(Alexander’s POV)
The shopping for kitchen and dining wares was faster than I thought. What held us up was the issue of paying, but in the end, I won when I told her I would let her pay for everything her new baby needed.
She stopped at the entrance of the pet shop, breathing out before pushing the door. Leigh is like a child going inside a toy store. She was so excited, but when she saw the price of the pets, she stepped back, bumping into me.
I had to hold her shoulders to steady her. “What’s wrong?”
“Why are these pets expensive, Alex? Do they have gold chips inside their body?” she asked, causing me to chuckle.
“They’re not expensive, Leigh. These dogs are either designer breed or purebred,” I explained, walking closer to the Labrador retriever puppy. I pet its head while
(Alexander’s POV)Victor and Carlos found me in the hallway, pacing, fidgeting with my hands, and not knowing how to face Carlito when I peeked and saw her parents inside the hospital room with her other siblings. They all rushed to the hospital when Kayla called them, making me wonder what she said because all of them had to go here.“How’s Kayleigh?” asked Victor while placing his hand under the automatic alcohol dispenser.“She’s sleeping now,” I sighed, hoping they would believe in my assurance that she was okay now.“So, is it a boy or a girl?” asked Carlos, but at this point, I was not in the mood for their endless jokes at Leigh. My lips pursed, pressing together, and right now, I am holding my patience at them.“A girl,” answered Kayla, smiling at them, ope
(Leigh’s POV)Dr. Bernard was introducing the doctors to him when my eyes caught George coming in quietly in the room, whispering something to Alex. My attention shifted to them as he took Callie from the open cage and gave her to George, but the puppy started barking and whining as if calling for me.“Stop there, George!” I snarled at her, and she stopped moving, just blinking at Alex, waiting for what he would say to her. “Mr. Alexander Hearst, if you take Callie away from me, better call Chase now, and let’s just divorce!” My nostrils were flaring in anger as I glared at him.“Boss,” George uttered, choking as she spoke and slowly putting Callie down on the floor, but as soon as the puppy felt the ground, she came running in my direction.“Woah!” Dr. Bernard laughed, catching the puppy be
(Alexander’s POV)Despite George and my IT team’s efforts in deleting the pictures and videos posted on the web, it still caught Dad’s attention. It didn’t even go viral, but his executive secretary was able to get a video and showed it to him.Kayla was right. If Leigh saw it, she would be truly embarrassed, but the issue here was Dad suddenly calling me and wanting to meet her family.“You’ve gone mad, Alex!" he whispered angrily when I kissed him on the cheeks.“Yes! If I’ve gone mad, then why are you here?” I snarled back, leading them to the vacant seats at the table. Before I sat, I smiled at Leigh’s parents. “Papa, Mama, meet my father, Alessandro.” I turned to Dad. “Carlito and Karen David. And my cousin, Chase.”“The lawyer?”
(Alexander’s POV)It was the ringing of my cellphone that woke me up. My hands groped the bed, thinking where I possibly placed it, and when I found it, still with my eyes closed, I swiped its screen to answer the caller.“You’re up, Boss?” It was George’s chirpy voice that woke me up.Up?I groaned, thinking what time it was already. “George, is there an emergency? Why are you calling early this morning?”She giggled. “What have you been doing last night?” teased Georgia, then she continued, “We had a minor problem on the farm. I already told Kayleigh to remind you to read your email, but she might forget it because she’s a bit busy with Callie.”I heave a sigh, thinking who Callie is? Her name sounds familiar, but I still asked he
(Leigh’s POV)Alex was pacing my office while he talked to George. I watched my gorgeous husband walk back and forth in the small room and then stop, facing the window, and combed his hair with his fingers.Propping my elbow on the table, I gazed at him adoringly, remembering how he brushed my hair with his fingers as he kissed me. My eyes closed, breathing hard, recalling why we were late this morning. I didn’t know what came to me for seducing him like that. I pressed my lips, suppressing a giggle, when I unclasped the hook of my bra in front of him. His eyes darkened, kissing me with much passion and scorching desire. I need to see a doctor and find out what kind of drugs Alex has in his blood that my body desires for him all the time.Should I talk to Alfie about it?Alex glanced at me when I exhaled, but when he saw me focused on my
(Leigh’s POV)It was Callie’s playful bark that woke me up. When I opened my eyes, I realized I had fallen asleep on the couch, and Callie was happily chewing the ears of my bunny slipper.“Callie!” I cried, and my lips quivered as I took my slipper away from her mouth. She barked at me, perhaps asking me why I took her toy. “This is not your toy, baby. It’s mommy’s slippers.” I sniffled as I looked at the still wet and chewed part of the bunny ears.My puppy went to the kitchen, and I heard her drinking water from her bowl, and then she went back, trying to reach for the slippers that I placed on the center table.My eyes wandered my small apartment, wondering what time Alex had gone home. Sighing, I reached for my phone and got my answer. He didn’t come home last night. Perhaps, I was too tired yesterday that I didn’t hear his calls. There were ten missed calls and one text message.Alex: Leigh, don’t wait for me. There was an emergency on the farm, so I had to fly to Hawaii after m
