Cassy POVCaleb winced. He noted the venom in my eyes and took my hand.“I am not your enemy. Why are you shooting me down?”It was my turn to look contrite. “I am sorry.” I turned my head to the second-floor landing and saw Tony standing there, hands in his front pockets, staring at me.“Why you!”I marched up to him, hands clenched into fists.Stopping short when I got near him, I raised my fists to pommel into his chest.I was so enraged.“You good-for-nothing a*sh*le! You’re selfish! Ruthless!” I hurled every derogatory w
Tony POV“I knew I would find you here.” I looked up from the glass of vodka I was sipping from to find the owner of that voice.I snorted when I found him standing behind me.“Did your sister send you?”Adam nodded before taking the bar stool next to me. “Yeah. She told me about what happened this morning.”“Your sister hates me.” I groaned and took another swig from my glass.Adam signaled the bartender to serve him the same drink, and while waiting, his eyes pierced me with a thoughtful gaze.“Are you really more concerned about my sister’s feelings, or are you still in denial?”My forehead creased.I put the glass down on the table to turn sideways and face Adam.“What am I going to deny? Cassy has always been special to me. I have loved her since she was a kid.”Adam snorted. “Such devotion.” The sarcasm was not lost on me.I glared at him. “You knew me. For years, it has always been Cassy. I never looked at any girl except her.”“Yeah, but you b*nged her best friend.”That l
Tony POV"You are almost thirty, yet you are acting like a child. If you do not want her, why get her pregnant the second time?”“You could have used protection. You were no longer nineteen. You are twenty-nine. You should have grown some sense by now.”“But what did you do?“Don't come running to me if one day when some man snaps Tory up and makes her his queen because she deserves it and more.”It was the first time my best friend talked about Tory that way. I never thought he would notice Tory's attractiveness because Adam had always been hung up on one girl. But now, something in the way he said her name caused an alarm.“Tory is beautiful, intelligent and successful. She's hot, and she can have any man she wants.”The knowledge shook me. The fact that my best friend could talk about Tor
Cassy POVAfter Tony left, I went back to the master’s bedroom and closed the door behind me.I padded to the bed and just watched my best friend. Tory was frowning in her sleep. She had a disturbed sleep.Without any other thought, I climbed into bed and wrapped my arms around her. She turned to me, and I could hear her soft whimpers.Even in her sleep, she was crying.I want to make Tony grovel. Beating him was not enough.But when he requested to see her, I could not say no. Something in his eyes told me he was hurting, too.I called my brother to check on him and maybe talk some sense into him. Then, I drifted off to sleep.It was a few hours later when my phone rang. It was Caleb.“Hello, sweetheart. How are you and Tory?”Coming from sleep, I was dazed when I sat up and leaned on the board to talk to him.I checked on Tory. “She’s still asleep. She must have been too tired.”“Do you want me to send you dinner, or are you joining us?”I decided to join them so I could check o
Cassy POVAfter I left Caleb with the kids, I returned to our bedroom and did my nightly ritual.I peeked at Tory’s face to check on her. She was now sleeping soundly.I looked at the time.She already missed dinner, but I did not have the heart to wake her up. She needed sleep more than anything. I lay on the bed beside her, and that was when I started to miss Caleb. Still, I do not want to leave Tory alone in our room. Her emotional state bothered me. It felt to me like yesterday her dam burst, and it was the first time she let herself cry so much.I tossed and turned on my bed, finding it hard to get to sleep.I yanked the pillow from under my head and pulled it to my nose to take a whiff. My nose twitched, searching for the manly scent that I had been used to.But it did not comfort me like his presence would.Unable to control my yearning for my husband, I crept out of bed, careful not to disturb Tory.On tiptoe, I walked to the door.The lock loosened, and I stepped out eager
Cassy POVOne look at my brother, and I knew he was not having the best times.He kissed my cheeks, his eyes landed on Tory, and he smiled. “How’s my second favorite girl doing?” He asked.He approached Tory and buzzed her cheek.Tory pursed her lips. “I am fine Adam.”My brother shook his head at Tory's unlively response. “You don’t look like it. Honest? You look like h*ll."Tory's puffy eyes were a dead giveaway."But don’t worry, I already fixed the guy for you. I gave him two powerful punches tonight. Consider it as having your grievances avenged.”Adam sounded flippant, but I knew it was not easy.Tony must have broken the last shred of control my brother has to arrive at that point. Adam is the most patient and understanding man I know.He never judges and would choose to maintain the peace rather than sow discord.He saw the food laid out on the table and went to the drawers to get a plate and cutlery for himself.Then, he sat beside Tory.He ladled the soup, put it into
Cassy POVMorning rush as usual in our home the next day.By seven in the morning, my phone has been ringing rampant.It’s Caleb.I picked up the call and drowsily greeted him.“Hello…”“Mommy, wake up! We have to go to school.” It was Oakley, raring to start her day.Comprehension dawned on me. It was a Monday. I turned to my side and noticed Tory was up.“Are you dressed and ready?”“Uhuh! I have been knocking on the door nonstop, Mommy, but you are not openin
Tony POVRight after my confrontation with Adam, I drove to the Kingston mansion to talk to Tory. I got cold feet when I saw Adam's car parked outside.I found a free spot on the other side of the road to park my car. I bided my time, waiting for Adam to leave.It had been hours, but there was no sign of Adam leaving. Until, all the lights inside were turned off, cloaking the house in darkness save by the light from the streetlamp and the moon.Everything is quiet. What Adam said to me earlier sobered me up. What if some man found Tory, and she fell in love with him?I shook my head to erase the image of Tory and our child living happily with another man. No! I cried vehemently!My eyes shot open, and my fingers rubbed that part of my head that got knocked accidentally on the overhead hand grip when my body jerked in sleep.Light permeated the car, and it was then that it dawned on me it was morning. I looked at the other side of the road and saw Adam's car in the same spot wher
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.