(Kendall's POV)I dragged my feet toward the sofa and bent over it as soon as Stephen left the room. The look on his face and his words pierced through my heart, tearing it into shreds.Collapsing onto the sofa, I burst into another round of tears and everything was crumbling down. As I sobbed gently, the screeching sound of the door jolted me out of my reverie. Instantly, I wiped off my tears and raised my head, hoping it was Stephen. Rather, I met with the soft eyes of Gab."Sorry, I had to let myself in. I had been knocking for quite some time," she uttered in her soothing voice when my eyes met hers.As she approached me, she sat behind me on the arm of the sofa and placed her hands on my shoulder. She asked, "What's wrong? I heard a loud noise like someone slamming a door and when I came out to take a look, I saw Stephen flounced out of the house. And the kids… Why are they not back yet?""He's gone... He stormed out of the house." I paused, trying to hold back tears. "He knows
(Frederick's POV)"Those brats of yours won't stop babbling and asking questions," Anna complained immediately after she stepped into the room, her face etched with disdain and bitterness.I could not tell if she was pissed that the girls were mine or if she was pissed because they were Kendall's."Just let them be. They are kids, and you know kids always ask questions," I replied, dropping the leather bag I held to the floor and walking toward her, trying to soothe her anger."Fine!! You deal with them," she spat as she shrugged off my hand, which I placed on her shoulder. "I need a shower.""What's with the…"I stopped talking when she got into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.After I unpacked some of the luggage, I decided to go see the girls in the room they were kept in.As I approached the door, I cautiously opened and entered the room. Immediately, the kids noticed me and began to move back in fear."Who are you and where's our mummy?" One of the girls asked her ex
(Stephen's POV)I dropped the cup of coffee I held in my hand to the table covered in a pink satin tablecloth and picked up my phone. Swiping it open, I searched for Kendall's contact which I had sent into the archive when I wanted to block her earlierAs I was about to text her not to forget to meet me at the police station, I found out that she had called me repeatedly and sent me several messages which stated that she had been waiting for me yesterday.I hissed, though I sent her the message that she should meet there by 12p.m.About to toss the phone aside, I heard a jolting knock on the door and I went to check who was there disturbing my peace only to see a slender, fair-skinned waitress whose face was radiant glowing.My heart melted at the sight of an angel and I was going to smile at her till my inner mind scolded me right away. "If Kendall were here, would you lust after a woman?"I gulped down the dry saliva as I succumbed to my thoughts and put on a fierce look. "How may I
(Stephen's POV)"Good morning Sir, it's good to see you." My secretary greeted me, her face beaming with a smile as she followed me to my office."How have things been here?" I asked firmly, seeing no need for any exciting reunion talk."Ehhh… fine, sir," she mumbled, straightening herself, and acting more officially."Good, call the accountant. Tell her to see me in my office now." I ordered, my voice low but firm as I picked up a brown file from my table."What are these?" I asked as I tried skimming through the documents."Oh! That's the contract for the partnership with the Italian investors. It came in two days ago.""Okay, I will attend to it. Are there any other documents that I need to go through?""No sir," she replied."That would be all. Put a call to the accountant now."A few minutes after the secretary left, the accountant walked into the office. As she entered my office, a wave of anticipation hung in the air.Sarah, the accountant who was usually composed, looked visib
(Kendall's POV)I ambled around the room, from one corner to the next, picking up things I needed for the journey and arranging them into the traveling back.I was in the kitchen with Gab when my phone beeped with a text and I discovered it was Stephen's. He informed me about our journey that we were leaving that night and I had no idea how long it was going to last.As I folded my underwear into the bag, I was taken aback by the violent screeching sound of the door."Gab, do you…""Oh! It's you." I exclaimed, placing my hands on my chest to subside the jolting effect that remained in my heart."Good evening Stephen."Ignoring me, he walked across the room, pulled out his traveling bag, and began to arrange his clothes and the few things he needed into them. The air in the room grew thick with the piercing silence. I wanted to talk to him and apologize but I couldn't bring myself to. I feared he might shout or do more than that to me. Within a few minutes, he was done packing and he
(Kendall's POV)"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We have successfully reached our destination and are preparing for landing..." The pilot's voice sounded through the intercom, waking me up from sleep.In a few minutes, the sound of seatbelts unfastening and passengers shuffling in their seats filled the cabin as the plane descended."Finally, we made it!" one of the passengers sitting behind us exclaimed as he stretched himself. "Yeah, I can't wait to stretch my legs and get off this plane," the lady who sat beside him replied, her face covered in a soft smile.As the plane came to a stop and taxis to the gate, the flight attendants stood by the cabin doors, ready to assist with disembarkation."Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at our destination. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until the captain turns off the seatbelt..!" One of the flight attendants let out cheerfully, her voice high-pitched.As the seatbelt sign went off, S
