(Finn’s POV)I leaned my head on the backrest of the passenger seat at the back of the car, closing my eyes and hoping to sleep more, but Lexi surprised me when she hit me on my arm. It was more like a light tap, yet for me, it was as if she hit me to wake me up.Elenita, our second mother already and the queen of our kitchen, did not stop her from nagging at me about waking up late and acting like an irresponsible adult. She never allowed me to go to work without eating breakfast, but today she only waved her hand at me, not minding me as she sat on the family room couch, planning the food she would prepare for tomorrow.“Give me peace of mind, Lexi,” I said, my hand groping my empty stomach.“Here,” Jimmy took the paper bag on the passenger seat, and with his eyes on the road, he handed it to Lexi.“Thank you, Jimmy,” she said pleasantly, causing me to open one eye to glance at her.“You’re only nice at other people.” I sat up straight and scowled at her.She rolled her eyes at me,
(Lexi’s POV)“A gift for Lexi.”Finn watched Romeo handing a gift bag to me, and he didn’t look thrilled as I was when I took the paper bag and peeked at what was inside. I gasped, releasing a low squeal of excitement and making him curious about the gift, but when he moved toward me to get the bag to peer at it, I imprisoned it in my arms, shaking my head.“So childish!” He sneered at me, but I only rolled my eyes at him, causing Romeo to suppress a smile.“Please, send my thanks,” I said, smiling sweetly at him as I put the gift bag under the table.“Sure! They’re excited to meet the woman behind the name Lexi,” Romeo said to Finn as he gave him the folder and an open laptop, ready for checking and browsing. “I have also emailed you the progress report.”Finn nodded, glancing at me again but not saying anything. I focused on the things before me; the laptop Romeo provided for me to see the program they were creating, my tablet, recorder, notebook, and pens.My eyes squinted on the c
(Lexi’s POV)“As Lexa. Not Lexi.”“What? No,” I shook my head vehemently as if she could see me. “Hear my plan,” I cut her when she was about to speak. “If you’re really worried about him not meeting anyone, then I will go there to your meeting place, bring his cell phone, and the two of you talk.”“Lexi, please hear me out,” her voice begged as she continued, “We already talked about this at lunch. I told him we couldn’t meet, but he said he had something very important to tell me in person, and it seemed urgent that he wanted to see me even for a few minutes.”“Lexa, Finn’s not going to die if you don’t show up tonight,” I said, hating myself that I continued to clear my table.“Please, Lexi,” she pleaded. “I can’t go back now. Tony picked me up earlier, and we’re here only stopping for gasoline refill.”I pressed my lips tighter, not answering her.“Finn’s not going to die, I get it, but I will die of thinking what it was because he doesn’t want to tell me on the phone, and now I c
(Lexi’s POV)“Hi! Sorry, I’m late,” I said anxiously, still trying to catch my breath as I walked closer to him.Finn smiled and breathed in relief.“Well… You’re made me worry, baby,” he said, standing up and pressing his lips on my cheek. He pulled the chair for me and kissed the top of my head when I sat down. “I hope you don’t mind, but I already ordered in advance.”“Good!” I nodded, glancing at the time on my wristwatch, and smiled at him. “Because I’m hungry,” I said, and that one wasn’t a lie. The whole transforming thing from Lexi to Lexa was exhausting.The server came with our food, and I swallowed hard, seeing the mouthwatering steak and salad, thanking Lexa for not coming because I could enjoy dinner tonight.“I’m sorry, baby,” I said, trying to make my voice extra sweet while cutting the steak. “Tony’s picking me up earlier tonight, but I went here because you said you have something to tell me.”He nodded, swallowing the food in his mouth, but instead of talking, he onl
(Lexi’s POV)I could not believe paying for the fare without getting the change, buying coffee, and giving a tip when every penny I had was budgeted. I hardly buy anything for myself to get through this week, or maybe until I receive my first pay. Although Angela promised me she would pay me cash after every lesson, I was unsure now because of what Lexa did to Finn, taking the money which Frank paid and Angela paying him back.With Finn standing before me and asking what happened, I could not think of anything trivial except related to all the money I spent today.“I lost my wallet,” I cried.“No, you don’t. You’re holding it.” He puckered his lips, pointing to the wallet in my hand and blinking his eyes at me as he waited for a more acceptable reason.Caught in a lie, I wailed like an animal being slaughtered. I wished the ground would just swallow me whole or the elevator would suck me back to the lobby. Yet here I was, finding Finn with his mouth open and staring at me stupidly. I
