April POVAs soon as I received the news that Lilian was in the hospital, I dropped everything I was doing and went straight there. My mind was racing, but what I found when I arrived was worse than any scenario I could imagine. Jensen and Finn were in the hallway, exchanging punches and shouting, while the children watched everything, scared. Ruby cried softly, holding onto Sadie's skirt. Rory was next to her, looking at the two men with wide eyes, while Ryan seemed frozen, not knowing what to do. "Both of you, stop now!" I shouted, running towards them. But it seemed like neither of them were willing to listen to me. Jensen pushed Finn against the wall but was soon hit by a punch in the stomach. "She's mine!" Jensen shouted, his voice hoarse with anger. "You're dreaming! Lilian already chose me, Jensen!" Finn retorted with a cruel smile. Before I could do anything, two hospital security guards arrived and forcibly separated them. "Enough! This is a hospital, not a figh
Lilian POV I woke up feeling a weight next to me. For a moment, I thought it was one of the triplets who, as always, invaded my bed on the coldest nights. But the weight was different. It was bigger, firmer. When I opened my eyes and turned my head, I saw Jensen lying next to me. He was so close I could hear his slow, deep breathing. His arm was around my waist, as if, even in my sleep, he wanted to make sure I was there, safe. I frowned, confused. Was Jensen in my bed? No. The smell of disinfectant and the awkward silence reminded me: I was in the hospital. But what was he doing here? I watched him for a few seconds, hesitating between pushing him or leaving him there. Despite the confusion, it was hard to deny that he looked... handsome. His hair was disheveled, and his face was devoid of the worry lines that usually accompanied it. “Stop it, Lilian,” I muttered to myself, trying to shake those thoughts away. But when I tried to move, a pang of worry hit me. “My triplets
Lilian POV The room was quiet, and the tension between the two of us grew by the second. Jensen was sitting next to me, his gaze fixed on his hands, as if he were trying to organize himself to speak, but something was preventing him from opening his mouth. I knew he was feeling uncomfortable, maybe even a little lost, but I needed an answer. I could no longer remain in doubt. “Jensen,” my voice was lower than I would have liked, but the frustration was boiling over. “Did you know I was pregnant?” He looked up at me, and his expression wasn't cold but filled with something I couldn't understand. He wasn't avoiding the question, but he seemed to hesitate, as if searching for the right words. Finally, he took a deep breath, letting out a tired sigh. “Yes,” he said with a sincerity he couldn't hide. "I knew. I found out right before…it all happened.” I tried to process his response, but it wasn't enough to calm the storm brewing inside me. Likewise, I needed to know more to understan
Lilian POV The morning following my release from the hospital was a whirlwind of activity. April didn't seem willing to leave me alone for even a second, and it wasn't because of a lack of affection, but because of the obvious concern she had for me. “Don’t worry, Lilian. I will stay with you until you recover completely,” she said, as she helped me settle onto the couch in my living room. Jensen and Finn were there too, but their presence didn't bring me the same feeling of welcome as April. In fact, it seemed more like a game of who would be the most attentive, but in a comical way. One was trying to adjust the surrounding cushions, while the other was asking, every five minutes, what I wanted to eat. “Are you sure you don’t want anything? There's soup, there's that juice you like... I can order anything for you,” Jensen said, almost begging me to respond, with that tone that tried to be concerned, but was beyond excessive. Finn was not far behind him, also with that “I'm here to
Sadie POVNight was approaching, and, with it, the tension in Mrs. Smith increased. Mr. Grimes and Mr. Sawyer, there, finding each other strange, didn't say a word, but their looks exchanged barbs. Neither of them seemed to want to give in, but they weren't willing to leave either. I was there, sitting on the couch, trying to deal with the discomfort of seeing the two of them exchanging silent, heavy glances, not knowing exactly what to do."What a situation…" I thought, watching them without knowing how to interact. The apartment was not big. There were only three rooms: one for the triplets, one for Lilian, and the last one... well, mine. And I had a question that was going through my head: would they ask me to give up my room? It was already late, and, until that moment, neither of them seemed willing to leave."I don't know what to do with them," I thought, a little anguished. They were behaving as if they were in silent competition, one trying to be more helpful than the other, b
Jensen POVThe room was plunged into an unsettling silence, broken only by the sound of the clock on the wall. Lying on the couch, I stared at the ceiling, trying to find some peace, but all I got was more questions rattling around in my mind. It wasn't the sofa that bothered me, as it was — but the feeling that this was where I belonged now. Finn was in the next seat, watching me with that critical look that seemed to cut through any facade I tried to maintain. I knew he wouldn't last long without making some comment. “You know this is a shame, right?” he began, a sarcastic smile on his lips. I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I turned my face, looking at him. He was relaxed, as if this was just a game for him. “And what exactly is a shame, Finn?” I asked finally, my voice calm. "You. A man like you, with everything you got—money, power, influence—sleeping on the couch like a teenager punished by his parents. Don’t you think that’s a little… pathetic?” I rolled my eye
