We are finishing up our breakfast, all bundled and ready to go to Rita's house in a few days, and I am so enthusiastic to see her again. Angel, too, can't stop telling us how much they're going to play with Alyssa. She has even loaded her toys into her bag. She is super excited, and I am happy for her too. Poor kid! Her father's disconnection from people made her grow up isolated, just like him. The only time she gets to fiddle with other kids is when she is at school and some rare times, like today. I sympathise with her. She is too young and innocent now, but what will happen in a few years? Will she still want to stay caged in this cage with her father? I hope when that comes and she wants to break out of this cage, Andy will let her. What I still can't stop mulling over is what literally transpired between Andy and his wife. And his family—why couldn't they love him, even his mother? Is there a particular side of him that I am still unaware of that drove people away from him? It'
"What's with the foul mood, man? Any man without a woman to drive him insane is lonely, starting with you." Ambrose insists on playing with fire, because this guy looks awfully pissed off. Nonetheless, they embrace in these slight buddy hugs that lasts for barely two seconds. "I must get you a blind date. Or a one-night stand one of these fine weekends. You need to exercise this tool man!" This idiot in the name of my bestie's husband doesn't know when to stop, does he? Screw him and his blind dates and freaking one-night nonsense!I feel that sharp pain in my heart again, but it suddenly disappears as soon as I hear Andy's response."I'll send you straight to hell with whoever you will have brought." I heave a deep sigh!"Okay, fine. But can you brighten up already?" Ambrose says to his boss while he shakes my hand."I am all good. Let's take a quick peek at something I received this morning." And here comes the annoying workaholic jerk! Eyes' roll!They start hiking to where I thin
They say love is an incredibly beautiful thing, but it doesn't come that easily. In my case, I would say that not everybody is fortunate to have that chance to love or be loved. I had renounced that chance since birth, when I knew absolutely nothing about life. I was conceived by mistake, according to the tales I was told, and my mother got rid of this mistake one year after giving birth to it, leaving me with her mother, my grandma, since my father denied me the moment he learned of my existence as just a seed in my mother's womb. I have no memories of my so-called mother. I don't even remember my so-called mother, because she never came back home or inquired about me after she left. The moment I learned to distinguish between right and wrong, my grandma took every opportunity she got to tell me how my mother did not want me and how she wished my mother had taken me with her because I was a burden to her. As little as I was, I don't think I deserved to know all that shit, but it beca
We are quietly steering in the rain, heading home after a long but fabulous day. We were so engaged in chit-chatting and watching movies that we lost count of time. It was only past ten that we decided to say goodbye. Unfortunately, the kids had fallen asleep, and the rain was pouring like hell. It still is. It took Rita and her husband a lot of persuasion to get Andy to agree to leave his daughter with them for the night. The guy went berserk at their proposal at first. I even thought they were unnecessarily squandering their energy and time, but eventually, his paternal humour won over his stubbornness, and he finally gave in, albeit unwillingly. We are still at odds with this niggar, but I am nonetheless pleased that he did what was adequate for Angel. I mean, I personally am shuddering just at the sheer notion of the cold outside, so what more a little girl like Angel? It wasn't worth the trouble, especially if it entailed disturbing her sleep. So here we are now, permeating our
"It's one thing for me to say all the dirt I fucking want, but it's another thing for you to go all dirty on me. You get that?" Everything stands still—the clock stops ticking, all the fury I was feeling a while ago for this guy fades away, and the stars in the sky align to witness this beautiful and peaceful domineering moment. I feel like I have been born again in his sweet, strong arms. I feel so warm despite the coldness surrounding us. He leans in closer to my face, sealing the gap between our faces and feeding me his rich-scented pheromones. Despite the heat burning my face, I force my eyes to gawk into his dark brown ones, seductively staring at my lips. I swallow hard as my lips part willingly with desire—the desire for this man.The sensation of his hand taking a slow, soothing stroll up and down my back is like a seducing lullaby, and I give in to its irresistible magic. As he leans closer, brushing his tempting sugar lips on my trembling, destitute ones, I shut my eyes, su
"Hey!" He whispers while on top of me, and I stroke his jaws to let him know that I can hear him. "I will feel like a complete jerk if you don't look at me." I know I have called him a jerk several times. I also don't know how it feels to be a jerk, but I know that it isn't a good feeling at all. I don't want him to feel anything like that after praising me so much while preserving my purity. How is that even possible? He is such a magical pleasure. I never knew something like that really existed until a while ago. I gather the little courage and strength left in me after all the trembling and moaning, and I open my eyes, meeting his. "Tell me you are okay." He asks the moment my eyes meet his, and I slowly nod, which makes him smile. "Are you okay?" I ask as my hand drops slowly to his chin, caressing his lower lip with my thumb.He looks at me without saying anything, and then he leans and gives me one last kiss, which I welcome gladly. "Thank you." He hums. I show him the most b
