NOVA Ryan’s birthday is in a few days and he has insisted on not wanting a party which I have agreed to but as the official family planner? I simply saw an opportunity to give him a surprise party. However, planning a surprise party for him when I'm under the same roof as him is going to be difficult, more so because of the kids. And yet, here I am, shopping for party decorations with both kids, under the guise of a co-workers birthday. I did purchase a few things online but there were some things I couldn't find hence the store runs. This is my third store this morning and I still can't find the right color balloons, which means I have to go to yet another store but just in case, I purchase three sets of backup apple green balloons. “Okay, that’s it. ”Mommy, look!“ Katie Rose squeals, heading straight for the wings on her left. Arabella giggles, spinning to show off the wings they somehow managed to put on each other while I struggled with the right color strings and ballo
Thalia laughs, and Keir grins widely, holding her closer. ”Hey, you're that boy in Val's phone!“ Bella says.Katie Rose giggles, “He's not in the phone, silly.”Keir looks down at the two troublemakers standing on my left. “And who are these cute little, umm…“ he trails off, his gaze shifting between Bella and Thalia the Bella again, he repeats the cycle, unmissable confusion in his gaze.It's more than clear to anyone who meets Bella she looks like Thalia, but Knox has forbidden us from saying anything about that. ”I know,“ Thalia nervously laughs. ”Babe, you should see her mom. The resemblance is-“”It’s scary, flower.“ he finishes for her”Umm,“ Katie Rose muses, “Who is Flower?”Thalia's cheeks flash as she raises her hand. ”Me, that's what he calls me.”Why?” both girls ask, making Keir laugh.”Because he's my boyfriend.” Thalia tells them, but that only makes Katie Rose scrunch up her nose.”You're prettier than flowers,” Katie Rose shrugs.”Yes, and she's Auntie Thalia Rose.“ B
“What?” I peek into the mirror, catching a dreadful look in her eyes. “To be the auntie,” she snorts. “Since I will never be a mother I guess I have to settle for being the cool Auntie.” “Thalia.” “I'm fine, I like it.” she sniffs, and I feel something sink inside me. Shame? Regret? Sympathy? I don't know, it could be all. “Your brother was right, I don't deserve to be a mother but I'm good Auntie. This is my role in kids' lives, always the Auntie, never the Mom. And best of all, I get to spoil all my nieces and nephews.” “You make an amazing mom, Thalia.” “No thanks,” she bitterly laughs, choking a little. “There is a little bit too much trauma surrounding that experience for me and on the bright side, I don't have to deal with Knox on a co-parent basis.” she hisses. “Umm, what's for lunch?” she asks, noting my silence. ”Chicken wings.” “How about a milkshake?” she muses, trying to sound optimistic but a known sadness still lingers in her voice. “Thalia that's
”Daddy, mommy!” Arabella calls out, and I immediately drop my paintbrush to give her my full attention before she starts to whine about Katie Rose. “Wow,” I look up from my painting, ready to be excited over whatever crap she's conjured up but what I see stuns me to silence. She's painted an elephant, the details are so realistic, and even with the bright strokes of her paint you can tell how great is. “Daddy, look!” she grins, but he's too occupied with his own painting to look. “It's beautiful.” he praises, his gaze glued on his masterpiece. “Alpha Knox,” I call out, tapping him lightly. Only then does he look at what Arabella painted. “Is it pretty? Do you like it?” Arabella asks, her haze flickering between us.“Very pretty.” Alpha Knox affirms.“It's amazing Bella, where did you learn to paint like that?” I gulp, still in awe of her drawing. This is something you see in museums, something that you pay thousands of dollars for.“Daddy taught me.”My gaze shifts to Alpha Kn