Lilian POVI woke up at dawn, once again. It was as if my body already knew it couldn't rest completely. The silence in the house was profound, with only the sound of my breathing filling the surrounding space. I looked to the side, and there he was. Jensen. Asleep in the armchair next to the bed. The calm face, the eyes closed, and the features softened by sleep. He was completely relaxed, but in a way that couldn't hide his protective instinct.I stayed there for a few minutes, watching him, lost in my own thoughts. It was funny how, even after everything we'd been through, I still felt safe when I saw him sleep like that. Something in me gave in to this feeling of protection, as if he were still that man I loved, who gave me confidence that everything would be okay. But I knew I shouldn't think like that. Not now. Not after everything that happened.I sighed softly, and with an effort, I got up from the bed. The early morning cold made me shiver, but the need to go to the bathroom
Lilian POVI woke up slowly that morning, the sun shyly coming through the window. The bed was warm and comfortable, and the smell of the pillow still brought me a feeling of security. I looked to the side and saw Jensen, still asleep. He was lying protectively with his arms around me, not realizing I was waking up. For a moment, I stood there, simply watching him, trying to organize all the thoughts that were crowding in my mind. I knew that the moment of clarification could no longer wait. We needed to talk.He stirred a little, shifting his head on the pillow, and then opened his eyes. His gaze met mine and a soft smile appeared on his face. “Good morning,” he said, with the hoarse voice of someone who was still in the middle of sleep.“Good morning, Jensen,” I replied, but my voice had a more serious tone, and I knew he would notice.He soon felt that something was different, as if there was a weight in my expression. "Are you okay? What happened? You seemed… thoughtful.”I sighed
JensenThe restaurant was small and discreet, with soft lighting and the unmistakable smell of Italian food wafting through the air. I sat there, my head spinning and my nerves on edge. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the invitation gave me no choice: “I need to talk about Rome. Come alone; let's meet at Mamma Zu.”When she walked in, I couldn't hide the anger that rose in my throat. That red-haired woman. The woman I only knew as the one responsible for making my life hell. I stood up immediately, the table shaking with the impact of my abrupt movement. The other customers in the restaurant looked on curiously, but I didn't care. I just wanted to know what she had to say.I stared at her, not knowing what to feel. The anger, the disgust, everything seemed mixed up inside me. I had no idea how to react, but anger prevailed.“You!” My voice was louder than I wanted, drawing the attention of those at the surrounding tables. “You're the damn woman who destroyed everything!”She didn't
Sadie POVThe wedding party was incredible. Everything seemed like something out of a fairy tale. The lights, the soft sound of music, people's laughter... It was as if everyone there was having the best day of their lives. I was busy, as always, taking care of the triplets. Ruby, Rory, and Ryan were so excited, running around.“Ms. Lilian, they are running again!" I warned, trying to keep my voice controlled, but she just smiled. “Sadie, you're doing an amazing job. Just relax a little and enjoy the party too, okay?”I nodded but remained attentive. Working for Mrs. Lilian was more than just a job. I liked them like they were my family. But that night, something different happened.As I ran after Ryan, who was trying to reach one of the sweets on the dessert table, I noticed a boy looking at me. He was standing on the other side of the room, with a smile that seemed a little shy and full of curiosity. He wasn't much older than me, maybe my age, or close to it.I felt my face heat up
Lilian POVMy hand instinctively rested on my 9-week-old's belly as I admired the party. The dance floor was an organized chaos. The colored lights flashed over everyone, reflecting on the polished floor, while children ran from side to side, trying to imitate the adults' steps. Ruby led the steps, spinning with a smile of pure joy, and Rory tried hard to follow, imitating everything she did but with exaggerated animation. Ryan, of course, was in his own world, doing acrobatics and improvised dance moves with his arms raised as if he were preparing for a big show. "Ms. Lilian, have you ever thought about signing them up for a dance group?" Sadie commented from beside me, smiling as she watched the three of them. “If I can convince them to rehearse and behave at home, maybe,” I replied, with a soft smile. "Or at least Ryan," Sadie added, watching the boy with an amused expression. "He definitely seems like he has uncontrollable energy." “No doubt,” he said, laughing. "But it's
