"He got you a job and you didn't think to tell me?"That was the first thing she said when I picked up her call after avoiding it for so long."I didn't think it was necessary," I said. Wrong move."So, telling your mother that you got a new job isn't necessary?""I apologize mother." I said for the sake of it.She huffed, apparently displeased by my tone, "Now that you work, how are you going to manage taking care of your husband and child?" "Uhm, maternity leave?" I wasn't even pregnant so what was she going on about?"You're not pregnant." She stated in shock. Why was she even shocked when she knew what was up."We're working on it," I said."Don't lie to me.""Uh.."She hung up in annoyance and that was that. I was both relieved and very worried all at the same time. One thing was sure, was not ready to have a child and they needed to understand that.~~~Work. I was back here again. Since I was on probation, I was basically here to learn the ropes and not actually get work don
If I ever had to choose between going home from work and working late, I'd choose the latter. Why? It was hell back at home. I wanted to run off on weekends sometimes. Thankfully I worked until Saturdays. Sundays were my day off. My mother in law as well as her niece, Lira, seemed to be ganging up on me whenever they got the chance. Sometimes I stayed back at work on purpose just to avoid seeing them at dinner. Now that the twins had graduated and were yet to get jobs. They were living with us fully and with how much Lira hated my guts especially after her breakup with Axel (whom I now hardly saw by the way), I was bound to face a whole lot of backlash from her. I was thankful for Leah's intervention from time to time. Leo. He was aloof and closed off as always. We hardly got to see because I was busy with work now and so was he. When we did see each other, there were hardly any words said. But what else is new? "Why don't we go shopping today?" Leah asked me out of nowhere as w
"There's my favorite cousin in the whole wide world." She sang her way into my room. I sighed, "What do you want this time Leah?""Nothing much. This is about your wife." She plopped down on the settee next to my desk.I glanced up from the screen in front of me "What about her?""Her birthday is around the corner, what are your plans?" "Plans?" I was puzzled."Yes, plans.""You just graduated from college, don't you plan on getting a job or something. You want to join us in dad's my company?" I offered just to distract her."I love you and uncle Rowan to death but I really can't see myself working for you both.""Why?""Because a nine-to-five job would kill me." She said with an overly dramatic sigh.I chuckled, "It's not that bad." She rolled her eyes, "Yeah right. This is what I want to do." "What?""Event planning." She clapped in glee."Leah," I tried to suggest something better but her palms were up in the next second, stopping me from speaking further. "My mind is made up.
I was twenty two. Time had flown by so much faster than I expected it would. I had spent a year and half being married. And the funny thing was that this birthday had turned out to be better than the last one. The previous year, everyone forgot about it, even me. This was mostly because my mother in-law had started pressuring me for a child. A child I was still yet to have.I sat still in the middle of my room. Yet to recover from how the date went. For once I did not want to tell anyone about what went on between Leo and I. I just wanted to bask in the moment. And it was all going so well until that girl came in out of nowhere. His mood switched so quickly, I became worried that I had done something wrong.I knew those doe eyes. I recognized them so well because they stood out in those pictures I managed to see on his phone before he took it out of my hand that day.She had a saccharine smile on her pretty face when she approached our table. Leo didn't return it. I forced a polite
"She's obviously cheating on you."I was barely into the house when I heard this. Right there in the middle of the living room telling me off to my husband."Lira!" Leah exclaimed. It was no surprise she left immediately she knew that I saw her. She wanted to get home before me and do this."I saw her with another man." She insisted. "Who's he?" Leo turned to me, face blank as a piece of paper."My boss." I said. "Lucas Valiente?" "Yes.""That son of a gun." "He's just my friend." I said in my defense."So all you do is keep questionable friendships? Didn't your mother teach you better?" My mother in-law said. Of course she would find ways to throw jabs at my mother.I had a long day. All I wanted to do was sleep and now there were people getting in the way of that. "Aurora let's talk." Leo said, gesturing for the stairs."Talk about what?" I asked him."Let's just talk alone." He said.I shook my head. "This matter was brought up in front of them, let's finish it here.""Get up
Today was our first appointment with the gynaecologist. When I dressed up that morning, it was with a heavy heart. It had gotten to this. The point of being questioned about my ability to carry a child. Leo came to me just the day before and casually announced that he had booked us an appointment at a fertility clinic first thing this morning. We had never actually discussed it but who was I to question him? I was yet to tell River about all this. She would freak out. I knew she was more than willing for me to call it quits on this marriage. For some reason, I found it hard to speak to her about these things. I felt she would not really understand the pressure I had to face. We were the same age but I was married - a whole different ball game from what she was used to. Sometimes, most of the time even, I wished to be in her shoes. "We're going to be late." Leo came in and jolted me out of my thoughts. "I'll be right there." I said, trying to hide my reluctance. I hated having
