POPPY:I covered my mouth using my hand. Breathing was getting more difficult."She did that to her son?" I asked, bile rising from my throat. What kind of mother would kill her child? I never thought that it was not a simple misunderstanding between the two. But more serious than that. "Unfortunately yes because of jealousy. Everything was my fault. I got busy. And when I returned, I would instantly go to my child and have less interaction with my wife."The reason why Beverly was mad at Sebastian was that even in her son's marriage she did not attend. "I'm sorry if we have a messy family relationship, child. We are not perfect.""Don't be. You're not the only one who had the same relationship," I said, trying to appease his pain. He smiled and locked gazes at me. "Time will heal all wounds. Don't tell your husband I told you about his mother. That will create conflict between you two." He shook his head. "I did not know what came into me. Telling you about that.""It's okay.
POPPY:What am I doing? Yes. What was I doing?My heart continued hammering against my chest as we continued watching each other's eyes. The only thing that was heard was the fast beating of our hearts. Or was it only mine?"Are you that desperate to get laid?" Sebastian asked. There was no hint of judgment. Only pure confusion in his voice which I did not usually hear from him. Yes, I am! I wanted to have a taste of you, Sebastian. You're like a forbidden fruit. I lifted my chin, tampering down my embarrassment. I already started this and backing down was out of the option. I wanted him. Longed for him. My attraction towards him was undeniable. "What if I am?" I asked. "I had my fair experience of sex, Sebastian. I'm not a teenager anymore."I tried to tell myself that I was not doing anything wrong. Because that was true. We were married couples and that was my defense. It had been a few days since we had not consummated our marriage. What was the harm of getting laid? What w
POPPY:“Why?” I asked, in pure confusion. “I…I don’t understand, Sebastian.”“You know what I am talking about.” He grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped it around my shoulders, completely covering my undergarments. “Don’t stoop so low, Poppy. Cover yourself.”I clenched my fist and hugged the towel around my shoulders. Embarrassment flooded my senses. "A-are you disappointed, Sebastian? You never expected I would stoop this low?"He only stared at me. “D-Don’t you like what I did, Sebastian?”“I don’t like it when a woman advances first towards a man.”I shook my head. “This is a new generation, Sebastian. Women are more outspoken right now.”He leaned on the wall. “Are you this outspoken and bold?”I gave him a half-shrug. “I could be. Depending on the person I am facing. But I guess I would say you want me to touch myself to fill this ache?”He sucked in a breath. “You never failed to amaze me.”I chuckled darkly. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing, Sebastian? Because as I s
POPPY:Having a child in exchange for having sex? Sebastian knew how to make a proposition. Everything to his advantage.How clever of him.Don't get me wrong. There was nothing wrong with having a child. I would love to have a child, soon but not right now. I could not afford to have another one, especially in my situation."Give me your decision now, Poppy."My hands went cold and my throat dried like the Sahara Desert. I was lost for words. “Your decision, Poppy.”His hands traveled down to the valley of my breast creating tiny ripples of electricity shocking me off. A shiver ran down my spine.He was only brushing his hands into my skin, yet this was the kind of reaction I got from him. How much more if we two had sex?"If you do, I will let you touch me and do whatever you want to do with my body."“Are you great in bed, Sebastian?” I could not help but ask. “How can you make sure that it will be worth it? That you can satisfy me in bed in exchange for bearing your child?”I s
POPPY:“Pretend, Poppy,” I told myself.As moments passed by, it was getting difficult to pretend that this was okay. That I felt nothing towards Sebastian because there was something there. This distance. His warmth. His voice. His scent. Don't fall for it, Poppy.Easier said than done. And the more I resist this attraction, the more it teases me.“T-That’s so sweet of you, husband. Thank you for taking care of me. If you're like this always, I will fall for you harder,” I declared as I stared at him, masking my nervousness with happiness. I already did start falling for you. Even for a short time. I felt a fluttering inside my chest as I was now attuned to his movements. "You can fall for me more," Sebastian responded. "I will protect your heart just like how you protected mine."My heart skipped a bit when he grabbed my hand and kissed it.Our gazes locked and my heart somersaulted. Dang. Why was he this fucking handsome? And why was he acting this good? My heart could no
POPPY:True to his words, Sebastian was already in the car. His gloomy face welcomed me when I opened the front seat door. What did I do this time? Nibbling my lower lip, I asked, “Ahm, what did I do this time? Is it because of our arguments back in the dining room?”He did not answer, but his expression was still dark. “Hey. How will I know what’s the reason for your anger? Telling me about it also helps, okay?” I blurted, annoyance kicking in.We always got in a fight and I could not help but ask if this marriage would last until a year. He glanced at my outfit. His shirt and His black T-shirt and shorts paired with sneakers. “I borrowed your clothes again. I promise to return these later. After I grab my things. Come on, Sebastian. You have a lot of clothes in your closet. You also told me to grab your clothes last night if I wanted to, right?”He still did not talk.Leaning on the wide-open door, I asked, “Ahm, hello. Am I talking to a stone? Earth to Sebastian?”“I waited a
