Cassy POVI paused when I felt a kink in my back and worked on it by stretching my arms upward.My gaze landed on the French windows of my room. It surprised me to learn that it was nearly dusk.The sun has come and gone without me realizing it. That's what happens every time I write. I was like the world fades and time stops.A knock sounded on the door before Tony poked his head in.I put my laptop aside and beckoned for Tony to come in.“You are late?”Tony smiled at my sulking tone. “I had to tie up some loose ends in Glendale. Do not worry. From this day until you give birth, I will be around."
Cassy POVSpeechless, I could only hug Mom."I would rather keep to myself and concentrate on my babies,” I responded with blurry eyes.“I know. You have always been self-sufficient. You do not need any man in your life. And the babies can always have your father, brother, and Tony as their father figures.”That made me cry harder, and my shoulders started to shake. I may not talk a lot, but it worries me endlessly about the time when my babies would arrive.“Cassy.” Mother looked out of sorts.Her lips tightened, and her eyes looked at me with worry brimming in them when she saw me break down.&ldqu
Cassy POVTony left me for a while to suit up and prepare.The medical crew transferred me to a bed with stirrups before they put me on an IV drip.Another contraction hit me, and I cried out in pain.Someone gently rubbed my back. It worked gently like a caress, and it felt like magic. The pain seemed to ebb.But it did not last long as another contraction hit me. The frequency between contractions narrows while the pain continues to climb.My eyes welled up in tears when Tony showed up beside me."How are you feeling, Cassy?"I glared at him and wanted to snarl. Is Tony seriously asking m
Cassy POV THREE YEARS LATER… “Sometimes, it is okay to live alone than together. The house becomes peaceful after that.” I read the last part of the newest story to the children while they listened attentively. “What happened to the hero, mommy?” Oakley, my three year old daughter, asked. She shifted her gaze from the book we were reading and fixed it on mine. Her expression was all seriousness. “Oh, he lived on a different planet.” She pouted. It looks like my little girl did not like the response she got, but then she went back to peruse the drawings in the book she was reading. “Why?” Now it was her twin brother Joachim’s time to ask. “Because he would fit in right there.” I have long realized that we can not fit people into our lives just because we want to. It has to be a consensual thing. Life is not always a fairy tale. There is no happy ever after, but we can always make every day happier by counting our blessings one by one. “And what about the heroine?” Joachim a
Cassy POVI 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
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.