Sarcasm was loaded in the man’s voice when he uttered, “Yes. Yes. Yes. Zeke found Taylor. After all these years, your son found her.”
Unable to tear her gaze away from Zeke and Taylor’s picture on the television, Katherine spat, “Don’t you dare refer to Zeke as my son. He’s not my son. Nor will he EVER be my son.”
The man’s tone turned cold as he barked, “Son. Zeke. Call him whatever you damn well please. You just better pray to God, or whoever the hell you believe in, that Zeke don’t bring his fiancée back to Hilton Head Island. One look at you, and Taylor may come to realize that you had her son stolen.”
Irritated by his cold tone, Katherine felt sick to her stomach. “Zeke and Taylor’s son is far away from Hilton Head Island. They wouldn’t be able to find that little boy no matter how hard they tried.”
“For your sake, my sake, and Delbert’s sake, you better be right. I’m not going down for this. Do you hear me, Katherine?! I’m not going down with you!” Click. The line went dead.
Still looking at Zeke and Taylor’s photo on television, hard tremors shook Katherine’s body. Pushing her lunch to the side, she propped up her elbows on the table and dropped her forehead in the palms of her sweating hands. “Please don’t let them move back here.”
Yeah. She’d had Taylor’s baby kidnapped. Taken away from her. For a damn good reason, too. There was no way in hell she was going to let another bastard child get its hands on her husband’s fortune. If she’d had any doubts before, she definitely didn’t have any now.
When Colton made Zeke the CEO of Balfour enterprises, he’d proved her to be right about which son he favored the most—Zeke. Colton loved Zeke way more than he loved Antonio and Bane, and he proved it by making Zeke the CEO of Balfour Enterprises.
Antonio was the oldest. The smartest. He had her blood and Colton’s blood; therefore, Antonio should’ve been the CEO, not Zeke, the son of an adulterer. The son of Colton’s fucking mistress, Bridget. I’m glad Bridget is dead. Glad I killed her. Katherine felt someone had a tight fist around her heart, crushing it.
Nauseated over Zeke and Taylor’s engagement, Katherine placed a hand to the lower part of her stomach and stood. Bile scratched the back of her throat as she climbed the staircase, rounded the corner, and headed into her bedroom.
Sick to her stomach, she turned back the covers on her king-size bed and slid beneath the covers. “Cheating with my husband, Bridget got what she deserved.” And when Colton dies of cancer, everything he has will belong to me. I will own Balfour Enterprises and run it the way I see fit. The first thing I’m going to do is make Antonio CEO of Balfour Enterprises. The second thing I’m going to do is be just like Victor Newman and throw people out on their hairy asses. Zeke, my dear, will be the first person I fire.
A wicked smile titled Katherine’s lips as she glared up at the ceiling. Dozing off, she looked forward to the day she became the owner of Balfour Enterprises. To the day her sons were finally treated like Balfours, not like they were the ones who’d been born of a mistress—Bridget.
Stomach churning, Katherine’s eyes blinked. And blinked. And blinked. She slowly dozed off to sleep.
Thunder crackled. White sheets of rain poured from the dark sky. Parked along the side of the dark road across the street from Bridget’s home, Katherine sat inside her car weeping. She cried because her no good, cheating husband had lied to her. Again.
Colton was supposed to be hanging out with his friends, Drake and Russell, tonight, but he’d somehow managed to find his way to his mistress, Bridget’s, home instead. As Katherine sat inside her car waiting for Colton to come outside so she could confront him, her eyes traveled up to the second level of Bridget’s home. The expensive home Colton had bought for her.
Suddenly, Colton and Bridget appeared in the window. Katherine grabbed the binoculars from the seat beside her, cradled them in her hands, and placed them over her watery eyes. Because there was no drapery covering the window, Katherine had a clear view of the two traitors.
Colton draped his arms around Bridget’s waist as she twined her arms around his neck. Gazing into Bridget’s eyes as if he didn’t have a wife at home, Colton’s mouth crashed onto Bridget’s, and the two of them started tongue sexing.
Suddenly, Colton jerked Bridget off her feet, carried her over to the bed, and jumped on top of her. Dropping her head on the steering wheel, Katherine wailed. “This is the last time the two of you will make a fool of me,” she cried in a shaky voice.
