"Congratulations Mrs Austin, you've just had a successful delivery and what a beautiful girl you have" Dr Francis said handing her the baby. Monika eagerly collected the child and loud cries filled the hospital room. She had been eager to have a child for a couple of years now, this little baby girl was a blessing to her.

Monika had shoulder length brown hair, fair soft skin and her glad brown eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "Alicia,..." she said her eyes fixed on the crying baby in her hands. "...I will try to make you happy forever." she added.

Few months later, Alicia had already shown signs of rapid growth within the past 12 months. "Definitely, I won't miss it for the world Mrs Donna." Monika said through the phone. She was seated on a white chair in the garden.

The garden at the front of the mansion had few white tables surrounded with four matching white chairs at the left side of the mansion . The neatly trimmed grass was separated by an ash brick road leading to the main entrance of the mansion. At the right side of the mansion, a few expensive cars were parked neatly on the grass.

Monika sat majestically in the chair crossing her long legs while baby Alicia sat a few inches away from her. The edges of the garden were surrounded by pretty and neatly trimmed rose bushes. Due to that, insects and birds usually appear in the garden.

While Monika was busy on the phone, Alicia played with insects by the rose bushes. "Take care darling." Monika said as Alicia let out a small cough. "Pretty." Alicia said crawling after the pretty blue insect.

Not long after she wandered off, Monika heard her crying and coughing severely. Alarmed, she followed the cries to the back of the mansion before they abruptly stopped . The grass was also neatly trimmed and it had way more tables and chairs than in the front yard. Monika's eyes scanned the backyard, it was empty. Nothing in sight, not even a single insect or bird.

Slightly nervous, she pulled out a cigarette bud and lit it. "Alicia,..." she called out, placing the bud between her trembling lips. The entire yard stayed quiet. After a few smokes, Monika's tensed body relaxed. Monika's body tensed up again as the vibrations of the phone in her hand startled.

"Oh my goodness." she said looking at the phone she held. "Hello" she said turning around to leave the backyard, forgetting completely she heard a child cry.

"Oh what a wonderful night, the moon is shining and the stars are beautiful." a maid said as she watered the roses. Walking deeper into the backyard, she noticed an unmoving figure among the bushes. Taking a closer look, she saw Alicia bleeding severely. "Goodness!" she exclaimed dropping the watering can she held.

Monika let out a long sigh as she slumped into the sofa lazily. "Where's Alicia?" she asked Lydia, who was busy cleaning the center-table. She replied, "I don't know madam but the last place I saw her was this afternoon, with you in the garden. "What!" Monika exclaimed nearly jumping out of her seat.

Suddenly, a terrifying cold aura filled the whole parlor. "Where's Ici?" a cold husky voice asked sending uncontrollable chills down Monika's spine. Slowly, Monika turned around to the stairs behind her. There stood a tall man. He had thick light-ash hair, pale skin, a built body that made anyone seem inferior to him and his brownish-orange cat eyes bored into the deepest part of her soul.

"J-J-J-Ja-Jack." Monika stammered, her eyes looking everywhere but at him. "Who is Ici?" she asked. The temperature in the room dropped incredibly and both women began to shiver. "Umm,... babe, I'm feeling cold." Monika said.

"Why don't you have a seat." She gestured for him to come sit next to her. "Where's Ici?" he asked, his voice showing unquestionable authority. She kept silent for a long time. "For the last time, Where Is Ici?" Accidentally, her gaze met his and her breathing seized. "I-I-I don..." "Master! There's something wrong with the baby." a voice called from the door.

At the huge double doors stood a woman carrying Alicia in her arms. She had elbow length pale-blonde hair, her skin tone fair and flawless, a few freckles spread across her face and gorgeous bright blue eyes. Even with the maid uniform she wore, she looked beautiful. "What's wrong with her?" Jack asked, trying hard not to sprint towards the door. "I don't know. I just found her lying unconscious in the rose bushes,... and she's bleeding." she replied. Grabbing a coat and his car keys, he said, "Let's go."

