Katherine POVI woke up feeling refreshed. It was the first time I felt like this in years. I yawned and stretched my arms over my head. It was peaceful. I closed my eyes once more to savor the serenity of my surroundings. It dawned on me that it shouldn’t have been this peaceful with Erin around. I bolted from the bed, eyes scanning my room. The light from the sun passing through the glass window told me it was morning and it was late!“Erin! Sara!” I cried, hurriedly opening my door to go out. In the living room, my chest expanded when I took a whiff of something divine! Bacon. Eggs. Muffin.My mouth watered, and my stomach began to grumble.My feet carried me to the kitchen, where I found Lucas Sanders in front of my stove. It was where the rich, flavorful aroma was coming from. And he was naked from the waist up. The realization that he was in my kitchen, flexing his back muscles did something to me. Awareness spreads through every pore of my body, and with it comes shy
Katherine POVLucas Sanders’ face turned beet red. I saw Sara’s eyes widen, reflecting my own shock at this latest development in our lives. “Daddy?” I asked. Lucas grabbed my hand again to leave the apartment. He marched back to my apartment with me in tow. When we reached the living room, he dropped my hand, and I felt bereft of his presence. Then, he turned to me. “She knows you are her father.” I felt a little let-down. I thought I would be there when he told her. I wanted to see how my daughter would react. I was sure she would be delighted to know that the man she liked so much was her real father. But I was deprived of the opportunity to witness such a beautiful moment. I felt cheated. “She didn’t.” Now, that made everything murky. “She called you Daddy. You told her you are her father.” The proof was in the pudding. Was there any other way to explain it? Lucas tutted when he saw the doubt written all over my face. “You really painted an ugly picture of me in
Lucas POV“Greg married me because he felt guilty. He was Noreen’s passenger when their car collided with my family’s car. My parents were dead on the spot. I was lucky to be alive, but I stayed in a coma for two months.”“I did not run away with Greg.”I clenched my fists as remorse filled me.I closed my eyes because the pain in Katherine’s eyes was overwhelming. It told me how I had ruined our lives.The glaring fact remains the same. I did not trust her enough.When I woke up this morning, I was pumped up about courting Katherine and showing her that it was worth investing in me.But our conversation turned out to be a failure.“You could have done something to find us, but you didn’t. If only you had more faith in me, maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe Erin wouldn’t have to endure growing up in a broken home. “
Katherine POVI love the hope that I gleaned from his words, but the part of me who was reeling from the changes that had happened in my life since I knew him had so many misgivings. I don’t know what or who to trust anymore. All I know is that I have to be wary because this can all disappear in the blink of an eye. “B-but…” My voice trailed off when he took my hand.I felt tingles when he kissed the knuckles, all the way to my heart. “Think about Erin. Don’t you want to give her the family she deserves? Our daughter needs a family. She needs us.” He was winning the argument there. Of course, I wanted to give Erin a family. That is why I stayed with Greg even though I felt Erin and I were becoming more of an encumbrance to him, especially when Erin got sick. I shut my eyes, thinking deeply. This is not just about me. This is about my daughter. “W-what if we fail? What if love didn’t happen in the end? I don’t want Erin to suffer. She already bore the trauma from my failed marr
Katherine POVFor the first time since the accident, I felt like I was coming home. It had been so long since I had felt this way, and I meant to savor every moment. I hugged him and Erin, ensuring I did it right and tight. It was like the three of us belonged together. Erin squirmed in our arms and slid down from Lucas’ arms, allowing him to wrap his free arm around me. Now, we are hugging each other on that corridor without thought of the past or the future; only the now. Then, someone cleared his throat, breaking the cocoon of warmth we surrounded ourselves in. I self-consciously pulled away from Lucas to shoot Sara and Dan Burns an apologetic smile.It turned into a gasp when I saw Lucas’ friends watching us.A feeling of embarrassment washed over me. How long have they been watching us?I awkwardly stepped away from Lucas, but he wouldn’t let me.He wound his arm around my waist to keep me to my side. I couldn’t meet his friend’s gaze, so I kept my head down, nibbling my l