He gives me a quick glance, then he looks away, staring into space for a couple of minutes before dropping his hand on top of the duvet. I take his hand into mine and put my other hand on top of it, soothing him. "Some other time, please?" He looks at me, his eyes pleading with me not to insist, and I understand him. It must still hurt to talk about his life, or maybe he doesn't trust me with his secrets. That time will surely come, Andy, and I will be here waiting to listen to all your worries and fears, because I know those are the things holding you back from trusting again. "Okay. Forget everything else. Can you tell me how you became a filthy billionaire? You should be so proud of everything you have accomplished in life. Everybody in the world would want to be where you are." I smile at him, and he smiles back, brightening up a little. "Filthy, huh?" He asks with the most genuine smile I have ever seen on him. "This is all about God plus my handwork. I have built the AA empire
Curse this freaking alarm! Jeez! Is it morning already? I feel like I just took forty winks. I slept so late last night because today is charity event day, and I decided to make some snacks for the kids. I learned from Andy that both children's homes' have a total of 120 children, so I made about 150 cupcakes. I left about ten for today's breakfast and packed the rest. I did not want to tell anyone that I was going to prepare something, so I waited until Andy retired to bed so that I could start preparing my surprise. And that is how I found myself going to bed for twenty to forty minutes. I went to bed in the morning, and I had to wake up early in the morning. I hope he likes my surprise, though. I stop the alarm, kick my warm duvet aside, and get out of bed. It's seven in the morning, a perfect time to make breakfast. As the host, Andy should be at the venue by twelve to receive the quests, and we are all going together. I change from my pyjamas to a black sleeveless dress after t
As I tap my stilettos at a tortoise pace on the red carpet down the aisle, my lips are curved up to an expansive, salacious smile. All my senses are receptive, attesting to the happiest day of my life. The day I bid goodbye to my youth and embrace marriage and all the commitments that come with it. I'm neither apprehensive nor fearful, and I am not walking into this with any of the myths out there about marriages. I know mine will not be like any other, and that is the difference. Life with Andy has been blissful for those eight months I have known him, despite the drawbacks and challenges, and I have no qualms that this is yet another onslaught to a heavenly incredible life. This, conclusively, is my sunniest day under the face of the earth, and it will infinitely be nurtured in my heart, alongside all the days I have had and ever will spend with my better half. The man who melts my heart even without a word or any action. All I need is to think of him or cast a glance at him, and ev
"Ooh, I said I could walk, Daddy. Just put me down." Angel snorts to her dad after we get out of the car, making us all laugh. She is acting all tough and strong for someone who just left the hospital, but we are all happy that she isn't now experiencing much pain. At least her attitude doesn't say that. "Are you sure you can walk, princess?" Andy and his worries as he puts her down, albeit unwillingly. "Of course, daddy. Princesses are strong, right?" She chirps, taping her feet on the ground and walking a few steps ahead of us as we watch her. "See, I can walk." "Okay, but just be careful, okay? Don't run." She smiles as she leads us inside the house, marching with so much vigour. She must have been so exhausted from being constrained in that hospital bed. I would be as overjoyed if I were her.Stepping inside, she stops just a step away from the door, her eyes darting around to the new faces awaiting her inside—my family. We walk in, Andy and I standing on her sides. "Hi, cuti
FAST FORWARD. TWO DAYS LATER We park at the hospital's parking lot and step out, Andy hooking his hand around my small waist as we make our way to Angel's room. He is becoming so overprotective as the days go by, and I can't lie that I don't like it. As I had anticipated, the news of our baby has blown his mind. It seems like an accomplishment for him, and I can't be less enthusiastic. As early as now, I can't wait to hold my cute little angel in my arms when it's born. I just can't wait. We stroll to where Ambrose and Rita are perched on the leather couch just outside the door, and they stand to acknowledge our presence. They have been of tremendous help these past three days. We have been alternating shifts to watch over Angel, and for that, among many other things, like bundling me to my prince charming, I will always be indebted to them. They are indeed friends worth keeping. We hug them and rack in front of them. This guy beside me has been procrastinating on talking to them f
