The following day I woke up minus one person. Liam's side is empty as I search to find him on the balcony with no shirt and just his sweatpants.I grabbed the oversized shirt above my thighs and went to him. His back turned to me as I wrapped my arm around his waist."Are you okay?" I ask, kissing his shoulder and laying my head against his back."I'm better than okay," he turned and pulled me into his chest, where I inhaled his savory scent. He tears apart, looking down at him. "How about you? Are you okay? How's the baby?"I smile. "You weren't that rough," I assure him.He released and sat on one of the balcony couches. He brushes his hair back and sighs. "This is a first for me. I've been with countless girls, and this is the first time I gave my heart to someone.""Well, you ain't the first one, buddy," I say, not being zealous about the fact he has bedded with different women and sat next to him. "I had crushes when I was younger but never engaged in a serious relationship. With
"I don't know about this one. My boobs are too big," I look at my back and then at the mirror. Turn to my side with my almost five-month belly. "Liam, what do you think?"Liam is sitting on the couch in the waiting room at Macy's with shopping bags around his legs from my earlier shopping spree. He observes the dress I had picked out from the maturity section. "I think it looks good on you."I groaned. "You said that with the last four dresses.""Well, they look all the same.""Liam," I say with a stern look. He laughs."Baby, whatever you put on will come right off later," I lightly hit him, making him grimace. Two months had passed since Liam, and I had made it official. Everyone knew about my pregnancy at school since I couldn't hide it anymore. There were some negative judgments and glares, but having my friends and Liam around is nothing I can take the hit. Surprisingly Paris congratulated me. The club members were happy for Liam and me. Lindsey and I exchanged looks and pulled o
"Baby, hello earth to Lily."I blinked and then looked at Liam, who was stuffing his face with the pizza we had ordered from Costco before heading back to my house after shopping."Sorry, just daydreaming," I said and took a bite of my pepperoni dab with Tapatio sauce. I'm pregnant, so what? "Papa Wayne is redecorating the nursery room since we are having a baby boy."Liam is munching on his pizza before drowning it in his soda drink. "A boy," he smiled. "I can't believe we are having a boy.""So is Athena.""I can't wait to hold him."I chuckle.I lean back against my seat and gently rub my round belly. After the party, Effie organized, with Terry's help, to set up the gender reveal. All decorations were blue and pink, from balloons, confetti, party cups, and desserts. She had ordered two round white cakes which had the color of Athena and I's baby gender. We each had the cake; Athena and Rex held a knife as I did with Liam. Once it was ready to cut the cake, blue metallic candy conf
Every day I'm at Liam's house, and I love him more and more. Some nights he will have nightmares, talking in his sleep and sweating like he has been French by the rain.I would wake up in the middle of the night and find him struggling. I would envelop him in my arms and chest, and instantly he would stop the night terrors. Im scared and felt sympathy for him. I wanted it to end. I guess it's wrong for me to learn of his past. But I think he had that nightmare before he met me.I don't know if his brother knew of his night terrors, but it isn't something he should keep hidden from his family. But Liam is stubborn. I'm going through another obstacle if I ask him about his night terror."Well, Lily, how are you today?"I look up from the magazine I have in my hand as if I'm interested in a celebrities scandal and change face to see Doctor Warren."Hello, Doctor Warren," I smile. "I'm fine.""Oh, please, call me Paul. You are stunning as ever. The baby is almost at the due date. Please c
I spent most of the day with Mark and Hannah before they went back home.I had fun with my sister-in-law as we talked about babies, cute clothes, and more about babies. We are just two young women ready to be mom's well. I am, and Hannah is not there yet. I mean, she has four babies on the way. I am still determining how they are going to handle it. But I'll be praying for them, especially Mark.After Mark dropped me off at home, I noticed Terry's Ferrari parked in front of my house. I took a step when I found something red on the floor. Carefully crouching down, I tapped the red liquid on the tip of my finger and rubbed it. It has the scent of melted iron.Blood.The blood leads a trail of it to the entrance of my backyard. As curious as I am, I followed it as if I handled it myself. My parents aren't home, and I was about to head to Effie's house after I changed, but this seems more important as to why Terry's car is here and blood trails.I stood In front of the pool house and saw
"Terry!"We all turn our heads to find Effie at the front door of my house with Logan and Liam behind her. Terry quickly put on my dad's old shirt that covers her breast."Damn, Terry, you look like shit," Logan commented."Right back at you," She smirks. Logan got into a fight."Logan and I were at the movies earlier, and let's just say a guy grabbed my ass trying to go to the bathroom.""Yeah, twiny here kicked his ass." Liam pats his brother on the shoulder."Anyways, oh my god, Terry," she gasps at the sight of Terry all beaten up. Effie sits next to Terry on the couch. She reaches for her face, making Terry winch. "Sorry, does it still hurt?""It's not so bad," Terry gently pulls Effie's hand away. "I'm fine, Miss Effie.""Minus the Miss. What happened? Lily didn't go into detail and just told me you got hurt."Terry glances her eyes at me."Sorry, I have to call her," I say as Liam sits beside me. Wrap his arms around my shoulder and pulled me back to rest against him while he r
