EIGHT MONTHS LATERSAMANTHAViolet's screams came from the living room. I rushed out of the bedroom to see what was wrong. The living room was a mess, Carlton was seated quietly on the floor, Poppy was painting his face, and Violet was playing with his hair with her hair ties and my hair clips. Then I realized Violet's earlier screams were happy screams. I was too busy to know the girls were giving their father a makeover. What a beautiful sight."Am I pretty now?" Carlton asked the girls, unaware I was in the room. Pretty? More like a makeover truck ran over him."Yes, you look very pretty." I said and walked over to them. "Hey, are you done?" Carlton asked.The girls continued what they were doing like they didn't know I was in the room. "Almost. It's past their bedtime." "Yeah, right. Girls, it's time to go to bed."The girls didn't listen and continued. I grabbed Violet and removed her hands from his hair, she started crying. "Leave her, I'll put them to bed." Carlton said.I rel
NEXT DAY"Wake up, wake up." I heard a familiar voice. I opened my eyes a bit and saw Sarah. How was she here? Right, she had a spare key for in-case situations. "Happy birthday!" Sarah screamed. I lazily opened my eyes again to see Poppy, Violet and Sarah standing next to me, a huge smile plastered on their faces. Right, it's my birthday. My eyes went to the alarm; 7:30 a.m. "Thank you so much, but aren't you up too early?" I sat straight, wiping my eyes to see clearly. "No, now get up." Sarah dragged me out of bed by pulling my hand. "We have a surprise for you, so go take a shower now and dress in something nice, okay?" Sarah said. My eyes went to Poppy and Violet; they were already dressed. What time did Sarah arrive exactly?"Why do I need to leave right now? Can't I see it later? It's early." I said, yawning. "No, it can't wait." Sarah said, pushing me to the bathroom. I decided to get it over with. Showered and wore the first dress my hand landed on, a sundress, isn't it too e
One month laterI walked down the aisle, clutching my flowers and smiling as everyone watched me. Tears fell from Carlton's eyes at the altar, and for the first time ever, Carlton was crying. I reached for his hand as I got to the altar and stood in front of him. "Why are you crying?" I whispered, wiping his tears with my fingers. He didn't reply. Instead, he took my hands in his. We gazed at each other as the priest continued the ceremony. The world went silent as we entered our own world.It was time to take our vows. I started and repeated what the priest said from my heart. It was Carlton's turn, but he didn't repeat what the priest said. I got scared for a moment; the crowd was silent, and my smile disappeared. "Carlton," I called, but he just stood, expressionless. I looked around, confused about why he seemed to be changing his mind now. I was panicking inside.He cleared his throat. "Samantha, as we build our life together, I promise to be there for you, always. I'll listen wh
EPILOGUE(One year later)CARLTON"We sold out once more." Samantha yelped."No, you sold out." I said, pulling her into a hug. "I'm proud of you as your husband, manager, and father of two little angels growing up too quickly."I heard sniffs. "Hey, there will be no tears. The only ones allowed are when I make an orgasm rip out of you."She pushed me away and punched my chest lightly. "What did I say about dirty talk?""My voice wasn't loud, Samantha.""But still!" She wanted me to stop because she was afraid our little angels might hear and be influenced. I was being careful, but if she wanted me to stop, of course, I would – at least when the kids were around."Daddy!" Violet's voice came from the room."We'll celebrate later, let's put the girls to bed." Samantha said.I nodded and followed her to our little angels' room.Samantha tucked in Poppy, and I tucked in Violet. Poppy and Violet couldn't sleep without listening to bedtime stories, especially Poppy. I brought out the story
I walked down the Miami streets, the air warm and humid, the sounds of the city enveloping me. My heels clicked on the pavement, and I felt my heart beating faster. I try to stay focused, to remember why I'm here. But it is difficult not to be drawn in by the city's energy and the seemingly endless possibilities it offers. I took another deep breath and forced myself to concentrate. I see various people walking by. There are tourists dressed in Hawaiian shirts, families pushing strollers, and teenagers laughing and texting. People are begging for money and selling goods on the street, a man in a suit is strolling by and talking on his phone. I see a homeless person, filthy and dishevelled, pushing a shopping cart loaded with belongings. ugh. The city of Miami...I opened the doors to the Sultry Siren where I work. As I walk in, the bouncer nods and I head straight for the dressing room. The room is a mess, with dancers frantically changing and applying makeup. I changed into my sta
Siren sent me the money before I left, and she also handed me a bag containing a red dress and matching heels. I sighed as I checked my phone time. I was supposed to meet him, the man willing to pay a fortune for a fake wife, this afternoon, in about twenty minutes.The dress was knee-length with spaghetti straps and a deep, vibrant red that resembled a full-blooming rose. It hugged my curves in just the right places, and the fabric felt silky against my skin. I could not deny that it was stunning. But the colour seemed to call attention to me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't help but feel like I was being offered up like a prize. I pulled my black hair into a ponytail and decided not to apply makeup as I felt it was too much. I hoped the man who wanted to marry me saw me as more than a pretty face. But I was not sure.The taxi pulled up in front of the address sent to me which is a cabin, and I took a deep breath before stepping out. I could feel the warmth of the Flori