"I don't know why she keeps calling. She even invited me to her wedding." I vented to Rick at the office that afternoon. Melody had been calling and texting me nonstop and inasmuch as I tried to avoid her, she was persistent. She even threatened to come to the office to see me herself if I did not respond to her texts. I was tired. Rick hummed thoughtfully, "I thought she didn't want anything to do with you.""I'm just as surprised as you are. I mean it's been nearly a year, I expected her to be married by now even." I said."Yeah that's true. She did say she wanted one last fling before settling down right?""Yes! That's exactly what she said." "Maybe they postponed the wedding and now she really needs one last fling." He laughed at his own joke but I wasn't having it."I'm not falling for that." My frown went deeper when another of texts popped in. "You did it the first time, why not now?" He asked."She made me feel stupid and it really hurt Aurora." I stated plainly.His eyes
We decided to go through with the IUI procedure firstly since it seemed less tasking but it failed. Leo insisted that the IVF was a better choice, I don't even know why.The IVF process was a painful one for me. The first time Leo actually decided to consummate our union was because of it.It was an awkward evening. We had just moved out of his parent's house. His mother had crossed the line again and again and Leo's father thought it best that we moved into our own space. I was so grateful for that, he just did not know how much. It was so refreshing to be away from the drama.Leo bought a four-bedroom duplex. It was a smaller space, easier for us to move around and we came across each other more. I took my time in decorating that space, he did not care for all those things so it was never an issue.I wanted to be able to speak to him more freely but he was never available. He was always out, we had separate rooms and my tongue was tied every time I wanted to speak to him on issues a
~One year later~Settling into married life had been not much of a hassle. Lucas and I had become a team and were working on big projects together so we put childbearing on hold and focused on raising Dante as well as our various businesses.It was a year later. It had been a whole year of bliss being married to the best man God could ever give me. I had no regrets whatsoever.I looked at my son and grinned. My fast growing three year old who kept making a raucous at school. Being a boy mom to a hyperactive toddler was no easy feat."Mommy!" He ran to me, looking more disheveled than I remembered him being that morning. This was the story everyday. I drop off a prim and proper child and at the end of the school day, I was met with the exact opposite. Today was even more special because there were missing buttons on his shirt. I sighed. "My baby." I said, picking up his heavy self as I placed a kiss on his left cheek. "How was school today?""Fun." He showed off his little teeth with w
~Aurora~Exhausted after a hectic wedding day? Nah, not me. I had been celibate for as long as I could remember. There was no way I was going to miss out on any action that night.Lucas was just as energetic as me as we made out in the elevator, hardly waiting till we got to the penthouse suite where we would be staying for the night before flying out for our honeymoon.As intentional as he was, he had the whole place decorated for us. Oh it was about to a be a night!He had taken it upon himself to take out the many bobby pins that held up my updo hairstyle while I unbuttoned his shirt and pants in one swift move.At the tap of a button, the mood lights changed and the song played at our first dance came up, slowing things down. I leaned into his touch as we made it into the shower, briefly washing ourselves up from all the sweat and grime the busy day had brought with us. He carried me out of the bathroom after toweling me dry and gently placed me on the bed, caressing every side o
~Three months later ~"I'm so happy for you Aurora. No I'm not trying to make you cry but girl you did that! Look at you. You're so happy. Aurora of a few years ago would be so proud."I grinned, ready to appreciate her for her kind words but she was not done yet. "I feel like a proud mom," she hiccupped, fighting back tears. "You are so strong, so resilient. Seeing how far you've come and you finally getting the love you deserve, makes me so happy.""Oh my God I'm going to ruin my make up.""Girl come on, you can hold it in." River immediately said, fanning me frantically.I looked up at the ceiling, the bulbs on the chandelier right in my gaze as I tried to chase the tears that were fighting to fall from my eyes back in."Okay, okay I'm good." I sighed. "Thank you River. I don't know what I'd have done without you throughout this journey. You've helped me become this version of myself. You've been here since day one, cheering me on and now we're here. You never got tired of me, neve