POPPY:Sebastian laughed darkly."Do I look like I could cheat?"A small smile crept on my face. "You're not answering my question, Sebastian. If you're not cheating on our marriage right now, you can tell me who is constantly texting you now. If you cannot, then I would think it is Olivia Green. Is she still chasing you right now?"It must be true that she still loved him despite fucking someone else.And Olivia Green texting Sebastian Holding brought tiny specks of heartaches on my chest whether I acknowledged it or not. What if Sebastian was indeed capable of loving someone and rarely showed it? What if he liked Olivia gReen and was not only after her influence?I wondered if he would be willing to breach our contract and pursue that woman again."Do I look like I could cheat?" he repeated, his expression turning darker. Gone was his smile. I heaved a sigh. "Who knows, Sebastian? Though I did not have any control over that. You can have any woman you like. As long as Kelly does
POPPY:I took back my words realizing how desperate I sounded. I did not want any validations from other people. Especially from my husband.Husband…it became normal to call Sebastian my husband.Exhaling, I evaded Sebastian's eyes and opened the door on my side."I'm just kidding. Don't think about it, Sebastian. Do not take everything I said seriously."He laughed darkly. “You’re becoming a coward, Poppy.”I stopped mid-air and asked, “Why?”“You’re not going to hear my answer?”I was about to say, no, but my mouth had other things. “What is it?”He leaned in, causing me to back away until there was no choice, but to stare at his eyes.“Yes, you are included. You are now an occupant in my heart, wife."I forgot how to breathe.An occupant in his expensive heart where only a few resided? “What’s that supposed to mean?” I inquired nervously.“It is what it is.”He lifted my chin and stared at my mouth, lingering there. I gulped and wet my lips. The desire to kiss him again resurface
85POPPY:Realization dawned on me.Mother was right.I was punishing Sebastian for his past which he did not do when we were together. He impregnated Olivia before we met, and he did not even know me by then.Tears swam in my eyes.Stupid. I was stupid.Now, I realize what I just did. “Mom. Is it okay if I return to the city? I have to apologize to my husband.”Mother smiled and brushed my cheeks using her fingertips. “Why does it feel as if it will be a long time before you will be back again, Poppy?”“I’m so sorry, Mom. Now that you have accepted us again, I will always visit you and Dad.”I inhaled deeply as the pain slowly lifted.I could not wait to go back to the mansion and talk to Sebastian.“I’m going to miss you, too.”“I will always call, Mom. I will just wait for Kelly, and I will tell her of my plans.”“She will be happy. She always asks about her daddy. Your second husband, I mean.”“She was completely smitten by him.”“The child knows a real man who will make you happ
POPPY:Do you know what's the most painful thing? It's the fact that Sebastian was not doing anything just to stop me as I grabbed my things and Kelly. He just stood there leaning on the door, like a robot watching me pack my things. And he claimed he loved me?Bullshit!Damn it!Why did I believe in his lies, anyway? He never loved me from the start. He was only forced to. And now that he had a child with his own seed, he can do anything he wants like tossing me aside. From all the packing down to grabbing Kelly, I was glad I never shed a single tear. If I did, it would be embarrassing on my part."Honey…" Sebastian started as I went out of our room while grabbing Kelly and my bag in both hands. "We only arrived. Kelly and your body are tired from the trip. Please think of the child.""You cannot stop me from doing this, Sebastian," I exclaimed while hardening my heart in the process. I forced myself to make my expression blank and cold as it was so that he would see that I was al
POPPY:From the look on his face, he was silently telling me not to tell his father about it. I did not get how he wanted to keep it to ourselves since having a baby was the only requirement left. I wanted to believe that it had something to do with his feelings, but if I expected more than that, I was scared that I would only be hurt in the end.“Anyone who wanted to answer me?” Arnold asked as his gaze kept on switching sides between me and Sebastian. “Poppy?”“Dad. I believe it’s my husband who has the right to tell you about it.”“Why is that?” he asked as his brows formed a straight line. “Son. Is there anything you want to say? Am I expecting a grandchild soon? A simple yes or no would suffice.”Yeah. A grandchild who would be the next heir of the Holdings. The child that Olivia and Sebastian badly wanted. And during that time, I would be kicked out of the equations. I would be tossed aside like a piece of rag. Together with my daughter.Oh, God.Why did I bring my daughter in