(Lexi’s POV)“Why are you going with us?”Frank was not smiling as he looked at Finn, and the chagrin on his face definitely showed he did not entertain him.Instead of answering him, Finn turned to me. “Should I answer his question?”I was glad my mouth was full and could only look sideways while thinking. Yet both men patiently waited for my answer, so I nodded at Finn because I was curious why he wanted to come with us.“I want to know where you live,” he answered, moving his eyebrows up and down and turning to Frank. “I want to know where my girlfriend lives. Does my answer satisfy you?”When Frank nodded, he smiled wryly, clapping his hands once and standing up, clearing his food container. “I’ll just get something from my office.”He turned his back on us, whistling as he walked to his office.Like me, Frank's head was still in the doorway, unconsciously following Finn when he went out of the pantry.“Why does he look happy?” He turned to me, looking suspicious of him.“He met L
(Finn’s POV)I didn’t want to be in Frank’s way, but I asked Lexa several times about wanting to take her home, and she always declined my offer. Although I hoped her plans to change her career would help us get into the next stage of our relationship, I had to be patient and wait. As Olivia said, ‘I was not the Finn he knew after meeting Lexa.’ Her working at nighttime was a bit challenging for me because even if I wanted to spend more time with her, she had to go to work, telling me it brought food to the table.Lexa was different from the women I had met, though sometimes I wished she would take advantage of my generosity in providing for her. Still, I was the one who always ended up frustrated because she wanted to step up in her career without my help and provide for her sisters without me giving her a dime.I let Frank woke Lexi up because I saw something more interesting, sitting regally on the porch, and I could not help smirking as I remembered Lexi in her. The sweet-looking
(Lexi’s POV)What could be worse than not having a wink after my conversation with Finn last night, forgetting to bring an umbrella, and now standing in the drizzle outside their home?The Mars lived in a private residential area, but before you could enter their main door, I had to go through another inspection-interview-like with the new security personnel at the gate. It was not as thorough as my first time going here because before I could log in my information, their head security, who just came, recognized me immediately and told them I was Finn’s secretary. When I stepped inside the gate, it was just about to rain, but I declined the offer to be driven near the main entrance. I sighed at the thought that wealthy people had more resources to waste when anyone could use their energy walking and enjoying the luxurious driveway. This was more like a walk in the park for me, but halfway through the driveway, the lonely sky poured a fine misty rain without warning.Or maybe I misse
(Finn’s POV) Five years later… As I talked to my brother, I leaned on my chair, propping my elbows on the table as I massaged my temple. Lexi had been giving me a hard time lately, and no matter how I explained to her that I didn’t care about not having children, I would still find her crying in the middle of the night. “Sky, I don’t know what to do. We could adopt one if she really wanted a baby-” I wanted to cry at my brother. “Just be patient with her, Finn. We all know how much she has wanted to have her own child since the day she saw her nephew. And for sure, she’s having this kind of low feeling again because her twin sister just gave birth.” I heaved a sigh. “I know, but she was making me crazy lately.” “You know what? You two need a break. Why don’t you bring her on a date? Give all your time to her tonight,” he suggested. “You’re right. Maybe I’ve been working too hard,” I muttered. “Thanks, brother. Please, come home already. Be there on the weekend, okay?” Sky chuck
(Finn’s POV)My sister-in-law walked with my brother onto the stage and curved a sweet smile on her lips as she looked at everyone. Six months ago, I was here, watching my brother and my gorgeous sister-in-law make a very special announcement about the success of the company’s new project.At that time, I wondered where I would find another woman like Angela, but now, Frank and I were seated in the same spot with our own date. This wasn’t a big party, but a gathering with our family, friends, and relatives, wanting to be part of Angela and Sky’s number of babies reveal. Their children, three girls and two boys, were excitedly seated in front, and like us, they also had their guesses on the gender and number of babies.“This is insane and fun!” Anya exclaimed as she and Dylan joined us at the table.“Well, that’s our Angela,” He laughed. “So, let’s have our guess. One! Just one.”“One?” Frank shook his head. “Could be two, another twin.” He looked at Lexa. “What’s your guess, baby?”Le