Katherine sat in her car for a whole hour for Colton to come out. Finally, he did. Standing in the doorway, Colton kissed Bridget on the lips, then walked out into the rain. Apparently hating to see Colton leave, Bridget stood in the doorway waving goodbye to him as he backed up out of the driveway.
Terribly upset, Katherine snatched her purse from the seat and hurried out of the car. Rain pounded her head as she darted across the street. Thunder clapped the sky. A flash of white lightning struck the sky.
Bridget had to learn the hard way that Colton Balfour was off-limits.
Standing on Bridget’s doorstep, dripping wet, Katherine lifted her finger to ring the doorbell, but suddenly decided against it. Taking a chance that the door may be unlocked, she grasped the door knob, twisted, and the door clicked open.
Careful not to alarm Bridget, Katherine softly pushed the door open, then entered. Inside, the house was dark. Warm. Inviting. Unlike anything Katherine felt.
Katherine felt hatred. Betrayed. Foolish. Foolish for trusting Colton. Stupid for believing her husband would never cheat on her. Dumb because she never saw this coming. His ugly betrayal.
Water streamed from Katherine’s clothing as she made her way into the kitchen. In a daze, and unfamiliar with the house, she pulled a blade from the utensil holder, then headed upstairs.
Katherine’s heart thudded hard inside her chest when her foot left the last step at the top. Walking down the hallway, she heard Bridget singing. She turned into Bridget’s master bedroom and heard the shower running.
Knife in hand, Katherine hated what she was about to do, but she couldn’t stop herself. Potent anger coursed through her veins. Listening to Bridget sing while taking a shower, Katherine stood on the other side of the wall. Quickly, she inched her head inside without Bridget noticing.
Bridget stood inside the shower, looking beautiful. Tilting her head back to wash Colton’s scent off her, water streamed through Bridget’s silky blonde hair. Water drizzled over her big, perky breasts, down her flat abdomen, her toned thighs. No bigger than a size four, she had a tiny waist, too. Having seen enough, Katherine quickly flicked off the lights inside the bathroom.
“Who’s there?” Bridget asked. With her back pressed to the wall just beyond the bathroom, Katherine clenched the handle of the blade tight. “Oh, the rain must’ve caused the electricity to go out.”
Bridget’s bare wet feet slapped the tile as she walked closer to where Katherine stood. Waiting for her to enter the dark bedroom, Katherine shook violently. Mumbling to herself, Bridget said, “Oh, Colton. The lights are out, and here you are, having to run home to her. You don’t love her. You should be here with me, making love to me.”
As soon as Bridget’s right foot touched the carpet of her bedroom, Katherine stepped in front of her, clutching the sharp blade. Wet hair matted to Katherine’s head, she frowned. “You’re wrong, bitch. Colton does love me.” Katherine plunged the knife into Bridget’s stomach.
Bridget’s mouth dropped. Her eyes sprang wide. Wrapping her wet hands around the handle of the blade as it pressed into her stomach, she dropped to the floor and died.
“Wake up. Wake up, Katherine.” Katherine’s eyes sprouted open to find Colton hovering over her. “I have some wonderful news to share with you.”
Oh hell, I was dreaming about killing Bridget. Vividly remembering her dream about what she’d actually done to Bridget, Katherine mouthed, “What’s going on, Colton? Is it your health?” Please don’t tell me he’
s getting better.
Colton peered down at her with a glad look on his face. “No. This has nothing to do with my health.”
Katherine eased up in bed until her back rest against the headboard. She shrugged. “Then what are you so happy about?”
Colton chuckled. “Don’t you watch anything other than soap operas during the day? Zeke found Taylor in Paris. Can you believe that? Paris! I knew when I made him CEO and sent him to Paris, something good was going to happen. But in a million years…I could’ve never predicted this. Hot damn, Zeke found Taylor!”
Katherine said an expletive inside her head. “That’s great news, Colton.”
Still smiling, Colton shoved his hands in his pockets. “You ain’t heard the best yet.”
“Oh yeah? What’s the best?” she ripped out the words impatiently.
Colton’s hands flew up in the air. “Zeke and Taylor are getting married and moving back here…to Hilton Head. But it gets better.” Like hell it does. “I insisted that Zeke and Taylor move in with us until their dream home is finished being built.” Colton kept smiling, something he rarely did around her. “Having them live with us is going to be great, Katherine. Absolutely great.”
