MANIPULATIVELY TURNED AS OUR STORY

It’s been a few months since my delivery, and I have recovered. I should be grateful to Mrs. Nelson, who looked after me like her own daughter, and also to Randolph’s mother.

It was Sunday, everyone was at home, and I was preparing lunch. When I finished preparing, I thought of calling everyone, so I came out of the kitchen. Randolph, Aaron, and Aarav were near the garden area playing, and the twins were nearby, watching everything with curiosity. Aaron’s laughter could be heard all over, followed by Aarav, and Randolph was looking handsome with the kids.

I was mesmerized by seeing everything, and I felt at peace for a few seconds. It didn’t take a minute for realization to hit, and I started feeling dizzy. By managing somehow, I reached the coach.

My mind was rewinding the scene that took place in the garden, and I fell into a dilemma. I had always dreamed of having my own family, and my perfect family was in front of me. I was stuck and couldn’t run or stay; if I thought of moving, something unexpected would come up, so I didn’t dare to bring the word co-parenting in front of Randolph. I can’t trust that bastard, not after having three kids with him.

So many things kept me here: my babies and Aaron. If I wanted to run where I could by leaving my babies, Aaron reached the stage where he couldn’t forget Randolph so easily, and yeah, I was stuck. I don’t know until when.

What about my future? What was going to happen?

I couldn’t stop anything that was happening in my life, and somewhere I knew that bastard was responsible for all the messy things, and I can’t deny the fact that I ended up having a family—well, technically, at least I had my own kids.

Once upon a time, I was the decision-maker, and for everything that was happening in my life, I was solely responsible until that bastard showed up and I ended up becoming the audience. Seeing my own show, so many things were happening that I was not able to do anything, and I was not even entertained.

How the hell did things end this way? Like, really, did I bring to myself no right?

They were exhausted, one by one started walking towards the dining table, and Mrs. Nelson took care of the twins, I served everyone we were having lunch, when Randolph spoke, “Aaron wants to visit someplace, so shall we go to the same island we had visited before if you are ok or else, we could go somewhere else”, I saw Aaron who was nodding his head and pleading for me to agree, and I can’t ignore those puppy eyes, “Ok, let’s go and I will make arrangement of our staying by informing Emma”, “Let the entire hotel rooms be available because my parents, my sister’s family, and Aidan and other few friends are coming with us”, “Why”, “Well they were planning when I told about my plan they decided to join us, you are ok right”, yeah as if I can object now right, “No problem, ok, I will inform Emma then.” “OK, I will take care of the remaining things.” By humming, we continued to have lunch.

Where the hell was, I going to end up after this trip in the bar or my house with my family?

On my private plane, everyone was boosting my energy, seeing to it not to alarm Ana, and nothing had any effect on me. Anxiety was killing me.

We reached the venue; the whole hotel was empty and occupied by us. When I visited the island the first time, it had not attracted any tourists, but now it was packed with outsiders, and my prediction was right—this one was smart in at least some way.

It was a 7-day trip. The first two days, we were busy enjoying the beach and seeing the surroundings. Everyone was happy, but only I was fucking with my own thoughts, weighing the pros and cons. Damn, this was fucking hard. Patricia was giving me some signals, and I was somewhat confident when I proposed to her. This one dam every fucking time always made sure to end her day by cursing me. How the hell was I going to make her agree to this?

Like hell, she would agree, and like hell, I would let her go.

We were at the beach, and today was the day I was going to make my final move, and everyone was around, waiting.

I was facing the sea and watching the sunset when Aarav came and handed me a letter. By telling ‘Daddy’ he ran towards Randolph, I saw Randolph, who immediately turned away from me. Something was going on, and I checked everyone was busy doing something; at least they seemed that way.

I opened the letter, and it read,

Anastasia Merlyn, my Ana,

I am sorry for everything I have done in the past. I am really sorry, Ana. I was a selfish bastard; nothing mattered to me apart from my family, and you were the one who pulled me unknowingly and made me care for you in a totally different way. You were not aware of the consequences of your actions and stubbornness, which I am not blaming now, and I was not aware of what my future held for me. There was an unexpected turn in my life, and I am happy that was your way.