(Frederick's POV)"We can't keep them here anymore, Frederick. We need to move them this evening since Kendall is already in the city, according to her text. This place is too exposed. We need somewhere remote. What if they come here?" Anna nagged, moving from one corner to another as she arranged the room.My response was impatient, my voice laced with frustration. "And where do you suggest, huh? Some abandoned warehouse? A basement? We can't just drag the girls through the city unnoticed."Anna growled, "I know that! But we can't keep staying here, the girls too. Their constant wailing is beginning to cause stares and attract questions from people around."Also, Kendall may be soft, but remember, a hen does anything for her chicks. We need to leave now, and we need a quick exit plan as well, just in case things get messy."I stopped for a while to think as I stared at Anna's eager face. Anna was right. We need to leave this place and also move the girls as well.Breaking up the sile
(Stephen's POV)I rushed to Kendall, my heart pounding as I saw her crumpling to the ground with a jolt of shock and pain etched on her face. My world stopped as I dropped to my knees beside her and my hands trembling quavered. I took her into my arms, trying to assess the extent of her deep injuries."Somebody call an ambulance, please!" I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation but Jeff was out of sight. Guessed he ran after the murderers."The…the girls, Stephen," she mewled, as she writhed in pain. "Please keep them safe.""I'm sorry, Kendall. We will both keep them safe, stay with me Ken, please stay with me," I bawled, moving the strand of hair that covered her face.I so much wanted to kiss away whatever pain she felt."I'm sorry, Stephen," she struggled to utter after some minutes of silence as she clutched to her lower abdomen."Ken…""Shit!!! Ken!!!!! Don't!" I screamed, lifting her to my abdomen. "Where's the damn ambulance?"Within what felt like both an eternity and
(Stephen's POV) - A YEAR AFTERMy wife and I stood side by side in front of the full-length mirror, a flurry of excitement in the air. Tonight was a momentous occasion; the event we had been planning and looking forward to for weeks. The merging of our companies was a significant step forward, and this party was our chance to celebrate with colleagues, friends, and loved ones. I adjusted my tie, glancing at my reflection, my heart racing with anticipation and nerves. "How do I look?" I asked, half-jokingly.Kendall turned to me, a playful smile on her lips. "You clean up pretty well, I must admit."Chuckling, I gave her a mock bow. "And you, my dear, look stunning." And she did — her red silk gown cascading elegantly to the floor, a perfect match for the occasion.She blushed and turned back to the mirror, fussing with her hair. "I hope I'm not overdressed. Isn't this jewelry a little too much?"I stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and a soft kiss on her neck
(Stephen's POV)A few months after our wedding took place, my wife rested her head on my thighs as I caressed her protruded belly while watching our favorite family show.The doctor said her due date was just two days from now according to the gynecologist, and I was doing my best to ensure she witnessed no pain.The show's opening scenes played out, and the triplets wriggled and giggled between us, seemingly just as eager to enjoy the film.Suddenly, a hushed gasp escaped Kendall's lips, her hand instinctively reaching for her belly. I felt her tense against me, and then it happened, a rush of warm liquid and soft pop. Panic surged through me as her water broke right there on the couch."Ken, are you okay?" I asked, trying to hide my alarm.She managed a weak smile, her breathing becoming uneven as her contractions started. "I think... think it's time."My heart raced as I scrambled to my feet. Gab sprang up immediately too.My eyes darted between my wife and the kids, who were now
(Kendall's POV)My eyes sprung open, welcomed by the warm greetings of my little darlings as I exited the dreamland.Each of them held a unique bouquet and my all-time favorite chocolate bars, their faces beaming with smiles, reflecting the love and excitement that filled the air.I rubbed off my eyes and sat upright. "Good morning, my babies. How was your night's rest?""It was nice," they chorused.What's the occasion, little angels?" I asked after seeing the boxes of pizzas and strawberries beside me too. "Are these all for mummy?""Yes, mummy, look! I picked these sunflowers for you because they're as bright and beautiful as you!" Laura replied, her voice clear and smart as always."And I brought these roses for you too, Mummy. I want you to always be happy." Claura gently added."And what do we have here?" I asked, my gaze turned to Flora."Wildflowers, Mom," she responded, smiling as she stretched it towards me. "We picked them from the garden."Taking the flowers from each of t