It’s going to be a disaster. Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick. Bile bubbled at the surface of Katherine’s belly. Stomach churning and burning, she flung back the covers, ran to the bathroom, and hopped on the toilet. Clenching her abdomen, a loud explosion erupted from her rear.
Chapter Sixteen
At Zeke’s insistence, Zeke and Taylor had returned to Hilton Head Island for their big wedding debut. Standing on the balcony at the Balfour Hotel & Resort on the ocean, Taylor curled her fingers over the railing and glanced out at the blue, shimmering sea. A strong breeze blew from the ocean, descended down on her, making her shiver. Cold nipping at her cheeks, a smile crossed her face. “Just think, no one knows that Zeke and I got married in Paris,” she mumbled to herself. And I plan on keeping it that way.
On Saturday afternoon while in Paris, Zeke and Taylor had had a private wedding ceremony just for the two of them at a nice, elegant chapel. She’d worn a simple white chiffon dress, and Zeke had worn a plain white collar shirt with a black pair of slacks. The secluded wedding had been romantic, and would’ve been enough for her.
But Zeke, or Mr. Right as Taylor sometimes called him, had felt she deserved a big, fancy wedding. He’d felt they should share their special day with all their family and friends; therefore, he’d convinced her to get married AGAIN in Hilton Head Island, at his family’s oceanfront hotel—Balfour Hotel & Resort. Glancing out at the big, beautiful sea, Taylor was glad she’d obliged.
Wanting to get out of the cold weather, Taylor pulled open the sliding glass door and walked back inside. Hilton Head Island brought back so many memories. Some good. Some horrible.
Horrid images of the night Taylor’s son had been stolen from her entered Taylor’s mind as she lowered her body to the foot of the bed to pray. To praise God for this beautiful day. Her second wedding day.
Although Taylor was thankful and happy to be marrying the man of her dreams for a second time in one year, in less than two weeks, an aching hole resided in her heart. It was a void that could never be replaced. A void that only her son, Zavier, could fill.
This day would be perfect if Zavier was here. On her knees at the foot of the bed, Taylor longed to hold her baby. She longed to see his face. Longed to know what and who he looked like. Part of her happy, part of her sad and longing, she brought her hands to her lips and put them in a prayer symbol.
“Heavenly Father. Thank You for all the blessings You’ve bestowed upon me. Thank You for my career. Thank You for my husband, Zeke. And thank You for my son, Zavier. Although Zavier is not here in person to see his father and me get married, he’s here in spirit. It is my greatest hope, Father, that You will someday bring Zavier back to me, just as You did his wonderful father. In Jesus’ name, I thank You. I give You praise. Thank You. Amen.”
Clapping hands resounded in Taylor’s ears just as her lids lifted. “Amen, honey. I’m gon’ need you to teach me how to pray like that.” Giggling, Taylor stood, then turned to look at Pierre. Blinking, he touched the bottom part of his eye. “Look at me. I’m already crying, and the wedding hasn’t even started yet.”
“Me, too,” Taylor’s mother, Veronica, said, entering the room. As soon as she looked at her mother, coming home finally felt right. Like she belonged here with her mother. Like she should be here with some of her other relatives and good childhood friends, too. But most of all, she belonged here with Zeke.
“I’m about to cry, too,” Taylor said, walking over to the oval-shaped mirror. Oh, for heaven’s sake, please don’t let her cry. She’d ruin her beautiful makeup. “Is Zeke here yet?”
Pierre nodded his head adamantly. “Yes, he is. And he’s looking absolutely stunning. Now let’s hurry up and get your dress on. Girrrll, you definitely don’t want to keep a man like Zeke Balfour waiting at the altar.”
“I agree. Zeke looks mighty handsome.” Taylor’s mother lightly put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “My precious angel is getting married today. I hope your marriage to Zeke is everything you ever wished for, and then some.” Veronica kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Like Pierre said, let’s not keep Zeke waiting any longer to get his beautiful—”
“Dashing bride!” Pierre’s excitement made his voice hitch. Veronica and Pierre helped Taylor get her wedding dress on. Tilting his head, standing behind her looking in the mirror as well, Pierre clamped Taylor’s shoulders. “Oh, Taylor, you look fabulous. You’re the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen lots.”