Please don’t start hating me after hearing this. I was responsible for your pregnancy; it was my plan. The first time was to get rid of Patricia, and the second time I was not ready to let you go of my life. The reason was that I had fallen for you.

I didn’t know why I was turning every stone unturned just to make sure you stayed with us until one day, and that day I came to know that I had fallen for you long before, unknowingly. Trust me, Ana, I don’t have any regrets about getting you pregnant. I was falling for you every time, and I am going to be thankful for the whole of my life for making me experience so many things.

I have said so many things, Ana. Like so many things, I am sorry. Trust me, and by just saying sorry, I can’t wipe off what I said, but I will try my whole life to make it up to you.

You can take your time, Ana, to forgive and accept me. I am not forcing you, but if you want to get rid of me, then I am sorry. I won’t let you go like never. I want you in my life. Please give me a chance, and I will make the best use of it.

I have fallen, Ana. I don’t want anyone in my life other than you and my kids. Please trust me and give me a chance. Somewhere, you know, I will get my way, one way or another.

Sorry for everything, and I love you. Anastasia Merlyn, Marry me.

Tears were dropping, and Randolph was holding the ring on his knees. I was crying non-stop. This bastard, I knew he was responsible for every goddam thing, got the nerve to confess, “I am not going to say ‘yes’ bastard, like never I hate you”, “Common Ana, somewhere you were responsible and not to forget your stubbornness”, “That doesn’t give you a right to use me”, “I never intended for, it was like an open invitation by opening your mouth trust me”, “Are you really sorry bastard just now you confessed, started pointing my mistake as if I was hell responsible for this whole thing”, “What I am trying to say is we were equally responsible”, “Dam you, I hate you, I am not going to marry you”.

“Mom, you are crying,” said my baby Aaron. “Yeah, I am trying to stop but I am not able to blame your father”, “Yeah, I have to, Dad, I can’t believe you did this to her again”, he was perplexed, acting guilty but not at all guilty, and I have come across this face, like when exactly, “What shall I do, when something comes to this one, I should have a backup plan like always, I can’t take any risk after confessing truthfully, don’t you think and I should save my heart right”, “What both of you are talking about?” by nodding his head, Aaron turned towards me, “Mom, congratulations, you are pregnant”, “I am what?“.

Ana was in shock, like the usual one, and had an unbelievable expression. As I said, I can’t fucking take chances with this one, and her head keeps scheming to go far away from me. I wanted to give a permanent solution, and yeah, not without a fucking backup plan.

“You bastard, I can’t believe this.” By saying that Ana started running away from me, just great, and I was behind her, at some point I caught her, struggling to get rid of my grip, like seriously, when I made up my mind even I couldn’t stop myself and I hugged her from the back tightly, she was crying and again her symptom. What the hell with crying? I am not able to solve this riddle: “I can’t believe you did this to me again; you promised bastards.” “Hey, rewind your memory; I never promised you; every time it kind of becomes necessary, I can’t take the risk of losing you, and I am really not sorry, Ana.” “You can’t do whatever you want with me.” “Of course, baby, I won’t next time; this time, I promise.” “Don’t baby me.”.

“I am not going to say yes to you; forget it.” “Not today, but someday you will, and I will make sure of it; you can take time until giving birth.” “Shut up, I am bloody serious; I am going to break your heart.” “Yeah, shatter into pieces, baby, but I won’t let you go digest that part,” by saying that I put the ring on her finger. After seeing the ring, she was trying her best to remove it and get rid of my grip. Both were impossible at some point, so she gave up. “I hate you, bastard; I hate you, and I am fucking tired.”.

We were silent, facing the sea. Randolph was wiping my tears and kissing me in the crook of my neck by hugging me tightly as I would vanish anytime. Is he afraid of losing me so much?

Nothing was fair; he couldn’t do whatever he wanted with me, but why the hell he wanted everything with me was my biggest question—why me in the first place?

I couldn’t believe he proposed to me and had fallen for me; it was so good to be true.

By manipulating, he got his way, and at last, he made sure that I ended up with him.

THE END.