(Aiden’s POV) “God, you’re wasted,” I murmured. “What happened to you, Jess?”I tried not to breathe, carrying her before entering the elevator. The scent of alcohol and my best friend’s sweet perfume was intoxicating, making me want to kiss her soft pink lips. She giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck and arching her body to reach my cheek.“Aiden, you came!” She moaned like a child, then grinned. “Is today tomorrow already?” She squealed, inhaling me, closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath. “God, I love your smell,” she murmured in her sweet, sexy voice, licking my cheek and biting my jaw playfully.Jessamine giggled when I jerked, startled by her flirty attack. I should have gotten upset, but I swore my manhood would disagree as I was now hard, my member wanting furiously to break free from my underwear and pants. Surely, I wanted to have my shaft buried tonight in any woman I hoped to meet in the bar, but I was not expecting God to drop my best friend from heaven into my
(Aiden’s POV) “Charlie’s missing?” My eyebrows knitted, talking almost in a hushed tone.I grabbed her hands on the lapels of my suit jacket, not wanting to break her hands off me but wishing to hold her and intertwine our fingers. My gaze locked in Jessamine’s glaring eyes, welling with tears. This was not how I wanted us to meet… or how I dreamt of her on top of me.“Your drama doesn’t work, whatever your name is! Return my baby to me,” Jessamine growled between tears, grinding her teeth like she was ready to bite me.“I’m calling the guards,” Heather said and yelped at the same time when my best friend raised her head, glowering at her.“You try!” Jessamine snapped, making Heather to step back.“Ha! Let her kill him.” Sasha hissed a mix of anger and amusement in her voice. My secretary grabbed her assistant’s hand and pulled her outside my office, closing the door behind them.I took my chance, pulling Jessamine, quickly wrapping my arms around her, and rolling, shifting our posit
(Jessamine’s POV) “Papa!” The girl squealed adorably, smacking her lips and stretching her tiny arms to reach Aiden.‘Don’t take her! Don’t take her! Don’t take her, please!’ I didn’t know, but my heart cried. My lips pursed tightly, afraid a yelp would escape. I jolted unexpectedly when Aiden moved closer to Neomi. I had imagined a thousand scenarios in his single move.“Hello there,” Aiden said and smiled gently, taking the little girl from her mother’s arms.I swore to heaven that my already shredded heart was grated when he pressed his lips into the child’s forehead.“Pa…pa! Pa…pa!” She muttered excitedly again as if it was the only word she knew, and like a puppy, she snuggled closer, burying her head in his neck.I had to swallow hard to wheeze out a painful gasp. My breath wilted in my lungs, picturing in my mind how close she was to… her father. Tiny needles pricked my heart as I lowered my head, eyes on my son. Anger spiraled in my calmed self, suddenly wanting to attack hi
(Jessamine’s POV) I heard two sounds simultaneously. A slap and gasps.The sharp smack of my palm on Aiden’s cheek made the women around me gasp. Will straightened up, but he didn’t dare move from his position. I was sure, though, that I saw the corners of his mouth lifted before he lowered his head.After I noticed Kyle gasping while breastfeeding him in his private office, I had to calm down. My doctor said I had a lot of milk, and my son seemed to respond in my body whenever I was angry or excited. He would suck milk swiftly as if matching the flow of my milk, so I had to watch and be careful if I didn’t want him to choke again.My hands trembled, and I had to clutch the hem of my shirt to stop myself from slapping Aiden again. I didn’t have to ask if it hurt; the stinging in my right palm told me how hard it landed on his cheek. He closed his eyes and groaned, his palm touching the crimson skin where I hit him.“Aww! What the -”“Curse me in front of my son, and I promise you tha
(Aiden’s POV) “I don’t have to go…” Jessamine’s eyes were on my son.I didn’t want to show her I was nervous, but anxiousness sprawled like wildfire inside me at what she said. Air must have gone so limited, but I dared not to swallow. She might think I was terrified of her. Even though I portrayed a different personality as Adam Knight, she was still my best friend… and Jessamine knew me very well. I raised my head but pursed my lips as I thought of how to attack her.Why does she have to be stubborn? I almost growled but stopped when she raised her head and showed a perky smile to her sister.“But I had to,” she added.I dared not to blink because she really scared me. I knew that cheery smile. It meant she was up to something I would never like.“We’ll be fine, Colleen. You heard him loud and clear. He’s not asking me to live with him. Thank goodness!” She turned her head toward me and raised her eyebrows. “Kyle and I will be back before dinner.”“Ooh… kay,” Colleen slowly looked
(Aiden’s POV) “Mr. Knight.” Will cleared his throat.At first, I thought he would open the car door for me, only to realize he was blocking it. He sniffed and coughed, but the sound was brief and almost hushed. I lifted a brow, staring at him worriedly that he might be sick. If that was the case, I didn’t want him around Jessamine and my son.“Are you okay?” It was Sasha who asked, her eyes on his forehead beading with sweat.Will’s Adam’s apple moved like he was swallowing hard with words in it.“Umm…” He glanced at me, moving to his side and holding the handle but not opening the car door.“What’s the problem?” Sasha asked again, glancing over her shoulder to make sure our bodyguards were around.“Move,” I muttered sternly.Instead of stepping aside, Will took a deep breath. “Mr. Knight, Ms. Sanchez is not inside,” he informed me and opened the back passenger door.I squinted, pursing my lips tightly, not wanting a curse to slip from my mouth. He was not joking. When I lowered my h