Lilian POVI was in the bridal room, holding hands with April, watching her with a look full of affection and admiration. She looked stunning in her wedding dress, with the veil delicately falling over her shoulders and the radiant smile that only she had. I felt a pang in my heart. We were there, together, in that special moment, but there was a touch of melancholy in her words."I really hoped you and Jensen were getting married too," April said, her eyes shining with a mix of joy and sadness. "You know, how we agreed... on Christmas Eve, together... I dreamed about this so much."I knew that the episode in Rome had ruined a lot of what we had planned. All of us, April, Phillip, Jensen and I, had been arguing for years about how much it would mean to get married together, but life had other plans. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but the words didn't come easily. Instead, I hugged her tightly."I know, honey. I know... But you and Phillip are here, and that's what matters r
Jensen POVIn the last few days, my routine has completely changed. After work, I went straight to Lilian's house. I went there for the kids and also because being there gave me a sense of normalcy that I hadn't felt in years. Something about seeing the three of them running around the room, laughing and fighting, brought me a peace I didn't even know I needed. When I parked that afternoon, Ruby was the first to greet me. She opened the door before I even knocked, as if she knew I was there. "You're here, Daddy!" he exclaimed, jumping into my arms with so much energy that I almost lost my balance. "I'm here, my sunshine," I replied, laughing and lifting her into the air. "How was your day?" "Well... but Rory ate almost all of Mom's cookies, and now she's mad at him." "Really? Is he hiding again?" Ruby nodded with a knowing smile and pointed down the hall. "There in the room. I think he knows what he did wrong." Ryan appeared soon after, crossing his arms like a little ju
Kate Nash POVThe door to my house slammed behind me with such force that it made the entrance frame rattle. The sound echoed, accompanying the throbbing in my head. I was on the verge of a breakdown. Jensen had dared to reject me once again, as if I meant nothing. I hurried across the room, throwing my bag on the couch, not caring where it landed. The normally spotless space felt oppressive at that moment. It all felt like a reminder that despite all my effort, nothing was working as it should. The bar was my immediate destination. My hands shook as I reached for the bottle of whiskey. The golden liquid glistened in the lamplight, almost mocking me. "After everything I've done," I muttered as I poured the alcohol into the crystal glass. The feeling of failure was suffocating. From the beginning, my goal was clear: to get Lilian away from Jensen and make sure he finally saw that I was the only one for him. But he remained blind, trapped in a ridiculous idea of morality and loy
Jensen POVDriving home after talking to Lilian was like going through a storm. My hands on the steering wheel were tense, and my thoughts were a mess. I respected her decision, but that didn't mean it was easy to accept. I still loved Lilian deeply, and the idea that she no longer saw us as a couple cut me to the core. As soon as I got home, I threw my keys on the counter and sat on the couch for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts. Lilian needed space, and I would do whatever it took to give her that. But giving up on her? Never. After a few minutes, I went up to my room. All I wanted was a hot shower and the chance to erase this day from my mind, even if just for a few hours. But as soon as I pushed the door open, I stopped in place, my entire body tense. "Kate?" My voice was low, but filled with disbelief. She was lying on my bed, wearing nothing but red lace lingerie, clearly waiting for me. His smile was calculated, almost predatory. "Hi, Jensen," she said, her voice
Lilian POVThe garden was silent, but my mind was anything but. Jensen was sitting next to me, visibly excited today after my talk with Finn."Good God, that guy doesn't get real, right," he was commenting. "Why doesn't he realize straight away that he's never going to have anything to do with you? You don't even like him, he acts desperate, he even went so far as to lie that he was the father of the baby you're expecting. See if he can do that!" He laughed with a shrug, as if he finally felt like he had the upper hand now."Well, you've also done a lot of crazy things to be able to be with me," I reminded him. Jensen wasn't innocent, right? He had done so much to have me in his control. I still vaguely remembered Rustburg...He was giggling awkwardly now. "You're right, Lilie. I did a lot, yes, but it was all because I always knew you loved me, that's why you never gave up." He looked at me with a charming smile. "That's why to this day I don't give up on you."I sighed, feeling the
Lilian POVAfter the children left for school, the house became calmer, but no less tense. Jensen went to the living room, playing on his cell phone, while Finn remained in the kitchen, finishing his coffee. I knew that conversation with Finn couldn't be postponed. The time was now. I took a deep breath before calling him, “Finn, we need to talk. Can it be in private?” He looked up in surprise and hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. “Of course, Lilian.” I led him to the back garden, where the fresh air helped calm my nerves. I leaned against the porch railing as he stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets. “Finn,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “I want to understand why you lied to Jensen about the baby. Why did you say you are the father?” He looked away, clearly uncomfortable. He ran his hand through his hair before answering. “Lilian, I did this to protect you.” "Protect?" My voice was louder than I intended, and I crossed my arms, trying to remain calm.