Cassy POV“So, what brings you here, boss?”“Will you quit calling me that? It gives me the chills. We always address each other by our first names. That should not change.” I never had any airs, and Norma knows that from way back.“Well, three years ago, you were a renowned bestselling author, but now, after your brother took the reins of the business, you already owned two lifestyle magazines in circulation as part of the publishing company. And the franchise talk is now in the offing. You are going to be a multi-billionaire soon.” In just a few sentences, Norma gave me a rundown of what has happened at the company since I became inactive.“And what’s more, the merchandise department is performing great, raking in million
Cassy POVTory drew me inside. We wound up squeezing ourselves between bodies gyrating like snakes to the sound of a flirty modern dance tune so we could cross to the VIP rooms she reserved for us just before we got inside the club. A member of the club, Tory easily wiggled her way around. “Tory, sweetheart! Long time, no see.” A drunk man blocked our path, surprising both of us. He was raising a liquor glass in the air as if toasting us. “Get out of my way, Rick.” She bumped the guy so he would be dislodged from our path, allowing us to walk through. The guy might be drunk, but he was proving strong. He wouldn’t budge. Instead of unblocking our path, he looked in the direction of the couches and smiled. "I am with my friends." He told Tory menacingly, warning her not to embarrass him in front of his friends. Rick's friends are looking at us. They were laughing and bumping fists while egging him on.Spurred by the support, he looked Tory in the eye.Bah! As if he can order T
Tory POVWhen Caleb took Cassy away after dropping the bomb that they were married, the entire club became silent.It was a you-could-hear-a-pin-drop kind of silence. That kind of silence.Then, it became a bedlam right after.Everyone started talking. They could not understand what had just happened.Caleb is one of the most outstanding bachelors out there, and people knew he and Amanda Hayes were engaged for a while.Then, here comes a nobody whom he claims as his wife. Of course, people will start talking. Everyone was so generous with their opinion; you would think all of them were flawless the way they dished out unsavory things against my best friend when they did not know her at all.Talk about judgment!I hate it when people talk about Cassy like she was some kind of gold digger without knowing her full background.I heard some girls saying that the reason Caleb hid her was because she was someone unworthy of his stature. I would like to refute them, but it was futile. People
Cassy POVMy mood instantly plummeted outside the police station and went downhill from there. Without waiting for Tory, I climbed the short steps to the apartment.The nanny greeted me. She assured me that the kids were still sleeping. Even so, I wanted to see them.This was the first night I stayed out late; leaving them in the care of someone other than my family or close friends felt strange.So, after paying the nanny and letting her out of the door, I charged up the steps to the children's bedroom. They were both sound asleep. I tiptoed inside the room to hover from their bed, watching their chest rise and fall in rhythm.Getting my fill, I kissed them both on the forehead before getting up and going out of the bedroom, making sure I pulled the door shut on my way out.I went downstairs to the waiting Tory, surprised when she was not there, and in her place, I found Tony sitting calmly by one of the couches.Frowning in confusion, I asked, “Where is Tory?”Tony shrugged his s
Cassy POVThe whole morning, Caleb attended to the kids. Oakley warmed up to him immediately.I could not blame her. Even before we came here, she would often ask about her father, and she was so vocal against Tony. That clued me in on her stand on meeting her daddy.But looking at Joachim, I could not say he shares his sister’s feelings.He sat beside me the whole breakfast.“Joachim, do you want more?” He asked our child, who simply shook his head in reply.His twin sister makes up for the lack of enthusiasm on his part. Oakley quickly volunteered.“I want more.” Then, she smiled like a cherub to her dad.Watching Caleb, I could not help but smile secretly at the stunned look on his face.He was enamored by his little girl. I could tell by the few interactions he had with her.Well, very few could resist Oakley if she turned on her charming self on the full. This morning, it was switched to full blast. It was amusing to watch Caleb looking rattled at Oakley's every request. “Wate