KNOXToday, we had a quarterly meeting with every department of Ares Enterprises, which means Nova was in attendance and Thalia had no business being at the exclusive meeting but Ryan insisted she tag along in case Alpha Ezra thinks I'm pulling side deals to screw him over.Thalia sat across from me and I swear I saw her yawn a few times and roll her eyes a noticeable amount during our meeting. As we leave the premises, my lawyers are sharing satisfaction and complaints to address with other department lawyers while Nova and Thalia walk ahead of everyone, if anything they were first to leave the premises.“You looked sleepy in there,” Nova tells her, making her sigh.Oh, good it's not just me that noticed it.“I'm so exhausted.” “You didn't sleep enough?”She snorts, moving closer to Nova. “Keir came over yesterday afternoon and overworked me.”“Attorney, Laurel!” Nova gasps.“Hey,” Thalia nudges her. “It was all innocent. You're becoming a bad girl Novie lovie.”“I like to think I'
“Shit.” “Is this the meeting that was so important?” I glare at her, watching as she wipes her mouth clean with the back of her hand. “This does not classify as a meeting.” “I know,” she swallows, making me wonder what else she's swallowed under the pretext of this meeting. “We just-” “When you're here, you work. You can fuck your boyfriend on your own time, damsel.” I warn, her nickname rolling off my tongue with vile ease. “I wasn't fucking him,” she shoots back, her gaze twinkling with irritation. “Not yet.” And there it is, she's acting smart because I interrupted her orgasm, one she wouldn't have gotten from simply fingering herself while this thing did absolutely nothing. “My building is a reputable place of work, not a brothel Thalia.” “Ms Laurel, to be professional of course.” I nod, falling right into her trap. “Because you've exhibited professional conduct?” “I'm sorry, it's my fault.” The knockoff jumps in, his face is so complacent I want to punch him u
AMARAThalia and I are getting our hair done in preparation for tomorrow's meeting, she went first and immediately buried her nose in a gossip magazine. I'm checking my hairstyle when a familiar face pops up behind me in the mirror.“Nova!” I call out, whirling around. My squeal alerts Thalia too.Nova smiles, waving at me while the little girls with her squeal. “Hi, Amara.”“Auntie Thalia Rose!” both girls scream, running to meet her.“hi, darlings,” Thalia matches their excitement. “I love your matching dresses.”“Thank you,” they say in unison, hugging Thalia. I turn my attention to the Thalia lookalike. “Hello.” she grins, looking even more like Thalia.“Amara, this is Mariella, Knox's finance, his kid. My kid.” Nova tells me, gesturing to each individual. My gaze gets stuck on the kids, one looks very much like Thalia.“Say hi to my friend.” Thalia prompts.Nova's daughter stares between us, scratching her head. “Are you a lawyer too?”“Yes.”“Cool.” They both swoon, “I'm Katie R
Mariella’s lip curls up with contempt, “You look lovely, princess.” she feigns a smile. “You did so good, Arabella.” Nova praises. “I'm sorry I made a fuss.” she pouts, looking up at Rose.” “It's okay, I know you were scared but you need to remember that even if it seems like a bad day, you'll be fine, smile and keep your chin up because when the sun comes up tomorrow, it'll be a new day.” Arabella nods vigorously, “Okay, auntie.” “Mommy, can we surprise Daddy with my hair?” Katie Rose asks Nova. “Yep, I'll call him when he's out of surgery.” Nova smiles, petting her head. “Is he okay?” I frown. “Yes, he's the surgeon.” Nova laughs, noting my confusion. “Er, so what are we doing next?” “Thalia and I were going to get our nails done.” I tell her, “We want to look deadly in court.” “That's great, Mariella you could use a new set.” Nova’s head tilts, looking at Mariella's nails. Mariella glares at her, “This is new.” “It's pretty. “ Rose smiles. Nova shrugs, her eyes twin
