~SIERRA~ Seeing my children jump in happiness filled my heart with peace. Maybe it was meant to be. There's a saying that children can feel everything; they can know if the person is good or bad, so if Damians’ intentions were bad, they could feel it and tell me. Well, it was a dumb belief, but I relied on that. “Wow, I guess you told them?” Gilbert's voice shook me out of my thoughts. I cleared my throat and asked my kids to stop jumping; they didn't even notice that Gilbert was there. “Kids.” “Sorry Mommy, is Uncle Damian here already?” Ingrid asked. "Mommy, we promise we will be on our best behavior,” Nathan said, and Atlas agreed with a nod. Atlas seemed more lively. "Okay, good. Now can you go to your room and pack the things you need,” I instructed, and they agreed, then ran out of the dining room. “They didn't even notice me.” Gilbert sounded like he was complaining. “Yeah,” I said as I couldn't deny it. “Wait, do they love him more than me?” He said it in a jokey tone,
~SIERRA~I knew Damian well; living with him for those years enabled me to read his mind so I could tell when he was lying and when he was not, and I could tell his emotions when he showed because, during those years with him, he never lied; he always told me the truth since he didn't care about my feelings, and right now I could tell that he was being honest. Yes, there were some points back in the years when I was convinced that Damian loved me, but he crushed it the next moment. But the question is, did I believe him now that he was telling me he loved me? It was hard to answer, but what I knew was I was not going to forgive him, not in this life, so I shook myself out of my state and pretended not to be shocked as I changed the topic, ignoring his confession.“Sierra, can…can you give me another chance, I…”“You are married, Damian,” I sidestepped him, “and I'm getting married too.” I lied, and he shook his head as if in disbelief. “And what makes you think I would ever forgive yo
~SIERRA~After the shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and left the bathroom. Gilbert was surprisingly seated on my bed, and he stood up as soon as he saw me. "Oh, you haven't left?”“I will not leave until we talk, Sierra.”“There's nothing to talk about, Gilbert; now can you leave my room? I need to change.” I walked to the couch.“I understand,” he nodded his head, and I froze for a second. He stood up and came to me, “But I have a question: are you going to marry me?” He sounded serious, and I didn't want to break his heart. “You have to answer me honestly, and please don't lie to me.” He was now in front of me."Gilbert, we don't have to...”“To what? Do this now, I know. I know you're not in the mood.” He didn't sound serious, then I realized he was mocking me, as I always told him I was not in the mood. Well, it was good to see how unserious he took my emotions. “But I won't leave without an answer tonight, I am also tired of feeling in the middle.”“Gilbert, you're a good
~SIERRA~Nana looked confused and shocked at the same time. Of course, she asked me to stay out of her business, and here I was bothering her again. Well, I couldn't live with doubts anymore, and confronting her was the only way to get rid of them. "Oh, you're not going to answer; I'm your granddaughter Nana, or have you forgotten that?”“I understand your pain,” she sounded calm, which confused me. “Gilbert told me, but trust me, you are going to be fine, Sierra; I know you will because I raised you.”“That's your problem, always changing the topic to me; I know you're hiding something, and I am going to find out if you don't tell me.”“Damian is not a good husband but surely a good father.” At this point, she didn't make sense. “I know he will take care of them if that's what you're worried about,” she said, and I sighed as I realized there was no point forcing her to talk; she was a suspect—a criminal would never admit. I shook my head and placed the water bottle on the counter, th
~SIERRA~Coming with Gilbert was not a good idea, but I knew refusing would be another problem. I was glad he didn't run off like last time, and besides, I also needed a friend to be with me. “Wait here,” I told the guard, and they agreed. Then I turned to Gilbert and told him he didn't need to come in if he didn't want to, but he shook his head and got out of the car.I knocked when we reached the door but it was not answered, we kept knocking but nobody came to the door, I remembered a window that could give you a sight of the living room so I asked Gilbert to keep knocking while I went to the window, the window was luckily opened so I picked through but I was shocked to see what was happening, Atlas and Damian were jumping and chasing each other, they seemed to be having so much fun as Atlas was laughing out loud for the first time, then Damian rolled on the sofa while Atlas tickled him, I couldn't help but stare as never has Atlas once laughed this hard, especially to the extent o
~DAMIAN~The morning of the custody hearing Lily showed up at my doorstep saying Jane called her I refused as I knew Lily had always been on Sierra's side and it would break her heart if she saw her on my side, I didn't want to give Sierra another reason to hate me, I wanted to show her that I was a changed man and this would make her think otherwise but Ava insisted that she came too, she told me without Lily I might end up losing the case and with Lily assuring me that Sierra would understand as she had already explained to her that she didn't support her I agreed, Cassie came after agreeing at dinner with Ava and Bruce, I had to be by her side to make her feel comfortable as she was dying and I didn't want her to die sad.The custody trial went well; I got limited time with them, which Ava and Cassie complained about and even suggested we go for another trial, but I was okay with it. As long as I got time to spend with my children, I was sure those limited weekends were enough to f
~DAMIAN~I knew she wouldn’t believe me, but I still told her the truth: I loved her and that I have always loved her. But she cut me off by telling me that I was married to Cassie, which was not true; Cassie and I didn’t get married. Of course, we used that in court, as Ava insisted it would help as the judge would see that I had a healthy home to provide. We were lucky that the judge didn’t insist on seeing the marriage certificate, as she took Jane’s word for it.Well, I couldn’t tell Sierra that I was not married to Cassie, as she might use that against me, so I was left with no words, and since Mr. Sparks came and interrupted. He mentioned the wedding and even dared to invite me. I understood Sierra. If she was marrying another man who loved her then it was not my business to stop her, I hoped for a chance alone and left.I found two cars ready to leave with me, as they said they were the kid's guards. I didn’t want to argue; I just wanted to be with my children, so I accepted an
~DAMIAN~I couldn't stop Sierra from leaving. I mean, what was I to say? So after she left the room, I followed her but made sure she didn't notice me, as I just wanted to see how Gilbert treated her without me in sight. I remained on the stairs and looked down. I could hear them from here, and it looked like Gilbert was drunk as she complained of being left here just to go for a drink.“I know you still love him, so what? I'm supposed to sit here and watch you drool.”“You're drunk; we will talk about this tomorrow,” Sierra said and walked out. Gilbert followed her right after rolling his eyes. Okay, I didn't like that they were having misunderstandings because both of them had taken care of my children when I was not around, but this somehow gave me hope, as Gilbert mentioning that Sierra still had feelings for me meant he had seen it.“I have to step up my game before the wedding happens,” I thought out loud, then walked back to the bedroom. I didn't need to lock the door since the