Inside the car, I did not look back and just sat primly on the back until the cab pulled outside my apartment. After paying him generously, I got out to meet the representative from the car shop.He was waiting in the curb with my newly purchased car.He handed me the necessary documents for the purchase, the car’s key and registration.When he left, I took the wheels and drove it to CB Publishing.The guards stood at attention when he recognized me. As usual, they greeted me courteously and let me pass. I passed by the same receptionist at the reception area. This time, she greeted me with a warm smile.I smiled back, indicating I didn’t take to heart what happened yesterday.Just as I was about to board the elevator, Norma came rushing out.“Cassy! You are here!” She grabbed me by the arm and drew me inside the waiting elevator. She must have been expecting me, and the guard tipped her off my arrival.“I heard about the incident yesterday. Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked aft
I was seething by the time I went inside my car. With my hands on the steering wheel, I backed out of the parking lot without checking on Caleb’s car, not caring whether he was following as he said. I drove fast, too. Fifteen minutes, and I was already parking my car on the school grounds. I went out of my car and walked the short distance to the twins’ classroom to wait outside. Joachim was the first student to get out of his class. He walked leisurely to my side. “Where is your sister?” I asked. He motioned in the direction of their classroom. “She'll be out in a moment.” True enough, a quick look at the door opening showed his little sister getting out of the classroom. She was struggling with her backpack, but a tall man strode in her direction to help her. He took her backpack from her. Oakley smiled when she identified the man. “Daddy! You came!” Everyone around us gasped when they heard Oakley address the man. There were some buzzing sounds when they started to w
Cassy POV I started to shake my head when Caleb assisted the two kids in the back passenger, surprised he was ready with child seats for them.That impressed me. I thought the billionaire playboy would not know anything about them and would come in unprepared.Then, he closed the door and opened the front passenger door for me. That pulled me from my trance.I shook my head, intending to get to my car.I changed my mind; I did not want to ride with them.Their talk about family and the mansion where Caleb and I used to live opened a can of worms I would rather keep unopened.Then, I heard Wax and Oaks calling out to me from the backseat.“Mommy!”“Mommy, get in!”“The kids are waiting. Do not disappoint them.” Caleb whispered in my ears.The reminder made me change my mind.I hurriedly got inside Caleb’s car so as not to give myself another chance to change it again.Caleb bent to assist me with the seatbelt, but I grabbed it from him. “I can do it,” I said in a slightly harsh voic
Sigh. Have you ever felt that you have to go but cannot make that first step? That is how I feel today. Cassy and Caleb’s story has ended, yet I feel sad at the thought of saying goodbye. I started this story December 2023, and since then, it has brought me so many firsts: * First book with more than 200 chapters, * First book with 200k+ words, * First book with a banner promotion, * First book with highest reads at 70.2k to date, and * First highest-grossing book. This book wouldn’t reach those milestones if it weren’t for you. So, on this page let me thank some of the people who left their marks in my book: First is my editor Lyra Pinter. Thank you for the patience, support and tips you provided to make this book where it is at the moment. Also for GoodNovel. This platform gave me the opportunity to reach out to more audience. Thank you for the gems Chi, Lean Cantara. Jennifer Gonzales, Lhyn, Susan, Yolly Villanueva, Maria Theresa Sant
Cassy POVCaleb spun me around in excitement, and I squealed in delight. When the children noticed what we were doing, they abandoned the toys scattered in the playpen to run toward us. “What’s happening?” Oakley asked.From the background, I could hear my mom tell her. “You and Joachim will have a baby brother or a sister soon.” “Oh!” Oakley sounded surprised.By this time, Caleb had already put me down, and I was watching the enraptured emotion on my little girl’s face. A grin worked its way to her face, making her more beautiful in my eyes. She took her brother’s hand excitedly. “We are going to have a baby! Yay! I am going to be a big sister!” Oakley and Joachim jumped at the news. They were clapping, and so were everyone around us. Even Rosalie Kingston Pierre looked at us with a wistful smile. Greg and James, Caleb’s friends, proposed a toast.“Congratulations on the baby!” They both shouted and tapped their glasses with spoons.It created tinkling sounds that gave off