"I can not believe you're pregnant, Effie," Clark squealed and rubbed, bed her stomach. "My two best friends will be moms; well, Effie is already a mom raising Zara. But oh my god, I'm going to be your children's godmother."I look at Effie, and we both smile. We haven't seen Clark since he and his dad fought. He and his mom left him and lived with Sam, to which Sam agreed and is already a good son-in-law. It's a small apartment, but they plan to find a house somewhere in Malibu, away from Clark's dad.I think it's good, but knowing he is a big-shot lawyer in LA, he would do anything to get them back, especially with the domestic violence and abuse. I heard this all from Effie, and despite my hate for him before for what he did to her, I couldn't help but feel sympathy towards him. I never thought the perfect prince of the school could have a dark side story in his life."I am going to be the godmother, right?"I chuckled, looking through baby clothes as we chilled in the poolside."D
"Lily!" I abruptly stop at once, hearing my name. I haven't seen her since I told her off, but here she is at the same supermarket. Why would a woman like her be here? I pivot my feet and look the other way as if I did not see her. "Lily," she calls for me again, and I pretend I did not hear and continue to shoemaking dinner tonight night, t and Liam is coming with my parents for the first ti. He's a bit nervous, especially with Wayne. With all the heartbreaks and making out between Liam and me, Daddy doubts Liam is my boyfriend. He was worried that Liam would break my heart again, so he allowed Liam to join us for dinner tonight for the first time. "Lily Peters." I came to a halt and groaned. The woman I did not want to see in all places made herself stand in front of me and my shopping. "What?" "Is that any way to speak to your grandmother?" I rolled my eyes. "I only have one, and her name is Bernadette. Now will you excuse me, I got some shopping to do." "Wait," Seema, stop
I open the door after the first ring and pull up a curve smile wide enough to greet Grandma Birdie standing at the doorstep. "Oh, my little Lily," Grandma Birdie squeezed my face and kissed the side of my face. "After giving birth, you became more beautiful than ever." "Oh, stop it, Grandma," I blush. "Congratulations on graduating high school. Here for you and Effie," she hands me a gift bag. "It's something you both desperately need." "What is it?" "Open it later," she winks and walks towards the family room as she yells. "Wayne, Nicky, oh, and my baby boy Ramsey. Come to Gram Gram." I watch her get Ramsey from Dad and shower him with love. I pull up a grin before Effie comes to my side. "Oh, Birdie is here." "Yeah." Looking down at the bag. "So, what did she get you?" Effie asks, looking over my shoulder. "Us," I correct her. "Me too? Well, can I see?" "I was planning on opening it when my grandma or anybody isn't around," I say. "I got an uneasy feeling the gift won't b
Liam and I couldn't wait.He drove fast with the family's CRV and took us to his house. We were frantic that his brothers, Effie, or the others would notice, but we didn't care. I'm worried about leaving Ramsey with his grandparents, especially Seema. Rahul reassured me that she would not harm my child. If she does, I would have to bitch slap her. Liam abruptly stops on the side, never caring to park in the driveway. He got out first, as I already unhook the seatbelt. He opened my door and pulled me out as he closed the door. Liam locks the car while he holds my hand, unlocking the front door, he checks around the house to see if anybody is home as if we are about to make a heist, and when it is all clear, we run upstairs into his room.Liam shut the door and locked it. While he did that, I was already removing my clothes, and as soon as I pulled my shirt. Liam cups the fabric of my bra on my breast and kisses my neck.I moan from his touch—the urge and hunger I wanted so badly from
"Thank you for coming, Lily. After that fiasco at the supermarket, you wouldn't want to see me again.""I didn't have a choice since you said my great-grandfather is here to see me."She seems close the door as I'm inside her home. I had Liam drive me here before he went with the guys and picked me up later. Seema texted me last night and told me her dad, my great-grandfather, is flying here to L. A and wanted to see me.I don't know why since I'm not close to him, but my mother would have wanted me to meet him. At first, I didn't want to because of Seema, but knowing and meeting."You didn't bring you...son," she says as if Ramsey is a parasite. I clench my hands, and so help me want to slap her. I refrain and posture myself."He is with his father, bonding," I tell her with a sour face. "I will ask Liam to bring him here to meet his great-great-grandfather. But he will contract some disease if he sees you."Seema gasps shockingly. "How dare you talk like that? I would have slapped y
