.
• I regret not choosing Rose.
• M I R A N D A
• The honeymoon that Landon prepared for me was far from what I imagined. We rented a yacht, he hired some crew for us and we cruised our way to some islands, one of which is Fiji, which had the bluest blue of beach I have ever seen. It was so perfectly peaceful and we were welcomed with full hospitality. It was the kind of place I would love to live in for the rest of my life. It was far from pollution and the busy city life. We stayed there for a week and I was marveled by everything on that island.
• Then we went to St. Barts - one of the most upscale destinations in the Caribbean and its French background provided an elegant appeal similar to the French Riviera. We stayed in an expensive and elegant looking villa at the intimate Le Sereno where we had our own private terrace and garden-and most have an ocean view. It was marvelous.
• While we stayed at St. Barts, Landon packed a picnic basket with our swimming attires and some beach towels. I was pregnant but I was strutting my bump like a trophy. We headed to the insanely beautiful Colombier beach. It was just fantastic. When we got there, the water was the most gorgeous shade of aquamarine I've ever seen and it was only accessible via boat or by foot.
• After taking a five-day or rather a week stay at St. Barts, we headed our way to Myanmar via Landon's private jet. I didn't know Landon was planning on a long honeymoon vacation with me. I thought St. Barts was the last stop but it wasn't. We stayed in the beautiful place called Belmond where we had a fantastic 4-day journey which cost from $2,520 which totally shocked the hell out of me. I had so much fun with Landon and we both took lots of pictures during our stay in Myanmar. It wasn't what I expected of him.
• Then we headed to our last stop, Dubai where we got the best of both worlds. We enjoyed a taste of the glamorous city life for a few days and then head out to the desert for tranquility and romance. Landon was very romantic. He knows how much I love traveling and he's given me this opportunity to travel and have a vacation with him. I wish Ben was with us but I was thankful enough that Vivian and Art were looking out for him.
• While we stayed in Dubai, we felt like we were royalty at Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa. It was by far the most amazing hotel I have ever been to. We stayed there for a couple days that I think I lost count of it, where we paid $817 per night. It was indeed very costly. We settled into our ultra-luxurious tent accommodations, equipped with a private pool and wood deck. It was totally breathtaking.
• We indulged ourselves in a sunset camel ride that took us to the crest of a dune, where we'll pause for champagne, snacks and fruit as the light changes. Dubai was totally the one that topped all of the honeymoon destinations we have ever been to.
• "All packed love?" Landon wraps his arms around me as he stands behind my back.
• "Yes." I answered.
• He grabbed the bag and handed it to the hotel maid. Landon takes my hand as we walked our way out of the expensive looking hotel room. We held hands tight as we walked along the hallways feeling really happy being together.
• "I had so much fun Landon." I tell him.
• "I was still planning on taking you to Morocco." He smiles.
• "You've spent enough love. Please, this honeymoon is by far the most amazing I have ever been to. You took me to different places and even though I had trouble with my jet lag, you were there. Thank you." I tell him as I kiss his lips briefly.
• He smiles at me. "You’re worth it. Too bad we're going back home."
• "We had fun. We had a great time. A one month honeymoon vacation. Guess who could top that?" I chuckle and he joins me.
• We got inside the elevator and finally got ourselves into the lobby. The sun has set and it was already getting dark which makes me feel a little bit tensed with the thought about us going back to reality.
• The valet driver had already prepared our car for us, Landon opened the back door for me and I got in first then he followed me inside. The friendly hotel staff placed our things on the trunk and the driver began driving us to the airport.
• "I can't wait to give Ben his surprises." Landon chimes so happily.
• "Me too. I'm sure he will love it." I answered.
• When we reached to the airport, everything was ready for us including the private jet. People were bringing our bags for us even though I offered to bring one because I didn’t want the people to think that I need people now to carry mt things and it was unusual to me but Landon didn't want me to carry anything because I was pregnant.
• We settled ourselves on our seats and buckled our seat belts.
• "We're taking a quick stop in London. Mum and the family wants to see us fresh from honeymoon." Landon says.
• London.
• We're going to London.
• I just wish I won't see Hugo.