Cassy POV
After the talk, we had our dinner. As usual, the kids’ chatter filled the table. It was lively and messy, but it was wonderful.
I was looking at my family - my parents, brother, children, and Caleb; and felt gladness fills my heart.
Despite the non-acceptance from Caleb’s mother, I can say that everything is perfect.
I already accepted years ago that Caleb’s mom and I wouldn’t be enjoying a good relationship. And I wouldn’t mind if she refused to acknowledge me until now.
What I minded was the way she treated my children. She acted like they were not her grandchildren at all.
Cassy POVCaleb threw me on the bed. I let out a shriek and a giggle. He followed by diving onto the bed, landing straight on my body, but he was careful with his weight. He supported his weight with his arms propped up on the bed while our bodies connected. "Sheez!" I saw him shiver. Goosebumps popped on the skin of his arm. I was laughing, lifting my head in invitation. Caleb's eyes darkened. "You are a w*tch, sweetheart. I couldn't explain what you did to me. So addicting." He said, shaking his head in confusion. "Was it a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked dubiously and compounded it with a peck on the tip of his nose. He groaned. "Kiss me!" He challenged. I gladly obliged. I lifted my head, pressed my lips to his waiting mouth, and undulated my body so our lower half bodies pressed tighter. A growl escaped Caleb's lips, cueing me on the state of his control. He grabbed the back of my head and smashed our lips together. I moaned, prodding him to deepen the kiss.
Caleb POVI woke up to the incessant ringing of my phone. I took it and was surprised that it came from the house. “Hello?” “Daddy!” It was Oakley. I immediately put the phone away from my ears. Oakey’s voice was so loud I thought I lost an eardrum. With the shock to my ears, all traces of sleep left me. I was instantly alerted. “Yes, baby?” “Where’s mommy? Aren’t we leaving early? We are going to visit Aunt Tory?” I looked at my wife sleeping peacefully by my side. She was lying on the bed, her face burrowed on the pillow, and her long hair made a neat curtain on her naked back. Instantly, tenderness crawled slowly from my heart to my being. I don’t know how to explain it, but I always thank the Lord every day for this second chance. My expression soured when I realized what I had to do that morning. “Mommy’s still asleep, baby. Can you wait for a while?” Oakley sounded disappointed. “But it’s already late. We already ate our breakfast without you.” My chronic complai
Caleb POV“Daddy, we have to stop by Felicity’s to buy Aunt Tory's cake."Oakley reminded me after we strapped ourselves to our seats, and I started the engine. I looked at her in the rearview mirror. “Yes, baby.” I concurred, and the car rolled away. As usual, Joachim pulled out his Rubik’s cube from the front pocket of his jacket and started fiddling with it while Oakley looked on. Cassy’s mom sat with them at the back while Cassy occupied the front passenger seat.While on the road, Cassy nudged me to call my attention to something. She was being discreet about it so as not to attract the attention of our companions or cause alarm. “Someone is tailing us.” I nodded to confirm. “We talked about that last night, remember?” I saw her nod in remembrance.Then, her eyes glued once more on the cars behind us. “How many?” She asked again. “Four. Also, Glenn’s following with a bigger car to drive you back.” I told her. I glanced at the rearview mirror and found Ellen Burke list
Caleb POVI took a deep breath before I finally decided to leave my car.When I stepped into the courthouse, several eyes stared at me.As I said, I had never been to this court.The guards recognized me at once. I am a known figure in Glendale, but very few knew my connection with Judge George Kingston.The receptionist was very perfunctory when she asked me my purpose so she could direct me to the right office.Then, she called someone, presumably from my Dad's office, if not my dad himself, for instruction."Judge Kingston is on the third floor. Room 307." The receptionist informed me.I thanked her and walked my way in the direction of the elevator.It opened just as I arrived, and I immediately stepped inside, pressing number three on the control panel.&n
Cassy POV“It’s Sunday. Where’s Caleb off to?” Mom asked while we were in the elevator.“He’s going to talk to his father,” I told her.Mom nodded and did not say anything more. My eyes went to the kids, checking whether they were eavesdropping on my conversation with Mom. I noticed they were busy talking but could not get heads or tails of it. “What were you talking about, kids?” Oakley looked at me. She was pursing her lips. “Well, I wanted to know if the baby in Aunt Tory’s tummy is a girl. I want a girl playmate, mommy.” I tugged at her pigtails. “The baby is still small. We cannot know its gender yet. In a few months, maybe.” I told her. The elevator dinged, signaling that we already reached our destination floor. We got ready, waiting for the doors to slide open. Then, we got out. We were a bit crowded inside with two of Caleb’s security details accompanying us. The first two already got in before us and were waiting outside the elevator.“Where’s Aunt Tory’s house, M
Tory POVMy eyes widened at Ellen’s revelations. I looked at Tony’s stricken face and cried. “You did what?”Tony's expression was one like a mouse cornered by a vicious cat. Guilt is written all over his face - stamped in bold letters on his forehead as I stared at him incredulously. We talked about this. I told him I didn’t want him hanging around me. I am only pregnant, not an invalid. Besides, I already decided to move on from him. It would not be in my best interest to have Tony by my side twenty-four-seven.Cassy nudged me. “Talk it out with him in the kitchen.” I sighed, realizing that everyone was looking right at us, especially the children. Oakley tugged on her mother’s skirt to say, “Is Unca Tony in trouble? I did not say anything. Honest.”She looked so da*ned cute with her pursed lips and doe-eyed expression that I had to clench my fist to stop from pinching her. But it was the sadness in her face that got me. I grabbed Oakley and sat her on the couch with
Tory POVA lone tear escaped my eye.How can I make him understand that in order to stay this long on my feet; that in order to keep on fighting, I had to bandage all the scars in my heart with steel, making it hard?Tony and I stared at each other for how long, I don't know.It was like our eyes were talking with each other, saying things we could not utter with our lips.My chest felt stuffy. The air around us became stuffy as well making it hard to breathe.“I am sorry for hurting you, Tory.” Finally, his lips formed the words.And while I heard his words, tears streamed down my face relentlessly.I do not know what is happening to me. I thought I already cried all the tears I needed to shed. But what is this?Why is this h
Tony POVI don’t know what made me break down right now. It must be the look on Tory's face. There was so much sadness… and acceptance. And that look bothered me, bordering on paranoia. I never had one until I confronted my issues with Tory. Now, as I looked at her, I felt Tory was slipping away from me, and if I did not fight for her, she would be gone forever - Tory and our child. Tory was slowly drifting away, and if I acquiesced to her demand, the tide and the wind would carry her someplace where I could not follow or find her. “I was a fool, Tory. I tried to bury the anger toward myself and lashed out at you. Because come to think of it, we are in this together. We are one in our brokenness.” “Every time I lashed out at you, the backlash to myself was double. Every time I unleash cruel words towards you, it was like it bounced back to me, and it landed on my face harder than when I hurled it at you.” “I am punishing you, but in truth? I was punishing myself. I denied
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.