I hum a lullaby while I rock Ramsey to sleep. The boys are outside while the girls are inside binge-watching Grey's Anatomy.Soft knocks on the door as Effie enters the nursery, shuts the door and tiptoes her way to the couch across from me."Zara asleep?"She nods. "After her bottle, she fell asleep. Playing with her uncle wore her out.""I never notice how big she is getting." I chuckle, looking down at my sleeping Prince. "The first time I saw her, she was tiny.""Zara is a big eater."We both laugh but stop when Ramsey stirs in his sleep. I rise from the rocking chair and place my son in his crib. I did not want to leave his side. Leaving him and being apart from my son makes a part of my soul crumble. Is this what being a mom feels like? Is this how my mother felt when she left me?"Grandpa told me everything," Effie says. "To think that the man who destroyed Liam's adolescence is your father. Your real father."A sense of pity filled in Effie's words as she mentioned, 'My fathe
"Are you going to be okay, Lily-pad?"I only smile. "I'll be fine, Dad. Liam, Effie, and the gang are coming for a sleepover.""It's weird that boys will be joining a slumber party.""Don't worry," I assure him. "Some of us are studying for finals while the rest will hang out with the babies."Dad pouts while Papa passes by with luggage.I turn Dad's body around and push him out the door towards the truck. "You don't want to wait another day because I'm going home alone.""But-""No buts, you and Papa bought the tickets ahead of time, and you finally get to watch Mariah Carey in Vegas.""But, babykins-" Dad's pouting level up."Papa, a little help here."Papa Wayne closed the trunk and carried Dad like a princess putting him inside the car, putting on the seatbelt, and shutting the door."Thanks, Papa," I beam and kissed the big man.He pats my head and smiles. "You guys behave. No partying and no alcohol. Especially alcohol. Who knows what you guys will be doing drunk.""Yes, Daddy."
Odin nod to Mr. Nobile and then walks inside the interrogation room. The guard standing outside the room closes the door. I count four more police guards standing in each corner of the room.We sat down and sat there. None of us said a word to each other. Devin, looking like a homeless guy, just kept staring at us. He scoffs, sniffles, then coughs a laugh once he lands his eyes on Odin."It's been a long time, Odin," Devin says with a malicious grin.Odin slams his hand on the table and rises, pointing the finger at Devin. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."I try to calm him down by putting him back on his chair. For an old man, he's strong."But you didn't, did you?" Devin taunts Odin. "You couldn't kill your brother, can you?"My eyes shot wide open, looking at Devin to Odin. "Brother?""You are no brother of mine.""Of course," Devin lean back against his chair, still grinning. "We grew up in the same neighborhood. Well, you had a family, and I didn't. I stayed in th
After two days of being discharged from the hospital, I was instructed to stay home for a few more days. I can't go to school yet because I just recovered from being shot and had been cut open to give birth to my baby boy, except I can attend graduation. I had homework delivered to my house from either Liam, Effie, or Clark. Sometimes Logan and the brothers. Even Jordan, personally.They just wanted to make sure Ramsey and I were okay. Liam especially. He debated whether to stay home and take care of me. But rumors of the birth of my son spread at school. They already knew I was pregnant, and Liam was the father. The students are just all talking.My parents went out, so it's just me in the house with my baby. I stand before my mirror and lift my shirt to reveal the surgical line cut open to bring my son out. It's healing slowly, and it doesn't hurt. I trace my finger over the line, just staring at myself. I was on the brink of death after experiencing such a horrible event with Devin
"So, what happened to Devin?" I ask Liam, who is on his lap, fast-moving his fingers on the keyboard. Studying in a hospital room can be peaceful, but it sucks I could get out just yet.I forgot about asking about Devin but at the same time. I didn't care. However, I wonder what happened to him once he made a hit-and-run scheme. This topic has been bothering me since Liam came to visit.Liam looks up. "The coast guard captured him before he crossed to Mexico."That's a relief."So, he's in prison.""Odin and his lawyers gave the court all the evidence on Devin. Charged with kidnapping, charged with rape with a minor, charged with human trafficking, charged with the possession of drugs, charged with attempted murder, and the list goes on and on. He has a long list of charges that will make him stay in prison till the day he dies." He then looks at me then furrows his brows. "Why are you asking about him?"I look down at the study guide for math with a problem that is half-solved. "Liam
It felt like I had died and been brought back to life for a long time. God didn't want me to leave this world just yet. After my conscience met my mother for the first time, I felt a dream. Some supernatural shit like when a hero failed to save the world, they would meet someone who never wants them to give up and gives a second chance.It seemed like forever, but I finally opened my eyes. It was a blur until I focused on the bright light above me. Was this the light that brought me back?I hear soft snores beside me, and my hand cupped into something warm and familiar. Slightly turn my head and lift the corner of my lips into a somewhat weak grin.With his head on the side of the bed, Liam uses his arm as a pillow while the other holds my hand. He is sleeping soundly; I don't want to wake him. My whole body is stiff and in pain. I look up and see a female nurse enter the room. We made eye contact, and quickly shaking my head, I eyed my sleeping prince.She understood my gesture and m