"So, we have this entire house to ourselves, baby." Andy says this as we make our way out of the shower in our master bedroom. Apparently, he bought a new house for my family to stay in, as we couldn't have accommodated them all here. Well, we would have, but he just has some stringent beliefs of his, which I concede. Like, how could we let my parents sleep in a room that has been used? It's not right. I applaud him for his wise sentiments. We haven't discussed anything with them yet because they suggested we get a little sleep and some freshening up first before we can talk. Sleep huh! It's not like there is a case or a motion to dispute it. It's just the formal introduction and some clarifications here and there. Mina and Mira needed a lot of rest too, so my parents chaperoned them to the house Andy got for them, while Rita and Ambrose stayed back to watch Angel. We don't have much time since we know Angel will inquire about us when she wakes up, but our desires can't just let thi
We all stand up when the door to Angel's room opens, with the doctor standing in front of us. We are all here—all my family members and also Rita and her husband. Andy called them up, though they haven't conversed, but at least they feel appreciated even by just being here. "Well, doc? How did it go?" I ask because Andy seems to be contemplating something that I don't know. "It went well, Mr. Ashton. The transfusion was a success." The doctor replies, causing us all to relax. Everyone was tense. "Can we see her now?" I ask after breathing out a sigh of relief. "Sure, but don't bother her so much as she needs a lot of rest. Only two people at a time." The doctor says this and excuses himself. My parents nod at me, implying that Andy and I go in first. That was deduced. We are her parents anyway, and we just can't introduce them to her in her hospital bed. I looked at Andy. He is still lost, to the point that I had to shake him to reality. "Let's go in." I ask, afraid of what he lo
My family pulls me for a family bear hug the moment they get out of the car. I missed them so much, and I am so glad that they have arrived safely. I was really worried because Damian is still on the loose. You can't trust crazy maniacs like him. You just can't tell what way they would use to get back at you. But finally, I am at peace. I pill away, and their eyes fall to the bandage on my head, my mother's hands travelling to it. "My dear." "How are you all?" "We are okay, Tania. How are you?" Father responds? "I'm okay. We are okay." "Hi, everyone." Andy greets me from behind me and allows them to exchange pleasantries. He still hasn't said anything about Angel, and I am afraid of asking him anything. I fear for the poor kid, and I want to believe that he is just going through an emotional crisis that won't last long. "Babe?" He calls, and I look up at him, Mina and Mira standing beside him. "I'll just show them to the doctor." He explains. "Okay." I respond, and then he tu
"You don't know what a cranky and stringent jerk that jerk of yours is, Tania." Ambrose speaks. "Hey! Watch your mouth, will you? If he hears you, we are done!" Rita warns.What will I do about these three? They surely can't continue like this. "Is there anything else that you two aren't telling us, Tania?" Ambrose is the first one to speak, and guessing by the pregnant look on his wife's face, I know she has tons of questions too. "Yes, Tania. Why can't any of you donate blood to Angel? And why is Adrian acting so overly protective of you? We've been watching from a distance, and you two are acting weirdly odd. What's up? Is there a problem?" Huh, these two! I understand their worry, but still, I'm not opening my mouth. "Come on, Tania! The situation isn't that bad to shut us out like this." Ambrose pleads, his worry and concern palpable in his voice. "I still don't understand what your faces are doing here because our agreement still stands." Whoa!They cower back in fear agai
"Don't you at least need to sit down, babe? You are pacing too much, and that is not good for you." Andy says. Huh! See why I refused to tell him right away? What will pacing do to a one-month-old foetus? Goodness! I have heard stories of expectant women participating in and winning running marathons. But to Adrian Ashton, pacing, standing, or anything at all except eating is not good for me. Leave aside that for now, because I know I have not seen anything yet, but how on earth can even I stop this freaking pacing if no one is picking up my calls for the tenth time back at home? Where the heck is that family of mine when I need them the most? "Still no response, Andy! What are we going to do?" I ask, worry washing over me. My twin sisters are the only hope we have right now to save Angel, but I can't get a hold of them. Who the hell is with that damn phone? "Relax, babe! Just sit first." Huh, this Andy again. He guides me to the leather seat and assists me to crouch down with ca
"Tania!"I turn around to hear the voice of Rita behind me, her husband beside her. They are shocked at my state. "Ambrose. Please find doctor Shannia and ask her to take you to where Andy is taking a bath. " I say, and he turns around on his long strands. I hope he arrives in time to find Andy still in the bathroom. Otherwise, it would be impossible to get him back there again. "How are you, my friend?" Tania speaks before I can forget that there is someone around me. I need comfort. I need a friend, and she has always been the only one.I fall into her arms, and she hugs me tight, the weight of what I have been carrying for the last couple of hours coming out in drops of tears. I rest on her chest until I realize I am almost soaking her top wet with my tears. I pull away. "I am so afraid, Rita." I mutter, keeping my sobs at bay and drying some of my tears. "Everything will be fine, Tania." She consoles. "When, Rita? Every time we think this is about to be over, something happe