(Kendall's POV)I returned to our master bedroom after checking up on the girls, my body heavy with the weight of the pregnancy and I felt relieved that Gab was already taking care of their baths.Since we came back to Mexico, putting things in order has been my hobby and a way of releasing the stress that comes with additional lives in the belly. Moreover, this was like an exercise.After the room felt just right, I decided it was time for a bit of relaxation and the idea of a warm bath was too tempting to resist, given the ache in my back and the swelling of my feet.Slowly, I undressed and stepped into the soothing embrace of the bathwater. The gentle lap of water against the sides of the tub created a calming rhythm, and soon I stepped out of the bathtub, feeling rejuvenated.Wrapping myself in a soft towel, I moved back to the room and began applying fragrant body cream to my skin. Just as I was lost in the soothing sensation, the door creaked open. I turned, surprised to see St
(Stephen's POV)After Kendall finished hurling the words she couldn't say when she caught them together, we left and prepared ourselves back to Mexico.A few weeks after we flew back to Mexico, I stepped into the gym, and the soft glow of the overhead lights illuminated the sleek exercise equipment that lined the room. The rubber mat beneath my feet was cool to the touch as I climbed the treadmill. With a flick of a switch, the machine hummed to life and I adjusted the settings.As I started jogging, the steady rhythm of my footsteps matched the beat of my heart. The view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows revealed my tranquil garden, still shrouded in the morning mist.The gentle whirring of the elliptical machine in the corner called out to me. Transitioning smoothly, I moved to the machine, gripping the handles as I began to pedal. The low hum of the machine and the focused burn in my muscles created a serene sense of accomplishment.Sweat began to form on my brow as the minute
Kendall's POVI woke up to the sound of a familiar voice, a voice that had become a comforting presence in my life."Arise and shine, Mrs. De La Cruz."As I blinked my eyes open, I saw Stephen humming one of my favorite songs delightfully, a song he knew I loved as he placed a tray of food on the stool close to the bed. Awwwn!."Behold the queen of the empire. Mrs. De La Cruz is awake," he uttered dramatically.I watched as he approached, his eyes never leaving mine, his love and care palpable in every step he took.The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on his tousled hair and the gentle smile on his lips. The aroma of freshly cooked breakfast wafted through the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.With a gentle chuckle, he leaned over me, planting kisses all over my face as his fingers brushed against mine in a tender caress."What do we have here? You cooked?" I asked, surprised, butterflies dancing in my heart as I chuckled shyly."Just for t
(Kendall's POV)It's been over two weeks since I had been in the hospital and we're ready to leave as Gab folded my things into a packing bag. Staring out of the glass window, my heart leaped with joy that the gloomy days were over. The thought that I had forgotten who my triplets, Gab and even Stephen were caused a crack in my happy heart.I wondered why I'd be waking up uttering Fred's name. I hoped Stephen wasn't sad about it at present because I'd have flared up if he had to be in my shoes and he began to clamor Jessica's name.Also hearing the information about Antonio, I was devastated. Stephen held him in high esteem and I felt very annoyed knowing that he had ulterior motives for all he did. Very sad."Forget the past, Kendall, it's a new start now. Life has given you another chance. Don't contaminate it with the past." I cautioned myself as I rubbed my baby bump that was beginning to shoot out."Oh! You're set," the doctor voiced immediately as she entered the room, almost s
(Stephen's POV)What! I glared intensely with my mouth slightly opened as the prosecutor revealed that Antonio was in communication with Frederick and Antonio.Why didn't Jeff mention when he called me about the kids earlier?As I sat down, I wanted to yell out to the world, my heart sinking in betrayal. I suspired and managed to comport myself so as not to disturb the stillness of the courtroom."Why did you not tell me about the third party?" I growled at the prosecutor's attorney, who was smiling in victory at the way he handled the case immediately after the court session was over."I am sorry, Mr. De La Cruz. I found out, just a few minutes into the court session.""You still should have…"Just then, I was interrupted by the dinging notifications of my phone buzzing and it was from Jeff.My heart skipped a beat as I read the message. "Found him. Arrested. At the NYPD's 23rd Precinct. I will give you details when I see you."Adrenaline surged through my veins as I walked hurriedly
(Frederick's POV)I sat behind the well of the courtroom, hovering my eyes around as I floated in the turmoil of sad emotions with the depths of guilt and regret pressed down on me.All evidence was clearly against me, although there were no witnesses in the murder case. My notebook, the fingerprints, everything pointed to me.While I sank in my misery with sadness written all over my face, a few inches beside me, Anna also sat in the dock, her face void of any remorse. She looked ready for anything that came up as her arms crossed against each other.On the other end of the docks was a lady named Jessica and two young ladies I leaned were her spies both at Stephen's workplace and home. They had been orchestrating some evil plans toward Stephen and Kendall.I switched my eyes back to the jury. Their eyes bore into me, a mix of curiosity, judgment, and perhaps even a hint of pity. The courtroom felt suffocating as if the air itself was tainted by the terrible deeds I had committed."OR