Tony POVI could not believe what I was hearing.Tory is giving us a chance!It’s so f*cking unbelievable!I stared at her. I find it hard to digest what I heard. I needed to clarify.“What does it mean exactly? Do you want us to make our relationship work??” Hope burgeoned in my chest.I know I was never deserving of Tory’s love, but I will try to show her every second that I am not going to waste this chance. I will prove to her that she is worthy and more.She shook her head. “We don’t have a relationship, Tony.” She mumbled almost inaudibly.My face fell.Tory is right.I realized ruefully we never did have one.We only have the babies to connect
Cassy POVThe first thing I noticed when the children emerged from the kitchen with Tory was her red puffy eyes. Immediately, I threw Tony an accusatory look, which he deftly interpreted. He shook his head as if to deny the censure in my eyes. I clamped my mouth shut, not wanting to start an argument because although Tory's eyes were swelling, she looked at peace and contented. The glow in her eyes was unmistakable. I could only guess what happened in the kitchen and hoped that they already resolved their issues. Tory deserves to be happy. She deserves a man who will love her and make her his queen. "Aunt Tory, when is your baby coming?"Oakley asked, disrupting me from my musings. "The baby needs to grow first. When Aunt Tory's tummy grows bigger, it is a sign that the baby is ready to pop out." Tony explained. He sat on the couch opposite Tory because the two kids planked her, one twin on each side of her, and would not stop asking so many questions. "How many days?" Oak
Cassy POVCan the floor gobble me up? Or can I be an Ostrich so I can stick my head on the ground to avoid looking into Caleb’s eyes?When he heard Oakley divulging my top secret, Caleb tried so hard to keep the smile off his face, but he failed miserably because his eyes wouldn’t keep up.It glowed when he took cognizance of what Oakley said.“So, you had a crush on me when you were five.” He stated rather smugly.“Don’t you dare laugh,” I warned, squinting my eyes.Thankfully, he was able to suppress himself from smiling, but I could see it was a struggle from the way the corners of his lips extended.“You are laughing at me!” I accused him, smacking his chest with the back of my hand.Caleb dodged by tucking his tummy before c
Cassy POVCaleb’s upper body bobbed up the surface while Joachim swam away from him. He brushed his dripping hair back, looking like a Greek god.My jaw almost dropped at seeing his broad shoulders and chiseled abs, knowing how hard it felt to my hands.But my sudden fascination with his body was broken when he turned to Oakley and saw the damage he created.My baby girl was drenched from head to toe.I could feel how hard Caleb was trying to keep a straight face, knowing Oakley hated it when she was being laughed at.His amusement and the way he struggled to contain that amusement was infectious.I can’t imagine the control it took him while I clutched a hand to my chest, holding back my laughter, but it came out as a snort.“You f*rted, Mommy!” Oakley accused, wagging her fingers at me as if I did something horrible.“I didn’t Oakley.” I denied it, biting my lips and shaking my head no.It was a struggle to keep up a straight face.It was a good thing Oakley was no longer interest
Caleb POV“Are you okay?” I asked Cassy. We were in bed. We already put the kids to bed ages ago.Still, my wife tossed and turned on her side of the bed, and I had a good idea of what was bothering her. I wanted to assure her that tomorrow was going to be alright. But knowing my mother’s track record, I could only predict the worst. So, I did the only thing I knew that would calm her. I pulled Cassy to my side. She scooted closer, allowing me to cuddle her in a spooning fashion - with her back to my front and my arms wrapped around her. She sighed as she burrowed in my warmth. At first, our closeness made me aware of how tense her body was, but gradually, the tension eased, and she began to relax. “You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, right?”“You might change your mind.” She admitted meekly.“I thought we were past that?” I asked. I could have taken it out against her but couldn't, knowing how often she dealt with it in the past.She shook her head and pulled my a
Caleb POVI woke up that morning feeling refreshed. I looked to my side, and tenderness assailed me when I saw my wife’s sleeping face up close. Cassy is sleeping with half her face resting on the pillow, allowing me a good look. Last night, I felt her apprehension. She was anxious about what would happen today, and it made me resolve to do something about it. I got up from bed, seeing that she was still asleep. I do not want to wake her with my nose. After sliding my feet into my house slippers, I grabbed my robe that I left hanging on the back of a chair to do it. Taking my phone from the bedside table, I walked the short distance to the door leading to the balcony. When I got out, I started calling a number. It answered on the first ring. “Sir?” “Gordon, I need you to up the security detail for today. My family and my in-laws are meeting my parents at the courthouse today. Make sure we have enough men to watch. Detail enough people, I don’t care, so long as they can k
Caleb POVGetting back into our room, I found Cassy sitting on the bed. Her eyes which were previously glued on the phone, lifted in my direction. It was not so hard to hazard a guess as to who she was talking to before I arrived. A smile formed on my lips as I watched the light in the light shone bright in her eyes. Even at this distance, I could hear Oakley's loud voice as I stared at the phone in her hand. But Cassy stole my attention when she waved at me. Her smile made my heart stop for no apparent reason. Absent-mindedly, I waved back. "Kids, I am hanging up. Daddy is here." She said on the line, pulling me out of my trance. I heard the kids say their goodbyes before Cassy hurriedly put the phone down. She lifted the sheet covering her legs and swung her legs out of the bed. Knowing her intent, I started walking. We met halfway. I stopped in front of her."Good morning, sweetheart." I greeted, bending my head to give her a chaste kiss.Cassy tiptoed to meet my lips. The
Caleb POVI felt Cassy's body relaxing against mine, but it was not enough to make me complacent about our situation. We still have a lot to work on.My talk with Greg came to my mind. I knew it wasn't the right time because we still had to deal with our parents. I have no problem with the Burkes. Apart from Ellen's silent treatment earlier - which she solely directed at Cassy - I can safely say that Cassy's parents are more reasonable and open to accepting me in their fold.Still, when I said I wanted to earn Cassy's trust, it also meant earning her family's trust in the process. My relationship with Adam is slowly progressing. Now, I am working on my relationship with her parents. It was Cassy's relationship with my mother that bothers me. It would certainly ruin the trust that the Burkes placed in me if they knew how harshly and unfairly my mother treated Cassy now or in the past. To cap it off, I felt Cassy seriously needed my assurance.Not wanting to disappoint her, I cup
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.