(Aiden’s POV) “What are you doing, Dad?” I gasped; my eyes were wide, locking my horrified gaze on my father.Without Jessamine in the room or anywhere in the mansion, I felt I had betrayed my best friend and broken another promise. I loved the idea of having them around, but this was not what I had told her. I didn’t want her to think I took advantage of her again. If Kyle weren’t in his arms, I would forget he was my father and punch him hard.Dad turned his head in my direction and smiled. “Oh, you’re here. Look who’s here, little Adam.”Little Adam?“You lied to me,” I growled, approaching him, but when I got closer, I saw my son’s eyes widen, and then he moved his head as if looking where the sound was coming from.“Ha!” My father beamed, turning his head on his grandchild. “You know Daddy’s voice,” he muttered excitedly.I clenched my fists hard, controlling myself from cursing him.Many of our employees and business partners fear Theodore Knight. Working with him got me to k
(Jessamine’s POV) “Just admit it, Jess. You’re still in love with him,” Deborah chuckled, finding my decision to stay in the Knight’s mansion funny.“Ha! Don’t be ridiculous, Deb.” I rolled my eyes, wandering the bedroom the size of my apartment, maybe twice.I would stay here only for a week, and despite my deal with Theodore Knight, which included providing stuff for us, he still bought everything Kyle needed, from the crib he would only use for a while to diapers and clothes.“I honored our deal,” I remembered Theodore saying, then looked at his wife. “But you can’t stop Susan from shopping.”“Should I have known he’s rich, I would have taken advantage of him.” Deborah laughed giddily at her joke.“Deb!” My eyes widened, still gasping unbelievably at my friend and housemate.Glancing at my wristwatch, I realized it was time to feed Kyle. As much as I didn’t want to leave my son in the family room, I could not say no to Susan when she pleaded to hold Kyle, saying she missed Simone
(Aiden’s POV) Two years later… “Go!” Deborah chuckled and gestured her hand, telling me it was okay to leave. “We’ll bring Kyle to the hospital later,” she promised. I nodded, picking up the bag Jessamine and I prepared last night. I walked toward the couch, kissed my son, sleeping soundly on the seat, and patted Charlie’s head. He wagged his tail but didn’t bother to follow me. Kyle and Xyla had become his new best friends. Wherever they were, he would be there. Xavier brought Deborah and their daughter, Xyla, last night when Jessamine told them she was in labor. I didn’t know if it was because Jessamine was carrying our second child that everyone seemed relaxed. Only I was panicking, unsure what to bring or how to take my wife to the hospital. “We have a driver, Aiden. Why are you panicking?” Jessamine asked calmly last night as she climbed the bed. Benedict and Xavier raised the same question. Perhaps it was not the reason why my heartbeat was pounding fast. I would love to h
(Aiden’s POV) “I don’t know, Aiden,” Jessamine murmured sadly. “You love lying to me.”I shook my head and lifted my hand, gently wiping the tears on her cheeks. “I was honest when I told you I broke up with every girlfriend I had in the past, including my engagement to Naomi. Our dads set our marriage up, not me.”If I had to choose freely whom I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, Naomi would never be on my list. She was part of my rebellion, which I regretted when she got pregnant.“Eliza,” The tears streamed down my face as I struggled to speak through the lump in my throat.My heart ached for the little one when I heard her call Jessamine ‘momma’. Eliza didn’t deserve a mother like Naomi. I opened my mouth to explain but closed it again. “You named her after your grandma’s name,” she said.I shook my head. “She named her after my grandma’s name. Not me,” I corrected.If only Jessamine knew how we fought that day but gave in because Naomi was still weak in the hospital.“
(Jessamine’s POV) “Ha! Ha!” I raised my eyebrows and glared at Aiden. “You know what? It’s too late for that. Whatever you want to say, I don’t care.”I could walk away, but I didn’t move.“Jess, please,” Aiden begged.“Fine! Go ahead with your confession. Let’s get this over with. I just want to go home.”Yet, it would be my biggest lie. For almost a month of staying here in Adilene’s, I knew I was home. Leaving here would scar my heart. Forgetting Aiden would be hell. However, he is getting married, and I don’t want to be the best friend in his love story who hinders his happiness. My sarcasm didn't appear to bother Aiden. He inhaled deeply and fixed his gaze on me. It was for a while, then he turned around, pointing at the lake.“On the other side of the lake is St. Rose Property. I bought it and opened a new business there, a law firm, and I invited Xavier to head the company,” he said, ignoring what I said. He turned to me, blinking once while waiting for my answer.I opened my