Veronica cupped her mouth. “My. You look beautiful.” Veronica touched her heart area. “My baby girl is getting married today. I can hardly stand it; I’m so happy.”
Water wet Taylor’s eyelashes as she stood in front of the mirror looking at herself. Trying to remain modest, she felt as if she looked like a beautiful princess. Thank God she’d colored her hair back to dark brown because if she hadn’t, she’d look like a candy cane today. “Oh, Pierre. Thanks for helping me pick out this dress.”
Pierre twirled his wrist in the air. “You can never go wrong with wearing a Chanel wedding dress, honey.”
Taylor’s eyes roamed over her white wedding dress. Diamonds adorned a sweetheart line all the way to her waist. Satin material with a long white trail made up the rest of the dress. Her dress sparkled a lot, that’s for sure. And it was a lot fancier than the dress she’d worn for her first wedding back in Paris. “I love the way I look.”
“Zeke is going to love the way you look, too. But if you don’t hurry up and get down to the ballroom and marry him, he’s going to have issues with you before you have a chance to say I do.” I’m already married, Taylor thought, giggling inwardly. Pierre placed her red rose bouquet in her hands and led her out of the hotel suite.
Nervous, Taylor stood in front of the gold ballroom doors of the elite Balfour Hotel & Resort on pins and needles. Nerves on edge, Taylor glanced at her mother’s brother, her uncle Louis, standing next to her. Her lips turned up into a smile.
“Gee whiz, you look beautiful, niece,” Louis complimented her. “Zeke is a lucky man.”
Taylor flushed. “Thanks for coming, Uncle Louis.”
Louis eyes appraised her. “Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Besides, Veronica, that sister of mine, would’ve had a fit if I didn’t walk you down the aisle. But the pleasure is all mine, niece. You and Zeke are meant for each other.”
“Are you ready?” the wedding planner asked Taylor.
“Yes.” Taylor hooked her arm through Louis’. As the wedding planner and her helper pulled open the heavy ballroom doors, Taylor’s heart pounded beneath her breast. Here goes.
Taylor’s eyes went to the front of the room and linked with Zeke’s. Warmth infused her heart. Dressed in a black tuxedo, Zeke looked handsome. Gorgeous. She couldn�
��t wait to marry him again. To promise to love and cherish him for all eternity in front of all these people. All their family and friends.
The wedding march began playing. Thankful for this day, and smiling, Taylor strolled down the aisle with her uncle beside her. Eyes roaming over the audience, she noticed Zeke’s father, Antonio, Bane, and Katherine in attendance. Now smiling at her own mother, Taylor paused when she got halfway down the aisle.
MY WIFE. When the doors had opened a few minutes ago, Zeke had swallowed a deep breath. The striking sight of Taylor had stolen his breath away. Nearly knocked the wind out of him. She’d looked pretty last week when they’d gotten married at the chapel, and she looked equally pretty today. My wife is beautiful.
Zeke stood in front of the wedding arch smiling at his wife, the beautiful Taylor Spelling-Balfour. Taylor looked elegant and stunning in her white wedding dress, with sparkling diamonds at the top. Deep red lipstick painted her lips. Wearing a long white veil, her dark brown hair was pinned up, with curls hanging down the sides of her face.
Carrying beautiful red roses in her hands, she slowly made her way down the aisle of the ballroom. I’m going to be the best husband Taylor could ever wish for. She’s my heart. Means the world to me. Feels good to be marrying her again. I can do this year after year after year.
Zeke met Taylor halfway down the aisle and took her hand into his. Holding her hand, they proceeded to walk towards the flowery wedding arch. Face-to-face with Taylor, unconditional love filled Zeke, and he knew he’d love Taylor until the day he died.
Even with Katherine’s unwanted presence in attendance, the wedding went smoothly, Zeke thought, as the pastor pronounced them husband and wife. “You may now kiss your bride,” the pastor stated.
Taylor’s red lips pulled into a pretty smile. “I love you, Taylor.” Noticing her eyes watering, Zeke lifted her veil from her face, then slanted his mouth over hers. Oh God, he loved this woman.
MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) Page 12