Mariella’s lip curls up with contempt, “You look lovely, princess.” she feigns a smile. “You did so good, Arabella.” Nova praises. “I'm sorry I made a fuss.” she pouts, looking up at Rose.” “It's okay, I know you were scared but you need to remember that even if it seems like a bad day, you'll be fine, smile and keep your chin up because when the sun comes up tomorrow, it'll be a new day.” Arabella nods vigorously, “Okay, auntie.” “Mommy, can we surprise Daddy with my hair?” Katie Rose asks Nova. “Yep, I'll call him when he's out of surgery.” Nova smiles, petting her head. “Is he okay?” I frown. “Yes, he's the surgeon.” Nova laughs, noting my confusion. “Er, so what are we doing next?” “Thalia and I were going to get our nails done.” I tell her, “We want to look deadly in court.” “That's great, Mariella you could use a new set.” Nova’s head tilts, looking at Mariella's nails. Mariella glares at her, “This is new.” “It's pretty. “ Rose smiles. Nova shrugs, her eyes twin
AMARAThalia and I are getting our hair done in preparation for tomorrow's meeting, she went first and immediately buried her nose in a gossip magazine. I'm checking my hairstyle when a familiar face pops up behind me in the mirror.“Nova!” I call out, whirling around. My squeal alerts Thalia too.Nova smiles, waving at me while the little girls with her squeal. “Hi, Amara.”“Auntie Thalia Rose!” both girls scream, running to meet her.“hi, darlings,” Thalia matches their excitement. “I love your matching dresses.”“Thank you,” they say in unison, hugging Thalia. I turn my attention to the Thalia lookalike. “Hello.” she grins, looking even more like Thalia.“Amara, this is Mariella, Knox's finance, his kid. My kid.” Nova tells me, gesturing to each individual. My gaze gets stuck on the kids, one looks very much like Thalia.“Say hi to my friend.” Thalia prompts.Nova's daughter stares between us, scratching her head. “Are you a lawyer too?”“Yes.”“Cool.” They both swoon, “I'm Katie R
“Shit.” “Is this the meeting that was so important?” I glare at her, watching as she wipes her mouth clean with the back of her hand. “This does not classify as a meeting.” “I know,” she swallows, making me wonder what else she's swallowed under the pretext of this meeting. “We just-” “When you're here, you work. You can fuck your boyfriend on your own time, damsel.” I warn, her nickname rolling off my tongue with vile ease. “I wasn't fucking him,” she shoots back, her gaze twinkling with irritation. “Not yet.” And there it is, she's acting smart because I interrupted her orgasm, one she wouldn't have gotten from simply fingering herself while this thing did absolutely nothing. “My building is a reputable place of work, not a brothel Thalia.” “Ms Laurel, to be professional of course.” I nod, falling right into her trap. “Because you've exhibited professional conduct?” “I'm sorry, it's my fault.” The knockoff jumps in, his face is so complacent I want to punch him u
KNOXToday, we had a quarterly meeting with every department of Ares Enterprises, which means Nova was in attendance and Thalia had no business being at the exclusive meeting but Ryan insisted she tag along in case Alpha Ezra thinks I'm pulling side deals to screw him over.Thalia sat across from me and I swear I saw her yawn a few times and roll her eyes a noticeable amount during our meeting. As we leave the premises, my lawyers are sharing satisfaction and complaints to address with other department lawyers while Nova and Thalia walk ahead of everyone, if anything they were first to leave the premises.“You looked sleepy in there,” Nova tells her, making her sigh.Oh, good it's not just me that noticed it.“I'm so exhausted.” “You didn't sleep enough?”She snorts, moving closer to Nova. “Keir came over yesterday afternoon and overworked me.”“Attorney, Laurel!” Nova gasps.“Hey,” Thalia nudges her. “It was all innocent. You're becoming a bad girl Novie lovie.”“I like to think I'
”Daddy, mommy!” Arabella calls out, and I immediately drop my paintbrush to give her my full attention before she starts to whine about Katie Rose. “Wow,” I look up from my painting, ready to be excited over whatever crap she's conjured up but what I see stuns me to silence. She's painted an elephant, the details are so realistic, and even with the bright strokes of her paint you can tell how great is. “Daddy, look!” she grins, but he's too occupied with his own painting to look. “It's beautiful.” he praises, his gaze glued on his masterpiece. “Alpha Knox,” I call out, tapping him lightly. Only then does he look at what Arabella painted. “Is it pretty? Do you like it?” Arabella asks, her haze flickering between us.“Very pretty.” Alpha Knox affirms.“It's amazing Bella, where did you learn to paint like that?” I gulp, still in awe of her drawing. This is something you see in museums, something that you pay thousands of dollars for.“Daddy taught me.”My gaze shifts to Alpha Kn