(Jessamine’s POV) Awkward? Yes. Angry? No. Maybe.I stood on the porch, staring at Aiden as he kissed our son. He took him from my arms, and my trusting son didn’t even cry. My baby continued to babble ‘Ba-ba’ba’, and guess what? Everyone found it adorable. “Yes, he’s Dada!” Mom muttered excitedly, not considering the feeling of her hurt daughter.I was invincible to Sasha and Aaron. I wanted to scream that it wasn’t their house, but they greeted Deborah and my mom, said something nice to Kyle, and eagerly went inside when my friend invited them for a coffee. They should have at least waited for me, and then I pouted, remembering it wasn’t mine either.Aiden turned to my mother. “Is it okay if I talk to Jessamine alone?”“Of course,” she muttered. “You have all day,” she chuckled with her joke.I opened my mouth, wanting to protest, but I closed it again because it was also the same thing I wanted. Deborah was right. Every time he returned, something happened. He would sweep me of
(Jessamine’s POV) I inhaled to smell the sweet scent of fresh air in Adilene’s from the porch, but instead, I caught the whiff of the aroma of the coffee bean Mom was grinding from her hand-cranked grinder. I glanced at the crib, checking on Kyle. A while ago, he played with his toes, putting them in his mouth. Perhaps he thought of them as built-in toys. This time, he rolled over, reaching the tail of the giraffe stuffed toy.Kyle just turned four months, but he could do many things—normal baby stuff. He could bear weight on his legs when sitting upright, rolling over, grabbing toys or Charlie’s fur, and babbling a combo of vowel and consonant letters. When I asked him something, and he didn’t cry, it was up to me to decide what it meant. Deborah and my mom thought differently. My friend bet that when Kyle reached the age of six months, he could count numbers and recite the alphabet. Mom proudly told her he was probably like me, a history of my life she now loved to retell.‘Jess
(Jessamine’s POV) I caught Aiden wincing when I hissed, cringing as Colleen pressed her finger on my scalp. My sister must be waiting for us to be alone. I knew that my crying didn’t help, but she would understand why I wailed like a baby on the staircase. I would explain everything to her later.Colleen sighed and turned to Aiden.“Don’t worry, Aiden. She’ll live. Long enough that the two of you will probably see your ten to fifteen great-grandchildren, in case you get back together,” she muttered jokingly instead of giving him her prognosis of my condition.“When did you become a fortune teller?” I arched my head to see her face.Colleen shrugged and grinned. “It’s one of my many talents, you know,” she said, turning around and walking toward the crib. “Want to see the garden, Kyle? Let’s give mommy and daddy some privacy. What do you think?” she asked gently, scooping my son from the crib.As if it was Aiden’s cue, he held the door open and closed it gently as soon as my sister an
(Aiden’s POV) My heart was still racing, and my breaths came in ragged gasps after sprinting all the way from the driveway to reach Jessamine. My body was still buzzing with adrenaline, but when I saw her crying, I was like sucked into a vortex, returning me to the first time I saw my best friend.I was nine years old again for a split second, seeing a cute little girl in a braided pigtail, curled up in the swing, holding the same math book I had in her arms. At first, I thought she was hurt, but when I approached her, she was perfectly okay and told me, between hiccupping and crying, that she didn’t know how to answer her homework.Of course, she couldn’t. I doubted if she could even read the sentences in the book. She must be five or six years old. She should be in the preschool building, enjoying learning the alphabet or numbers instead of worrying about the word problems in the book.What was a little girl doing in front of the classroom of the third-grade class? She must have mi
(Jessamine’s POV) I reached for the doorknob, but before I could grasp the exquisitely crafted knob, I clenched my hand and immediately concealed it behind me as if opening the door was a sin. I was reluctant to leave the bedroom for a few reasons, but Anne informed me that Susan was waiting for me in the family room and wanted to speak with me.If only there were another way to the staircase without passing Naomi’s bedroom.“She went out to see her doctor,” Anne muttered.“Huh?” I turned around, lifting a brow, pretending not to understand what she said.Anne’s lips curved into a shy smile. “If you were worried about seeing Ms. Naomi outside, she left to see her doctor,” she said, repeating the message, perhaps thinking I didn’t hear her the first time.“Ah,” I chuckled and sighed in relief. “Thank you for telling me, Anne. I don’t want to have part two of our encounter in the garden,” I joked. Partly.She laughed briefly. “Don’t worry about Kyle. I’ll ask someone to get you if he c
(Jessamine’s POV) “Ouch!” I winced when Aiden pressed his finger on my scalp.It was a light touch, but the tingling on my scalp worried me that I would go home bald or I might be wearing a wig on my wedding day. Maybe my hair would have grown an inch or two at that time. Still, I would feel bad. I imagined having my hair loosely braided vertically and horizontally on that big day, but after what happened, I should think of another hairstyle.Aiden clucked his tongue, sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed, turning the chair I was sitting on to face him. I was still mad at him, but sometimes I tend to forget whenever I get stunned by his gorgeous face. I hissed, cursing inwardly and lowering my head to avoid his gaze.“Does it hurt?” He asked worriedly, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. “Tell me, Jess.” When I didn’t answer, he continued, “I’m bringing you to the hospital now.”I squinted, shaking my head. “I’m okay. This is nothing serious. Why don’t you check on Naomi?”He scoffed,