(Leigh’s POV)Time flew today.I thanked my busy schedule for forgetting how lonely my heart was without Alex by my side. We met two new clients, the other was one of Emma’s friends, wanting us to plan her baby’s first birthday, and the other was George’s friend, asking us to plan her wedding. Alfie and Elle said we were getting recommendations from them.When we got back in the office, we finalized everything about the birthday party of Wendell’s son for tomorrow afternoon. Alfie suggested taking me home, but I knew he was also tired. With Elle pregnant, we had to lighten her tasks even if she promised us she was okay. Since we were picking up new clients, I was thinking of getting a regular staff who would stay in the office, but I had to talk with Alfie and Elle first.It was already past ten when Callie and I reached home, and as soon as I opened the door of my apartment, I also opened the pet crate. She has been whining since Alfie put her there, but I could not hold her that lon
(Leigh’s POV)“Where is Callie’s crate?” Alfie asked when we entered the office.“I brought a car,” I lied, still holding the puppy in my arms, but Alfie stood up from the coffee table to take Callie from me when I started to sniffle. He knew I was lying because I hate driving, and I looked like a vampire trying to avoid the sunlight. I didn’t take off my sunglasses, and I was wearing a blazer on a hot day.“Are you okay?” Elle asked, coming out of the stock room.“Yes,” I answered with less enthusiasm, walking to our small private.“Yes, she’s not okay,” I heard Alfie say, following me into the office. “Stay there, Callie. I don’t want you popping all my balloon decors,” he said, letting Callie run to the floor. When I heard the door close, I took off my sunglasses and my blazer, but I didn’t expect that Alfie only pretended he go out and close the door behind him.He gasped, walking to me as his eyes widened. He grabbed my arm and checked on the red patches on my skin.“Have you tak
(Alexander’s POV) “You may kiss your wife,” the officiant said, but my lips molded Leigh’s lips before he could finish his line. Leigh and I laughed as we watched Alfie’s video that he had sent us. I saw myself as tears rolled down my cheeks as I claimed her mouth, tasting the sweetness of my wife’s lips and feeling the overflowing happiness that we had finally renewed our vows. We were seated on the couch, facing the king-sized bed where the twins slept soundly. “Renewal of vows,” Leigh whispered as she leaned her head on my shoulder. “When I saw you and Chase talking this morning -” I cut him. “He was telling me the big problem I’d face if I continued my plan of marrying Zyra.” Her almond-shaped eyes gaped at me, looking at me with wonder. “Why didn’t you sign the divorce papers, Alex?” I planted a kiss on her hair. “Because I always hoped we will have our chance, Leigh.” “Me, too,” She smiled, but her eyes squinted and asked me, “When they said that the groom was missing, I
(Leigh’s POV)The groom is missing.How dare Alex ruins his multi-million-dollar wedding? I was puffing out air, thinking about what came to his crazy mind running away on this special day.When Ellen and Kayla came to my room, they were quiet. They seemed to have known the problem, but they chose not to talk. Kayla placed little Alexander in his stroller while Ellen approached me, taking baby Amanda from me.Elle opened the door and helped me fix the skirt of my wedding gown.“An update, Elle?” I asked her.“Alfie’s fixing the problem,” she said, glancing at my sisters, who padded out of the room. She laughs nervously when she notices I am worrying and don’t know what to pick first. “Focus, Leigh. This is your wedding. You’re not the one who loses the groom, so give that beautiful smile and have a blast,” she said, picking up my bouquet and giving it to me.“I just saw him a while ago -” My voice trailed off, realizing it was nonsense to talk about him now. “And why are you here? You
(Leigh’s POV)So much for my plan of beauty rest!I hardly had a wink last night because baby Amanda was crying almost all night that I wanted to rush her to the hospital, but whenever I danced her in my arms, she would stop crying and go to sleep. George brought Maxine yesterday to our house, and since she couldn’t come to our bedroom, she has been howling and crying until midnight. Only when Kayla got Callie out of my room that she stops whimpering.“What happened to you?” Elle blinked, looking at me as she entered my room.I climbed down from the bed lazily, went to my dresser, and saw my hair worse than a haystack. I groaned, looking at my eyes.She rolled her eyes, tugging me back to the bed.“What time are we leaving?” I asked, lying again on the bed. I need sleep—more of it.She chuckled. “We’re actually leaving. Just sleep in the car,” she suggested. “You need to have your hair done, makeup, and everything.”I groaned, going under the covers of my blanket. “Why is it that it d