Lucas POV“Daddy! Mommy! Let’s go!” Erin called out when she returned to the apartment after following Dan and Sara when they walked out our guests, or maybe I should call them my harassers.Katherine, upon hearing our daughter’s arrival, immediately jumped from my lap, her face flushed. My eyes darkened.I wanted to kiss her senselessly, but I was sure it would embarrass her. She was still shy, and I knew it would take a while before she got used to us. I was just glad that she agreed to take a chance on me. “Where are we going?” She asked our daughter. “The zoo. Daddy promised to go to the zoo because I am a good girl." Then, she turned to her father. “I am a good girl, right, Daddy?” I tapped Erin’s nose. When I turned to look at Katherine, she had this tender expression pasted on her face. “You looked like you were about to cry,” I told her when Erin ran to her room to get her small bag. Sara followed her ward. “I didn’t see Erin this happy until now. It was such a
Katherine POV“What’s wrong?” I asked Lucas when I emerged from the bedroom and saw him looking like he was about to cry.He winced and lifted his head to look up to the ceiling.“Nothing.” He said, but obviously, it was something, or he wouldn't look like he sucked on lemons.I turned to our daughter. She was on the floor, checking her bag for something.“I found it!” she cried and held up for us to see her favorite scrunchie.Lucas smiled. Still crouching, he held Erin’s hair gently, pulling the strands to the back of h
Lucas POVWe settled into a new routine. Though we still lived separately because I didn't want to rush Katherine, I managed to tear down the wall that separated our units. To maintain decorum, the wall remains erected, but it serves as a sliding door for easy access. It was actually to my advantage. The wall offers privacy but also allows us flexibility in our living arrangements.It was practical, too.To the rest of the world and snoopers, we lived in different apartment units. Only I, the occupants, and my assistant know the real score. Erin loved the fact that she could hang around me anytime she wanted. It was also an assurance to Katherine that while I made our units accessible to each other, I wouldn't invade her personal space unless she gave me the go-signal.“Good morning.” I greeted Katherine when she came to the kitchen.I just glanced at her, noting how attractive she looked this morning.Then, I quickly turned my attention back to the frying pan to skillfully maneu
Lucas POVI watched the shock registering on Greg Combs and Katherine’s faces when I issued the declaration. It gave me immense pleasure letting this b*stard know that he made a mistake.I don’t intend to give Katherine up. Not for anything, now or ever. I took advantage of their surprise to slowly walk toward them.When I reached them, I snaked an arm around Katherine’s waist to show Greg that Katherine belonged to me and me alone. I watched in satisfaction when my action elicited a wince from Greg Combs. I wanted him to know that no amount of regret can change the past. It already happened. All we have to do is accept things as they are. If he had changed his mind and regretted the decision to divorce Katherine, then he could live in misery because I was never going to give her up for anything.“Katherine is mine,” I told the shocked Greg Combs.“She has always been mine to begin with.” I reiterated when he recovered from the initial shock. When he did, I saw a trace of regre
Katherine POVI stared blankly at him while I gripped my phone in my hand. I don’t know what to say. Greg looked so much like how I looked before when I found out that he was having an affair with Noreen Jacobs. I was looking at the face of betrayal. I shook my head in an attempt to discredit the accusation. All the while, I was acutely aware of the people around us. This is a sidewalk. Passersby would notice us and couldn’t help but have an earshot. Even if they did not mean to snoop, Greg’s voice was loud enough to be carried by the wind. Everyone within earshot could not help but hear what he had to say. “I saw you.” He spits out. A frown formed on my head. “Saw me where?” I was clearly confused and wanted to be enlightened. Greg did not disappoint as he began a monologue that depicted an unsavory image of me. “You came out of his car not just once but all the time since I decided to observe.”Then, he brushed his fingers to his oily hair and gave a self-deprecat
Katherine POVIt was funny to watch him stutter as he tried explaining to our daughter what we were doing. “A kiss is an expression of love.” He told Erin. “So you love my mommy?” Erin asked. He nodded.Erin seemed satisfied by his response, and Lucas began to relax.A moment later, Erin turned her head toward him and asked. “If you love mommy, why is that girl kissing you?” Erin looked like she was about to cry,Now, that was something I did not expect to hear. My eyes turned to Lucas sharply. I heard Lucas cough out loud before glancing in my direction. My right brow arched upon hearing the information, leaving Lucas unsure of how to react. I would have remained oblivious to the whole thing if Erin did not mention it. Lucas gulped. He shook his head and began explaining with his eyes trained on me, magnifying his guilt. “You just said it. She was kissing me, not the other way around.” Lucas explained.He was watching my face for any change, but I remained impassive. It