How am I going to explain to Sarah? I'm worried about how to tell my sister about the billionaire and the contract marriage. I don't want to lie to her. What should I do? The loss of our father had hit my sister hard, and I felt powerless to help her. It was like there was an invisible barrier between us, and I couldn't figure out how to break through it. My sister had always been the sensitive one, while I was more resilient and independent. I knew that our different reactions to the loss were partly responsible for the distance between us, but I didn't know how to fix it. I just wanted to make things right again, but I didn't know how.My driver was already standing in front of my house."Good morning, Miss Jones!" He was always so chipper, and it was refreshing. I smiled and said."Good morning, Elijah. It's great to see you!" We chatted about the weather and other mundane topics.When we got to a Chinese restaurant, I noticed that he'd pulled up to the front door."We are here
As we entered the cabin, I noticed Sarah's expression, and I knew she loved the cabin as much as I did. Her eyes were bright, and a smile formed at the corners of her mouth. As we walked in, I recognized the same ladies from my previous visit, but this time, there was a new face among them. She stood out from the others, dressed in a more formal attire, and exuded an air of authority. I assumed she was the head housekeeper. With a warm smile, she approached us."Welcome, Ms. Jones," she said, her tone warm and friendly. "Megan, show the other Ms. Jones around." She turned to the lady with a mole next to her right eye. "Will you be fine?" I asked as I turned to face Sarah. "Are you kidding? I'm not a kid." She smiled and followed Megan. The chief housekeeper introduced herself. "I am Beth," she said. "I'll be your point of contact for any questions or needs you might have during your stay." "Thank you," I said. "It's nice to meet you, Beth." "The pleasure is all mine," she sa
EPILOGUE(One year later)CARLTON"We sold out once more." Samantha yelped."No, you sold out." I said, pulling her into a hug. "I'm proud of you as your husband, manager, and father of two little angels growing up too quickly."I heard sniffs. "Hey, there will be no tears. The only ones allowed are when I make an orgasm rip out of you."She pushed me away and punched my chest lightly. "What did I say about dirty talk?""My voice wasn't loud, Samantha.""But still!" She wanted me to stop because she was afraid our little angels might hear and be influenced. I was being careful, but if she wanted me to stop, of course, I would – at least when the kids were around."Daddy!" Violet's voice came from the room."We'll celebrate later, let's put the girls to bed." Samantha said.I nodded and followed her to our little angels' room.Samantha tucked in Poppy, and I tucked in Violet. Poppy and Violet couldn't sleep without listening to bedtime stories, especially Poppy. I brought out the story
One month laterI walked down the aisle, clutching my flowers and smiling as everyone watched me. Tears fell from Carlton's eyes at the altar, and for the first time ever, Carlton was crying. I reached for his hand as I got to the altar and stood in front of him. "Why are you crying?" I whispered, wiping his tears with my fingers. He didn't reply. Instead, he took my hands in his. We gazed at each other as the priest continued the ceremony. The world went silent as we entered our own world.It was time to take our vows. I started and repeated what the priest said from my heart. It was Carlton's turn, but he didn't repeat what the priest said. I got scared for a moment; the crowd was silent, and my smile disappeared. "Carlton," I called, but he just stood, expressionless. I looked around, confused about why he seemed to be changing his mind now. I was panicking inside.He cleared his throat. "Samantha, as we build our life together, I promise to be there for you, always. I'll listen wh
NEXT DAY"Wake up, wake up." I heard a familiar voice. I opened my eyes a bit and saw Sarah. How was she here? Right, she had a spare key for in-case situations. "Happy birthday!" Sarah screamed. I lazily opened my eyes again to see Poppy, Violet and Sarah standing next to me, a huge smile plastered on their faces. Right, it's my birthday. My eyes went to the alarm; 7:30 a.m. "Thank you so much, but aren't you up too early?" I sat straight, wiping my eyes to see clearly. "No, now get up." Sarah dragged me out of bed by pulling my hand. "We have a surprise for you, so go take a shower now and dress in something nice, okay?" Sarah said. My eyes went to Poppy and Violet; they were already dressed. What time did Sarah arrive exactly?"Why do I need to leave right now? Can't I see it later? It's early." I said, yawning. "No, it can't wait." Sarah said, pushing me to the bathroom. I decided to get it over with. Showered and wore the first dress my hand landed on, a sundress, isn't it too e