POPPY:“Can you please read the message? I can’t do that especially when I am driving.”A muscle ticked in my eyes. “Are you freaking kidding me, Sebastian?”His brows furrowed.“What’s wrong?”“What’s your intention of letting me read the message? What are you trying to prove, huh?”“Honey. I meant no harm, okay? I just wanted you to read the message. I’m driving. What makes it difficult to understand?”“You know Olivia will text you, right?”“Was it her?”“Who else? She won’t stop saying you should divorce me.”“That’s not going to happen. It’s you I love. Not here. So please stop getting jealous, okay? You’re the only woman I love, Poppy. No one else.”That was supposed to pacify me, but it did not. Right now, I was still irritated at Sebastian, and I did not know how long it would last. I hated this feeling. It brought me back to my previous relationship. Of how I was jealous of any woman who was near to my ex-husband only to find out in the end that I have the right to be jealous
POPPY:I was kind of expecting that it was indeed the result, but it was different from hearing it directly in Olivia’s mouth. She was too proud about it, making me feel as if she was better than me, although there was no point in proving it.I was nothing compared to her. She was an actress. Rich. Talented. You name it. While I was a simple mother who wanted only the best for her child. “The look on your face says it all. You also know that the child is from Bastian.”“So what? You’re all talk, Olivia. Give me the papers.” She shoved it on my chest. “How rude.”Checking, I pulled out the paper inside the envelope and read the contents.Ninety-point nine percent. The child was Sebastian. He was the father of Olivia’s child.My knees almost gave out. Not from the shock. But it was more than that. “See? I have given him a child first. Bastian should be mine.”I showed her our wedding ring. “Oops. He married me first.”“I don’t believe the results,” Sebastian exclaimed all of a sudden
POPPY:Our stay in the resort was eventful. Sebastian toured us at the resort and introduced us to his family. The maids and all the maintenance staff were happy to see us and congratulated us. He made sure that we were taken care of. And then the next thing I knew, we would be returning to the mansion which I did not want to happen. It was too soon. I was not even satisfied yet. “Are we really going back?” I asked Sebastian while folding Kelly’s clothes. “I wanted to stay here a little longer.”The corner of his lips lifted. “Do you really want to stay because of that, or was it another reason?” he teased. My cheeks burned in embarrassment, remembering our sweet time together. Especially on the beach. It was only at three o’clock in the morning when we returned to our room. True to his words, Sebastian had emptied all the condoms and promised to buy another pocket if I wanted to. And then when Kelly was not inside the room, we took a shower together and made love again inside.
Warning: Sexual content ahead.------------------POPPY:We are free to do whatever we want, huh?Pinching the bridge of Sebastian’s nose, I asked, “Do you know that you sounded like a devil right now tempting me like this?”The corner of his lips lifted.“Am I? That’s my plan, Poppy.”“Yes. Why are you tempting me like this, Sebastian? Is it really true that I’m the only woman you brought here in this—”The words died in my mouth when he suddenly kissed me fully.I groaned as I tasted the strawberry taste of his lips against my mouth. Sparks exploded between us. Lips against lips. Mouth against mouth. It seemed like our lips were battling and no one wanted to lose. Using my lips, I showed him how much I longed for him. My longing for him was evident in how I kissed him. How I snaked my arms around his neck, bringing me closer to my body. Hardness against softness. He was all muscles while I was the complete opposite.My hands found his hair and pulled him toward me.“Give everything
POPPY: The rest of the day flew fast.Kelly and I enjoyed the resort a lot. Sebastian never left my side and did not even glance at his phone for any updates from his secretary. And if someone was calling him, I would remind him to answer the phone since he would only let it ring. But then he will just kiss me and say that it can wait. He wanted to focus his time on us and added that today was a family day. He won’t allow anyone to waste this time over some unimportant things.For Sebastian Holding, work was always important but when he said it could wait, my heart was filled with overflowing happiness. “And they lived happily ever after,” I said, reading the book which I bought. Kelly was already fast asleep. After reading for almost an hour, she was fast asleep. I was able to finish three books in a row when she was not yet satisfied with one book alone.Kelly stirred in her sleep and the blanket fell below.I pulled it upward until it reached her chin, then pressed a kiss on her
POPPY:I held my breath as Sebastian kept on staring at me, not even stopping the wind as when my hair danced along with it. The feeling of the rough texture of the sand entering my shoes tickled my feet.“Poppy. Do you want to spend your life with me?” Sebastian asked again when I did not answer.I wanted to scream yes! I would definitely say yes! I’ve been loving this man for quite some time now and now that he was offering an eternity with him, who was I to say no?An opportunity to spend the rest of our lives together? That would be fantastic. But what about Olivia Green? Images of her heavily pregnant belly while tears rolled down from her eyes flashed in my mind. It felt like tiny needles were being stabbed in my chest.Yeah. Olivia Green. Getting drunk with Sebastian’s offer to be with him was already too good to be true. Accept him, Poppy, my mind urged. How long will you keep on thinking about someone else’s happiness, Poppy? Why can’t you think of your own happiness, hu