~Lucas POV~"Lucas!" I heard the all too familiar voice I had grown accustomed to. How did she know how to find me? I wondered. Then it clicked. She had obviously spoken to my mother."I know you're in there. I just want to talk please." I heard her voice from downstairs while I was stuck in my bedroom in my mother's house. I shut my eyes and groaned. I ached to see her but then again, I did not want get my heart broken yet again. What if she was here to return my ring and tell me she had chosen to go back to her ex? That would kill me."Lucas please!" I heard her yell again.Letting out a sigh of resignation, I decided to step out of my room only to be met face to face in the hallway as she found her way to me."Lucas." She breathed a sigh of relief as she fell into my arms. I held her tight and sniffed her hair. At least if she was here to break my heart, I would hold on to this tender moment."I'm so sorry." She said, breaking down in tears. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like a
Loud clattering ensued after that statement and it was none other than his own mother, proof that she was not aware of this stunt he just pulled prior to this time. From the looks of it, my mother and his father were aware. I fumed in my seated position, throwing a glare in my mother's direction, upset about her conspiring to throw me under the bus. What did she take me for? A fool?"Leonardo, what is the meaning of this?" His mother hissed harshly."Mom, please stay out of this." He said to his mother and turned to me."Aurora I know the reason you didn't accept my proposal is because of my mother and I'm here to promise you that she would never interfere in our union ever again, if only you give me another chance." Leo said like it was a necessary romantic declaration. Why did he not do this while we were married? This was simply medicine after death."Wait. He proposed to you?" Lucas piped up, looking appalled.I shut my eyes tight as I cussed under my breath. "Shit.""Lucas I can
Telling Lucas about my trip to Washington had begun to look like a hassle. I had pondered on it for a while and I kept rethinking if it was a good idea."Something wrong?" He asked me before chewing on the grapes I had gotten for our picnic. We were seated under a tree in the park that weekend, enjoying our day and I did not want to spoil it."I need to tell you something." I finally breathed out."What's up?" His arms immediately went around my hips. "I need to go to Washington."The concern on his face decreased a bit."Okay? You wanna see your family?" He asked."Something like that." I said after a bit of hesitance. He noticed."Aurora what's going on?"I sighed, figuring that honesty was the best foundation to lay our relationship on."Leo wants to see Dante and I and he's asked us to come." I said."For what reason?" He frowned."He did not say." I said with a shrug."That's odd.""Is it?""Yeah." He nodded, sitting back down and staring into the vast premises apparently thinki
It felt surreal when he slid the ring on my finger as I laid next to him. He had kept on with high hopes that I was going to say yes to him eventually. The heart shaped diamond glimmered on my finger so gracefully.I may have not been fully in love with him yet but I was sure choosing him was the best decision I was going to make."This feels like a dream." He said, bringing my knuckles to his lips. "I love you Aurora and I'm going to try my very best to love you the way you deserve."I was almost teary eyed at his confession. I just pulled him close and let my lips settle on his once again. When he dropped me off at home, I literally skipped into the house to see River and Dante, unable to contain my excitement."Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" She exclaimed on sighting me as my son jumped into my arms. If the incessant calls and texts were anything to go by, she was really worried. She even called Leo of all people."It's a long story. I can explain." I said almost b
"Aurora will you marry me?" My glass almost fell out of my hand as the question rang in my ears. "I know it seems too fast," He said nervously, picking up on my reaction. "It is. What happened to dating?" I asked, appalled by his forwardness. "We have been going out on dates." "What happened to asking me to be your girlfriend?" He chuckled slightly, "I don't want to wait any longer. You're the woman I want to be with and I do not doubt what I feel for you." I swallowed nervously, "Lucas I've been through so much. I'm not ready for any of this." "But you are over Leo, aren't you?" He asked, looking hopeful. "Yes I am but then, I have my son." I said, feeling my voice shrink in worry. "I'm more than willing to love Dante as my own and you know it." I let out a shaky breath. Why did he have to put me on the spot like this? "Lucas I need time. I need time to think about all of this. This is too fast." "I'm sorry for making it seem like I'm rushing you." He apologized, reachin
We were planning Dante's first birthday.River had taken it upon herself to plan the small indoor party we were throwing to mark the celebration. I was thrilled. Every time that I looked at him, I reminisced on how fast the year had gone and how so many things had changed during the time period.Leo took it upon himself to pay for everything whilst, Lucas volunteered to present through the planning process, helping me run errands when necessary."This guest list is so short." River said and I almost gaped at her. "We have small circles and there's really no need for a crowd, don't you think?" I said to her as I set him down. The fact that he could walk did not make it any easier for him to sit still. Dante was all over the place, trying one thing or the other that could raise my blood pressure. Indeed, I was a boy mom."Mama." He called out to me, reaching for my hand."Yes baby.""Mama," he said again and I grinned. How I had always wanted to hear this and now that it was happenin