"No! Where are you going. There's no need to go anywhere she's fine. She might just be tired." Monika blurted panicky. " What nonsense are you talking, she has been outside since this afternoon and YOU weren't even aware!" Jack nearly roared. "Master the baby." the beautiful maid reminded. "Come on." Jack said leading her out of the mansion.

"Oh my goodness madam, did you see that? That woman will stop at nothing to steal your husband. After all your acts of kindness, she's still so ungrateful and she's throwing herself at him. I mean, we all know that she's ten times more beautiful and gorgeous than you will ever be but,..."

"SHUT UP!" Monika yelled interrupting Lydia. "What they had was in the past and,... it will stay there." Monika said between shaky breaths. "Get me my keys." she ordered before placing a cigarette between her teeth as Lydia ran off to get her keys.

*********

"Mr Austin, I examined your daughter very closely when she was born and I have no idea how she got this disease within a year." Francis said playing with the stethoscope dangling from his neck. "What do you mean disease?" Jack asked annoyed. He knew this man was lying and really knew all along.

"Mr Austin, I diagnosed your daughter with leukemia and a brain tumor, did your wife smoke during pregnancy? Because I believe the tumor is hereditary but the cancer has to be caused by something else." Francis explained. Jack shot Monika a hard glare before he asked, "What am I to do now doctor?"

"Well, since the cancer was noticed at an early stage, I managed to get rid of it but the tumor is quite complicated." He continued, "But I have a friend who is a neurosurgeon and he might be able to help but,... with service comes pay." Jack chuckled darkly then said, "Francis,... I have all the wealth in the world. I can spoil you 10 times with my money and still have enough to do it again. BUT,... if you dare gamble with my daughter's life, I will ruin not only your career but your life and that of your family as well. Think wisely."

Francis wore a weak smile then said, "I'll go back and look at the child." he stammered as he walked into the theatre. Once he left, Jack turned to Monika. "You!" he said walking towards her. Monika's heartbeat accelerated as he neared her. She didn't know what could happen now, all she knew was that he would hate her for eternity. "You!" he repeated, this time he was right before her. She held her breath waiting for this worst to come.

"This is all your fault!" he exclaimed. "Huh." she scoffed. "You were the one that started this." she said poking her finger into his chest. She felt her finger become numb from his touch, yet he was wearing a thick coat. "My fault? You were the one who smoked when I warned you NEVER to smoke during pregnancy." "Well the disease caused by my smoking is gone. I'm sure the tumor came from your generation!" Monika said.

"SHUT UP!" he yelled. He raised his hand, about to hit her when someone held him back. "Jack don't do anything you might regret later." the maid said placing his hand beside him as it was before. Jack expression softened immediately he looked at the maid. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he said, "Brenda please stay out of this. This woman has to learn how to speak." His hard gaze immediately flew to Monika who was trying to hide her panic and fear.

"Jack let me talk to her, woman to woman." Brenda said. "How can you be so calm to talk to a woman who murdered your child." Jack said almost as a yell. Anger, pain and agony could be heard in his voice. "You cheated on me!" Monika said, tears falling down her eyes like a river. "I never did anything as such. Brenda is my wife. I got married when you left me!" he countered angrily. The whole world came to a stand still as Monika tried to process the news.

"Jack, why don't you go pay the bill. I need to talk with Monika,... alone." Brenda said. Reluctantly, Jack left. "You stole my husband." Monika stammered. "No that's not what happened. " Brenda said. "Then what happened you HUSBAND SNATCHER!" Monika screamed. "Shhh. Be quiet or he'll come over." Brenda said feeling Jack's eyes on them. "You want to know what happened? When I met him, I didn't know he was married."

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I hope you like my story this is my first teen story so I would be happy if you like it. Please vote for this story and I will try and update frequently. :)🥰