Cassy POVDuring the party, I could feel that something was bothering Caleb. It's not that I was suspecting him of anything. It was more like I was just puzzled at the antsy behavior. From time to time, he would leave me to talk on the phone, and my lips formed a straight line in displeasure. I am sure it was business, but can’t he postpone business for a while to enjoy the children’s party?“You look lonely, babe. Where is your husband?” Reynold approached me when he noticed I was standing alone in the corner, watching the event while my husband was out of sight. Caleb just stepped out of the room, purportedly to answer Gordon’s call, and it is honestly pi*sing me off. I shrugged my shoulders and looked murderous. The day began magnificently. Caleb and I rose before dawn and tiptoed our way to the twins' bedroom to spruce it up with birthday decor. We wanted to surprise the twins, and we did!The smile on their faces was priceless. Caleb and I could not contain our tears whe
Caleb POVWe started milling around, stopping by some tables to talk to some parents. From the happiness wreathed on the children’s faces, I could see that everyone was having a good time. My two best friends arrived, and I immediately snaked an arm around Cassy’s waist when I noticed Greg smiling at her. I still hadn’t forgotten what he told me before - that he had a crush on my wife. Cassy was surprised but did not remove my arms around her waist while we talked to my best friends. This alone made me shoot Greg a gloating look. If I didn’t need them for my proposal later, I wouldn’t have invited them, especially Greg, but they are the only people I could rely on.A crowd gathered around us, and my two best friends entertained them, allowing Cassy and I to extricate ourselves from the circle to welcome Adam and Cassy’s friends as they trickled in one by one. Martin Crest, Cole Higgs, and John Collins came in one after the other, bearing boxes of gifts for the twins. When Joach
Caleb POVWarmth filled my heart as I listened to Oakley divulge their wish for everyone to hear.My chest felt stuffy when I learned that their wish was me.Even though they did not know me or had no idea about me, my kids longed for me like I longed for them the past years.“I am happy, too,” I responded before grabbing them to kiss the top of their heads.Oakley climbed into my lap. Her little hand started caressing my face.“Thank you, Daddy! I love you!” Oakley declared.My shoulders started to shake. I don’t know what I did before to deserve these children, but I was so happy.“I love you, too, Oakley. You, Mommy and Joachim, are Daddy’s treasures.” I admitted and realized that my voice sounded guttural, even to my ears.I looked at Cassy and saw her smiling through her tears.I don’t think I will ever
Cassy POVDays passed by quickly, and before we knew it, it was already the kids' birthday.“Shhh!”Caleb said when I giggled because, for the first time, it was us barging in on them, not the other way around.The kids were still sleeping soundly.Oakley slept with her arms spread wide. She had kicked off her blanket to the foot of her bed.On the other bed, Joachim slept on his side, facing the wall.“I could not believe they were four years old.” I gushed.Caleb walked to the bed holding the cake we ordered at Felicity&rsq
Cassy POVUnfortunately, thechildren’splan to spend the weekend with their grandparents did not materialize because Mom and Dad told me they were leaving the next day.“Why? Thekids’birthday is only days away?”I could not hide the disappointment in my voice.The children look forward to having the family on their big day. They
Cassy POVI watched my parents, and the happiness radiating on their faces was enough to put a smile on my face.“Now, we can eat,” Oakley interjected.Her declaration broke my embracing parents apart.“Sorry, my little darling!” Mom said awkwardly, chucking Oakley on the chin.Oakley giggled and ran to the dinner table with Joachim in tow.The elder Burkes followed them and helped them with their seats while Caleb and I looked on with smiles painted on our faces.Then, I nudged him. “Tell me, how did Dad manage to order the flower arrangement this fast?&rd
Cassy POVThe children giggled, but they didn’t protest. They wallowed in the attention Mom gave them.“Come on, grandma, let’s eat,” Oakley said after a while. She scooted to the edge of the bed, her feet dangling.Dad took her little hands to hold her while she slid down the bed and her feet connected to the floor.“Wax, let’s go!” Oakley turned around and beckoned for her brother to do the same.Joachim followed Oakley. Dad helped him, too.They both ran to the door, trying to open it. They both jumped, hands touching the knob, but since they were not tall enough, they could not turn the knob open.