Katherine POVThe way Lucas looked at me tells me a lot about the engagement ring that had gone viral a few months ago.My chest constricted.“The ring was for you.” He said shyly when Duke left, confirming what I already knew in my heart.Then, he sat beside me on the couch. I did not know“I was buying something for Agatha, a token to show her that I was willing to see her more than a friend.” I felt a blockage in my airways when he began to tell me about the ring I saw in Agatha’s post. The one that gave me the impression that he was toying with me.“A solitaire diamond ring caught my eye. At that time, I hated you for lying and choosing Greg over me, but the ring kept tugging at me. I bypassed the ring and left, but there was this restlessness inside, a feeling of regret. I asked Dan to go back to Hugo’s Creations to buy the ring under his name,
Katherine POVI nodded, and this time I allowed him to pull me to his chest. Lucas wrapped his arms around me, lightly dropping a kiss on my forehead.“I love you.” He said, but I remained silent. Right now, I can not define what I felt for Lucas. There was attraction and some feelings, but not enough to consider it love. “I don’t know what to say,” I told him honestly and shook my head. There was a subtle shift in him. I must have hurt him by being honest. I cupped his chin to force him to meet my gaze. “You know you are special, and I am attracted to you. I also like how you are good to me and a great father to Erin.” I told him sincerely while looking into his eyes. “But not enough to love me.” His reply hinted at bitterness, and I pulled him nearer for a quick kiss. He took advantage of our position. He grabbed the back of my head to deepen the kiss. Lucas began exploring my mouth. He was nibbling my lips, sending tingles all over my body, and down to my toes. I pushe
Katherine’s POVI swallowed hard after being confronted by the fury in Agatha’s gaze. The loathing in her eyes shook me to the core. Lucas told me she used to be my best friend, but her facial expression showed nothing except hatred. “You shouldn’t have come back!” She snarled, causing a shiver of fear to run through my spine, creating goosebumps. If looks could kill, I would have been dead by now from Agatha’s piercingly cold glare. I covered Erin’s ears with my hands. I don’t want her to hear anything Agatha says. “Why did you have to come back? Why did you have to mess with our lives? Lucas is mine!” Agatha spat the words out.She looked half-crazed, frothing in the mouth in anger. I was tongue-tied. Even Noreen did not look at me like this; with pure unadulterated hatred.I shook my head as fear spread through me. Not for myself but for Erin. I had been avoiding this kind of scene when Lucas suggested we work on us. Agatha was his unfinished business.Now, everything is sp
Katherine POVWhen we entered Lucas’ office, we found Oliver and Vern still there talking. Vern dropped the sketch pad and pencil to a nearby table when he saw us coming in. He then unrolled his tape measure, asking his assistant to jot down the measurements. I nudged Erin, silently urging her to approach Vern. To my surprise, my little girl ignored me and walked straight to Oliver, who sat on the couch upon our arrival. “Don’t be bad next time, Uncle Olly, okay?” She sure sounded grown-up. She looked too little against Oliver's frame when she looked at him with her head tilted back. I bit my lips while Lucas grinned from ear to ear. Oliver, on the other hand, looked surprised. He grinned and gamely responded. “Yes, ma’am.” Erin nodded. She beckoned for Oliver to lean his head closer. He bent to bring his head closer, arms went around her little body. When they were close, Erin wrapped her small arms around his neck.“Thank you, Uncle Olly. You are my third favorite person
Katherine POVI watched in amusement how Lucas tried to appease Erin.“It’s not like that, Erin.”Erin crossed her arms to her chest, looking like Lucas looked earlier when he tried to block Oliver from me.“No! From now on, she is my mommy only!” Erin declared, brooking no argument.Lucas looked like he was about to cry.He was flustered and red while trying to control himself. While it amused me to see him try so hard to convince his stubborn daughter that it was not the same. It looked like Erin was getting the upper hand in this case.&
Katherine POV“Good morning, Katherine.” Lorrie greeted me when I stepped outside the elevator. She came out of the pantry bearing a mug of steaming coffee. I remembered the coffee Lucas and I shared that morning, and my heart began to beat faster than usual when I thought about the kiss. “Good morning, Lorrie. Any urgent tasks for me today?” I asked, stopping for a while.Lorrie shook her head. We walked alongside each other toward our office, talking about my schedules.I appreciate Lorrie for making my professional life super dandy.“You have a meeting at ten o’clock with the boss.” She informed me. My brows furrowed. I had no recollection of Lucas mentioning the meeting to me. But maybe Lucas did not know either because Dan handles his schedules. I began signing documents, and when I finished, I prepared for my ten o’clock meeting with the boss. Ten minutes before ten, clutching my notebook, pen, and report for our department, I left my office for the meeting. “I am going