Cassy POV
I decided to do a little digging.
My fingers worked hurriedly as they flicked on the screen, looking for Reynold, my BFF in college running a top-notch security and surveillance business.
"Cassy, it has been a long time." He greeted me when he answered my call on the first ring.
"That was quick." I quipped.
"Of course." He sounded so proud that I could imagine him beating his puffed-up chest, making me smile secretly in my head.
"I wouldn’t want my superstar best friend to wait on me. The moment I saw your name on the monitor, my knees started to shake. I can not ignore your call, so I let whoever I was meeting wait so I can answer your call."
Cassy POVOkaaay!I think I already gave my twins enough time for chitchat. I have to break them from planning their little act of terror.My goodness!They are only three years old but are proving to be precocious ones!I faked a yawn and stretched to alert them that I was already awake.Silence.Then, I counted one, two, three before I heard my little girl exclaim at the top of her lungs!“Mommy! Why is it hard to wake you up?” My little girl complained.I wrapped my arms around her little body and let her warmth envelop me. She sm
Cassy POVIt was not easy convincing Adam that I had to return to Glendale with the kids. It took a lengthy discussion, opening up old wounds, until he finally relented and gave us his blessings.Yay!“Why do you want to come back to Glendale? You can operate remotely from here.” I knew he would say that the first time I broached the subject of leaving our home and coming back to Glendale, but I was armed.I already rehearsed in my head my reasons that even I believed in the credibility of my words.“My business, remember?”He looked like he had all the time in the world. Adam sat on the chintz-covered wicker outdoor chair on the patio and placed his
Cassy POVAfter I got Adam's approval, I sat my parents down for a serious talk.I told them about my plans to return to Glendale to take charge of my own business.At first, Mom pressed me to stay. She could not understand why I wanted to leave.“What about the twins? Are you bringing them, too?”Their eyes were shrouded with gloom at the impending separation from my children. Getting their support was not easy.But I made to impress upon them where I was coming from. They needed to understand that I had to take charge of my life.I cannot always depend on them.It had be
Cassy POVGlendale Airport“Oakley, Wax, wake up. Our plane is about to land.”I hate to wake my two kids.We had an early flight, and I had to pull them out of bed very early that morning, but we were here.
Caleb POV“Babe!” I heard a woman’s familiar voice called out, and it froze me in place.My phone kept buzzing in my pocket, but I ignored it. It was probably Mandy wondering where I was.We got separated earlier after we landed and retrieved our luggage. Mandy went to the car ahead of me while I stayed to go to the restroom.My trip to the restroom took a long time. I got sidetracked by two three-year-old kids blocking my path.“We are lost, and we are looking for our mommy.” The little boy said haughtily, while he held his sister’s hand.I was amused and amazed at the same time at the protective way he stood just a little bit forwa
Caleb POV“Daddy.” The quiet little voice of my little girl touched a cord in my heart and tugged, making it impossible to breathe.I let her hug me as I try to regulate my wayward heart from skipping. She called me Daddy.I could not hide the delight on my face, and an involuntary smile creased the corners of my lips and eyes.When the little girl let go, her brows wrinkled in concentration.“Where have you been, Daddy? Why can’t we find you?”I was stunned.“You are looking for me?”My little girl nodded enthusiastically.
Cassy POVThe kids started to squirm in my arms.“Mommy, let go,” Oakley said.I realized I was hugging them too tight. Reluctantly, I let go.“Are you alright? You were not hurt anywhere?” I inspected them from head to toe.After seeing they were not hurt from their little adventure, I got up to meet the officers in the room."Thank you, sir," I murmured my heartfelt thanks to their chief. He was sitting on his desk when I approached him."It was Officer Brent who found them and brought them here." The chief admitted, feeling a little awkward at the profuse show of gratitude.
Caleb POVMy phone continued buzzing, but I could not seem to pull myself out of my daze.Did Cassy fall in love with someone else in the past three years?My mind rebelled at the idea. Cassy cannot fall in love with anyone except me. I am her husband. Then, an idea struck. I called Greg outright. “Hey, Mandy is mobilizing a search team for you. Why aren’t you answering her call? Are you still at the airport?” He was chuckling, but I cut him off. What I have to say is more important. “Listen, Greg. Can you check at the Civil Affairs Bureau whether my marriage to Cassy is still legal?” “What happened? Did Adam do something underhanded to rescind the contract?” My friends knew the animosity Cassy’s brother had for me. It was a mutual thing.We had been at it since college and had never outgrown the rivalry. The situation with Cassy only compounded it.“None that I heard of, but it would not hurt to be sure.” "Okay. Give me an hour, tops. I will call you right after I do some v
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.