“What?” I peek into the mirror, catching a dreadful look in her eyes. “To be the auntie,” she snorts. “Since I will never be a mother I guess I have to settle for being the cool Auntie.” “Thalia.” “I'm fine, I like it.” she sniffs, and I feel something sink inside me. Shame? Regret? Sympathy? I don't know, it could be all. “Your brother was right, I don't deserve to be a mother but I'm good Auntie. This is my role in kids' lives, always the Auntie, never the Mom. And best of all, I get to spoil all my nieces and nephews.” “You make an amazing mom, Thalia.” “No thanks,” she bitterly laughs, choking a little. “There is a little bit too much trauma surrounding that experience for me and on the bright side, I don't have to deal with Knox on a co-parent basis.” she hisses. “Umm, what's for lunch?” she asks, noting my silence. ”Chicken wings.” “How about a milkshake?” she muses, trying to sound optimistic but a known sadness still lingers in her voice. “Thalia that's
Thalia laughs, and Keir grins widely, holding her closer. ”Hey, you're that boy in Val's phone!“ Bella says.Katie Rose giggles, “He's not in the phone, silly.”Keir looks down at the two troublemakers standing on my left. “And who are these cute little, umm…“ he trails off, his gaze shifting between Bella and Thalia the Bella again, he repeats the cycle, unmissable confusion in his gaze.It's more than clear to anyone who meets Bella she looks like Thalia, but Knox has forbidden us from saying anything about that. ”I know,“ Thalia nervously laughs. ”Babe, you should see her mom. The resemblance is-“”It’s scary, flower.“ he finishes for her”Umm,“ Katie Rose muses, “Who is Flower?”Thalia's cheeks flash as she raises her hand. ”Me, that's what he calls me.”Why?” both girls ask, making Keir laugh.”Because he's my boyfriend.” Thalia tells them, but that only makes Katie Rose scrunch up her nose.”You're prettier than flowers,” Katie Rose shrugs.”Yes, and she's Auntie Thalia Rose.“ B
NOVA Ryan’s birthday is in a few days and he has insisted on not wanting a party which I have agreed to but as the official family planner? I simply saw an opportunity to give him a surprise party. However, planning a surprise party for him when I'm under the same roof as him is going to be difficult, more so because of the kids. And yet, here I am, shopping for party decorations with both kids, under the guise of a co-workers birthday. I did purchase a few things online but there were some things I couldn't find hence the store runs. This is my third store this morning and I still can't find the right color balloons, which means I have to go to yet another store but just in case, I purchase three sets of backup apple green balloons. “Okay, that’s it. ”Mommy, look!“ Katie Rose squeals, heading straight for the wings on her left. Arabella giggles, spinning to show off the wings they somehow managed to put on each other while I struggled with the right color strings and ballo
Ryan scrambles to help her, trying to do damage control when no one asked him. “I'm sorry, Thalia, he-” “Ryan.” I call out, stopping him from making apologies to Thalia in my name. “I’m fine.” I hear Thalia say just as the elevator doors open. When I step inside I get a clear view of Ryan rushing to meet me and Thalia picking up the documents around her with nobody but Amara aiding her. She did this, she's the reason but her assistant offers to help her. Ryan makes it just before the door closes, the heat of his gaze burning into me as I scroll aimlessly on my phone. “What is the matter with you?” “I did nothing wrong.” I scoff, unable to fathom how he's forever blind to her faults. If I didn't know better, I'd say my Beta is in love with my ex. “You didn't have to be rude to her.” I sigh, pocketing my phone. “And what do you think I should have done? Should I have kissed her feet and licked the ground she walks on?” “Why not?” Ryan smiles, ignoring the elevator doors o