EIGHT MONTHS LATERSAMANTHAViolet's screams came from the living room. I rushed out of the bedroom to see what was wrong. The living room was a mess, Carlton was seated quietly on the floor, Poppy was painting his face, and Violet was playing with his hair with her hair ties and my hair clips. Then I realized Violet's earlier screams were happy screams. I was too busy to know the girls were giving their father a makeover. What a beautiful sight."Am I pretty now?" Carlton asked the girls, unaware I was in the room. Pretty? More like a makeover truck ran over him."Yes, you look very pretty." I said and walked over to them. "Hey, are you done?" Carlton asked.The girls continued what they were doing like they didn't know I was in the room. "Almost. It's past their bedtime." "Yeah, right. Girls, it's time to go to bed."The girls didn't listen and continued. I grabbed Violet and removed her hands from his hair, she started crying. "Leave her, I'll put them to bed." Carlton said.I rel
CARLTONDAY 25. Day 25 of winning Samantha back. I had the daily letter prepared with an eternal rose tapped to it. ♡♡ Day 25♡♡Sweetheart,I often find myself reminiscing about the night I first fell in love with you. It wasn't after we got married, it was the moment you took the stage. I was captivated by your every step, afraid to blink for fear of missing a moment. I knew you were the one but I was denying it because I didn't want to be vulnerable again. Coward? I know.If only I could turn back time, I'd erase the heartache and the pain, and we'd start again, with a stronger love. What remains constant, however, is my love for you. I've always loved you, and I will continue to, until my dying breath. Your day surely is going to be as beautiful as you are. I miss you, and my dick does too. I love you, Samantha. Carlton.Every letter was a confession, and today's letter was about the first time I fell for h
SAMANTHAI heard the doorbell ring, perfect timing. Sounds of tiny feet running from the room followed the sound of the second doorbell ring. I headed for the door, and Violet appeared, jumping with a huge smile on her face. It was beautiful to see Violet bonding with her father so well.As soon as the door opened, Violet peered past me to hug Carlton by the leg. Happy Carlton lifted her onto his arm and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Oh, look who it is." Carlton said to Violet, gazing into her eyes. Violet giggled, kicking her feet while still in his arms. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad, I didn't think she had ever been that happy b eing with me. But I was glad to see her bonding with her father.I grabbed the kids' bag and Poppy from inside and handed them over to Carlton. "Are you going somewhere? Why are you all dolled up?" Carlton asked, dropping Violet to examine the bags. "Yeah—" I started to say, but Liam's voice interrupted me from inside."We are going on a date." Liam sai
CARLTONLike I promised, I gave up everything that made me a Williams. I put my aunt Claire in charge of the company, and now I was fucking broke. I understand why Samantha wanted me to give up everything, but how was I supposed to buy the kids something with no money? A nine-to-five job? I guess I'll have to start searching. I had Aunt Claire take care of Canyon and his family. For now, I had to swallow my pride and borrow some money from Jace. "Just until I get back on my feet," I told him. He agreed but made fun of me first, I didn't blame the asshole. I had a mission now: win over the kids, then gradually get Samantha back, and that future will exist with all of us together.Samantha created a timetable with the kids; she'll be with them on weekdays, and I'll pick them up on weekends. It's a start, and I'll take it. I'll do whatever it takes to be a part of their lives. Today was the father and child activity at my little angels' school, I was to take them to school, and after w
SAMANTHA"We will sell this out too soon." Ethan, the production manager, gave my forearm a gentle squeeze. After what happened days ago, there were a lot of complaints saying they were expecting it and now they couldn't even get one, I decided to launch them again, so I passed by the production house to say hi and see how the production was going. Jerk.W? Why was he back? Why did he have to show up? What did he even do with the products? "I hope so." I said to Ethan. My phone vibrated in my chest pocket. "Sorry, I have to take this." I said. "No problem." He said.I answered the call from Poppy and Violet's preschool teacher. "Hi." I said. "Ms. Jones, we need your presence right now, Violet fought with a kid." "What?" It was always Violet, always the one that'd make their teacher give me a call, and she's only two. I groaned. "I'll be right there." I hung up and got in my car to leave.I rushed into Rachel's office to see Violet obediently seated. "Mama." She slowly climbed down from
CARLTONI watched from afar as she dropped the kids in preschool. So beautiful, the little angels indeed had their mother's eyes and smile. A ten-second smile played on my lips. It had been two days, and I hadn't been able to meet Samantha, or maybe I hadn't summoned the courage to face her, but I'd been trying to make my presence known. I know ordering 200 anti-wrinkle creams was a bit too much, but I had to meet her somehow. It worked, by the way; she sent a text to the number I left in the information, asking to meet up today and about two hours from now.I started the car to leave for where we agreed to meet, to wait for her.I sat, tapping my fingers impatiently on the small café table. My eyes were fixed on the door, willing her to walk in. Two hours and seventeen minutes had passed, but she hadn't shown up. I anxiously sipped my coffee, the bitter taste doing little to calm my nerves. I drummed a restless beat on the tabletop, my gaze darting back to the door. Why the fuck am I