(Anna's POV)As I dialed Antonio's number I got on the company's website, my heart raced with curiosity.What is he going to sound like, would he listen or believe me? It had been years since I last spoke to my cousin or saw him. His mom left California a long time ago after she lost her husband. The last I heard about his family was that his mother had gotten ill a few months after she left, and now, with this unexpected revelation after sighting him in the previous picture taken at the gallery, I could not think of a better time to reconnect.After a few rings, he finally picked up the phone, his voice unfamiliar and formal, while I sounded informal in my high-pitched voice.Quickly, I explained who I was. His voice was filled with harshness and to make things a lot easier for me, I called out my family name and explained our relationship."We can not talk now. I will call you back in a few minutes. Now is not the right time to talk," he said. It appeared he did not want to be hea
(Stephen's POV)I walked out of the elevator, my mind still preoccupied with the disappointment of losing out on a major contract, coupled with Kendall's attitude, which had declined so much lately.The news of the loss of the contract had hit me hard. Although I blamed Antonio, I knew Kendall's attitude at work also played a major role. I had spent the past few days trying to come to terms with it."Buenos Días, sir," the secretary saluted, turning her gaze to meet mine as I strolled towards my office.Entering my office, I let out a deep sigh and settled into my chair.I sipped a little on the already lukewarm cup of coffee I got on my way up from the cafeteria when my phone buzzed with a message. I picked it up and with interest mixed with anxiety, I glimpsed at the screen. It revealed an email notification from the client who had initially awarded the contract to another company.My heart skipped a beat as I hastily opened the message. My eyes gradually scanned the content of the
(Kendall's POV)My body ached as I tried to lift myself from the bed and a soft growl escaped my lips which notified Stephen I was awake."Hey! Easy. You have to be careful," Stephen whispered, his voice soaked in deep concern as he dashed toward the bed."Ken, are you okay?" he asked softly, taking my hands in his."What happened to me?" I inquired, still trying to get myself to sit up from the bed."Hey! Take it easy, the doctor asked that you get enough rest," Stephen reprimanded, taking the pillow and placing it behind me to support my back."Doctor?" I asked, surprised."Yes, and how do you feel?"After hesitating for a little, I finally replied, "I'm fine, Stephen.""Sure?"I attempted to nod and an awkward silence set in between us.Breaking the silence and staring into my eyes, he quizzed."I have noticed the weight upon your shoulders, the restlessness in your eyes. You fidget at every thin sound. Is something troubling you?""Everything is fine, Stephen. I'm just stressed by
(Frederick's POV)Argh!!! I thundered as I tossed the pillow to the floor angrily."How could this be? How was this possible?" I questioned the empty room, which used to be Kendall's, gnashing my teeth as I ruffled my hands through my hair.I glanced at the image of Kendall, which was still hanging on the wall, and spat out my hatred for her. "I hate you Kendall, and I promise I am going to hurt and break you once more."I began to pace back and forth in the dimly lit room. No longer able to contain the rage that boiled within me as I sat, my head hurt from the constant shouting and the heavy cloud of disappointment that hung over my shoulders.Just because of a financial record? How? I did not even believe the news one bit. De La Cruz might have played dirty which turned the outcome in their favor.The news had just hit me like a punch to the gut. How the contract I had worked so hard to secure was suddenly withdrawn was like a nightmare unfolding before my eyes. For that, I could no
(Antonio's POV)"Buenos dias, sir Antonio," one of the maids expressed behind me as she startled me a bit while I dialed Anna's number and placed it on my ears."Buenos dias," I replied, extending my left hand on the doorknob to get out of the mansion.With a second thought, I turned around and looked over my shoulder length to see the maid who was greeting me."Oh! Elizabeth," I sighed as my eyes met hers. "You are up already?""Yes, I am. Ma'am Kendall would be leaving for work so early so he asked me to prepare breakfast early for everyone," she narrated without being asked, her eyes focused on me."Would you want me to make you anything too? Coffee maybe?" she inquired."Oh! No. I am okay. I have to leave now. I will get something on my way out," I responded and hurried out of the building and the thought of Jessica and Anna flashed through my brain.After I visited Jess last night to cool off the piled-up stress, I returned home late. It was after we had enjoyed ourselves in the m
(Anna's POV)My eyes almost ran out of water as Frederick's harsh words reiterated in my ears and I felt the pain shoot right through my heart, pulling every ounce of strength I had left.As I perched on the stool in the bedroom, I stared at my reflection from the mirror and thought about everything that had happened. Bitterness plus sadness creased on my forehead and I wished I had not provoked my husband.But how could he say those words to me when he knew the amount of money I had invested in him and all the things I had risked in life because of him? How could he be so insensitive, forgetting all my sacrifices?The unhappiness that crept into my heart transformed into rage and I rose on my feet and I flung everything on the mirror stand. The bottles of fragrance and perfumes shattered on the tiled floor and I yelled.Kendall, even in your absence, you keep ruining things for me. I bet you are going down. Frederick had always been a passionate man even as he was nothing but my toy
(Antonio's POV)It was Saturday, and although I wasn't obligated to work on Saturday, I had come to pick up a very important item I left in my drawer the previous evening after Stephen and I had gone home together. As I walked towards the elevator, the thought of Stephen almost catching me in the act, sent a rushing sense of fear into me as it made all the hairs on my skin stand on their ends. It was indeed close and had to lie to cover up. "I came here to search for an important document. I needed to study them to help us get more business contracts," I said and he was gullibly believed.Phew! I wiped out the beads of sweat on my forehead after I entered the elevator and clicked on the last button which indicated I was heading down to the ground floor. I strolled down towards the exit and launched in the direction of the black SUV parked at the entrance. I waved at Mr Paul who called out, saluting from afar and I hopped into my car, driving out of the company's vicinity. As I t
(Frederick's POV)Transfixed I stood with terror, my heart quivering with anxiety as Anna cussed at me and dragged me by the collar of my shirt. She would not let go and she kept asking me what had happened since she was not expecting policemen.Was I expecting them either? No, I was not.As she kept on grabbing my shirt, three stern police officers whose facial expressions were as cold as ice stepped into our bedroom and jolted her away from me. "Let go of him!" Someone said in his husky voice as he stepped forward to us.Instant fear gripped her soul and panic surged through my veins as I realized the gravity of the situation."Sir, are you Mr. Frederick Stewart?" one of the other officers asked, his voice devoid of any warmth or sympathy."Yes, I am," I replied, my voice trembling. "What's going on? What happened? Why are you here for my husband?" Katy asked in a breath as if she was in the middle of the sea.The officer's gaze bore into me as he stated in a curt tone, "Mr. Fred
(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