(Leigh’s POV)“For you… For you, I will…” I breathed out, clutching my shirt, wondering why I couldn’t memorize my wedding vow.I inhaled… and then exhaled, looking at the perfect blue sky. It was a miracle that the weather today cooperated with us. Since Alex left that night, the sky has been crying with me, and though my family and friends saw me smiling, my heart was aching from the deep wound of the hard decision we had made.As long as we are together, every step or decision we make will be a mistake.“The flowers are soooo beautiful, Leigh,” Alfie uttered, admiringly looking at the different flowers, from roses of different colors to other flowers that we hardly recognize unless they would tell us what they were.I smirked at him. “When you get married, and the budget is sky is the limit, this is the result.”“But the couples would go to hell after,” he sighed.“Don’t say that,” I said, looking at the large and open meadow.It was last week when Mr. Hearst, the older Mr. Hearst,
(Alexander’s POV)After dinner, George went to Aunt Ida’s house, her temporary place to stay while we were here. Even if I don’t ask her, I know how she likes staying here because of the homey feeling we are experiencing.I heaved a deep sigh as I looked at the dark sky, trying to gather my senses together, thinking of what happened today and what I would do after this. For a honeymoon idea, I knew how much Leigh wanted to go back to the farm. We could spend our time there as one family, and when the twins are one or two, maybe we could all travel together.“Beer?” Royce asked, giving me a bottle of beer.I smiled, taking the bottle.“Reconsidering?” He sat on the wooden bench, gazing at the sky.“About Leigh or the twins?” I smirked, causing him to chuckle.He drank his beer, giving me a silent answer to tell him my plans for them.“As much as I hated Leigh for lying to me, I still love her, Royce,” It was easier to be honest to him than tell Leigh my feelings. She is one complicated
(Leigh’s POV)Was it the warm sprinkle from the shower? Perhaps Zyra’s fingernails have poison causing me to feel like this.Before he stepped into the shower area, my body was burning with desire, and there was a need inside me that wanted him to touch me… and kiss me.“Leigh,” His voice trailed off because as soon as he was in front of me, my hands grabbed his head, curling my fingers to his hair, never wanting to let him go. My heels have their own mind, raising my body to reach his soft lips, making my tongue do its work, exploring his mouth, taunting him into an adventure that I didn’t care if we would regret in the end.I must have turned on something in him, too. He pinned me to the wall, and his hands excitedly touched every part of me, feverishly arousing my heart, body, and soul. We were on fire, kissing intensely, touching passionately, caressing our bodies like we have hungry for a long time.He brought me into a new world when he thrust his manhood to my core, rocking and
(Leigh’s POV)Before I went to the kitchen to drink water, I brought the three babies to the porch and continued working there. Being a single mother, I had to work, but I mostly handled special editing projects, so I could still work from home. I asked Dyna to watch them for a while as I went inside, but as soon as I returned to the porch, she left in a hurry to go to her bakeshop. If only I could pull the days to our wedding day so that this would be over. Yet I also wished to stop the time, hoping that Alex would not get my children from me. I was in the middle of editing a picture when a familiar car stopped in front of our house.I rose to my feet, walking in the direction of the white vehicle because I was not sure at first who could our unexpected visitor be, but when the passenger door at the back of the car opened, I was surprised to see Zyra.She dashed to me, looking furious as she approached me. “You bitch!” She screamed angrily as she pulled my hair toward her.I could n
(Alexander’s POV)With a crib in Kayleigh’s bedroom, it was impossible to add another bed, and despite everyone’s disapproval of letting me stay in her bedroom, they didn’t have the choice when Carlito spoke up, explaining the reason why. I received sullen looks, especially from her brothers, but no one shared their disagreement.I have been staring at her ceiling for an hour now, listening to her even breathing. I felt guilty for taking our children on the day of her birthday, but I didn’t know, and I was already consumed by much anger that I didn’t think much.When I heard baby Amanda cry, I closed my eyes immediately when I felt Leigh move. She got up, still yawning, when she climbed down from the bed, taking our daughter from the crib. She sat on the chair next to the bed and pulled off her sleepwear to expose her breast to her. When I heard her even breathing as she breastfed our baby, I opened my eyes to check on them, watching her look like she was sleeping.As my little girl w
(Alexander’s POV)Kayla and Eloisa came into the room with little Alexander and baby Amanda. When the twins cried, it was like something snapped inside Leigh’s mind, making her blink. She scrambled to her feet, ignoring me in front of her and seeing only her two children.“Alex…” She cried.Eloisa, her eyes puffy from crying, nodded. “Yes. Alex came back and returned them.”“Are they hungry? Is Alex…” Leigh said, pressing her breasts and shaking her head. “Never mind.”“You have to eat and clean up first, Leigh,” Kayla told her.“Of course,” she said, pacing around the room, not knowing what to do first. “Is Alex -”She stopped again, perhaps she still didn’t know how to ask it, but couldn’t she see me? Kayla placed Amanda in the crib and approached her sister, putting her hands on her shoulder and holding her in place.“Alex is fine. He’s very much okay. You don’t have to worry about him. Listen to me, Kayleigh, gather yourself together because the twins are hungry. Eloisa will help