(Lexi’s POV)It had been a month since the incident happened, and before Sky and Finn went on a business trip, he decided that the three of us stay in the mansion after the trauma from the Travis siblings. He even talked to Jocelyn, who seldom visited their home, to stay with us for a while. She happily obliged, but deep inside, I knew how much she loved the idea.But I think the one who enjoyed this setup the most was Elenita. She entered the family room and brought us snacks. Another maid came in with a tray filled with glasses, a pitcher of orange juice, and a cup of coffee for Jocelyn. She was sitting on the egg chair and reading Aliyah a book.“Lexi, Lexa,” called Elenita. “Sky’s looking for you in the garden.”“Sky’s back?” Lexa stood up.I pressed my lips, suppressing a smile because we were sure my twin sister was not excited about Sky coming back but about the man he was with.“Is he alone? Do you want me to call Angela?” Her eyes were hopeful as she looked at Elenita.“If Sk
(Finn’s POV)For how long I had been staring at the cross, I didn’t know. I was about to head back to the hotel, but my feet dragged me to the prayer room where Angela would usually go whenever we were here. As I sat in the front row and looked at the relic of the cross, I sniffled, wishing I was like my sister-in-law, having a big heart and full of faith in something she had never seen in her life.I wasn’t religious, but at this point, I wanted to believe that everything happened for a reason, wishing for miracles and hoping this would soon be over. If only I knew Lexi would get hurt, I should have just stayed in France and didn’t bother coming back.“Hey!” Angela muttered softly, sitting beside me and resting her head on my shoulder.Frank sat on my other side and noticed he had showered and changed his clothes. “Sky is waiting for your decision, Finn.”I took a deep breath. “Send her flowers. Make sure to order her favorites and tell the florist to make a beautiful one.”He nodded
(Finn’s POV)The sky was gravel-gray, looking somber as it waited for the large pillows of clouds to cover the sky. I never liked it when the sky looked sad because its color reflected the seawater, making the sea body melancholic… lifeless. I sighed, thinking it would rain any moment, but instead of looking for shelter, I stepped forward, going to the shore and stopping when the white foam of waves kissed my feet.My eyebrows knitted as my eyes fixed on the horizon, remembering I had been in this place, but I could not pinpoint when or why I was here. When I lowered my gaze, I saw a starfish washed to the shore, softly hitting my toes. I took a deep breath, thinking this had happened before.I closed my eyes and asked myself when or how.Ah, Freya!Now I realized this place didn’t exist, but I was in a state of unreality, a dream I had a few years ago. Only now, I was alone, but when I had this dream, Freya and I went into the water and swam as we loved swimming. And then we sat on t
(Lexi’s POV)The burly man in the black suit was in the corner of the room; his hands and feet were tied, and his mouth was gagged with a cloth, preventing him from screaming. It was his restrained scream that woke me up.I hardly knew him, but when I woke up earlier, I saw him watching the nurse’s every move, only leaving his post when Jocelyn entered my room. He must be one of the Mars’ security details, but his face was unfamiliar to me since Finn never had one. After what Chelsea did, I understood the danger of being alone in the hospital, but I thought it was too much since I was not an important person to guard.Who would want to kill me?He eyed the young man lying on the floor, and his eyes moved like he was pointing at the man standing and facing the light switch. I pressed the call button, hoping the nurse or anyone would see my emergency call immediately.If my wound were totally healed, I would have filled the room with my scream to get help, but as the man with the syring
(Lexi’s POV)Somebody must have taped my eyelids because I found them difficult to open. At first, I didn’t mind because Morpheus seemed to drag me into a deep sleep at most times, and believe me, I was happy and contented. I felt at peace with my parents, eating and seeing them delighted as they listened to me. But after we ate, my mom opened her arms and asked me to sit on her lap.I excitedly dashed to her, sitting on her lap. “Mom, I’m heavy already, you know,” I giggled.She pressed her lips on my cheeks. “I know, but I will always see you and Lexa as my babies. My beautiful babies.”My father wrapped his arms around us, humming the song Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. I closed my eyes and sniffled as I listened to him.“We’re so proud of you and your sister,” Dad uttered as he stared at me with great love. I giggled again when they sandwiched me as mom kissed me on my right cheek and dad on my left.“Now, baby, go back to your sisters,” Mom said, her fingers trailing my face and s
(Frank’s POV)Lexa stared at the charming woman in white uniform for a second before scoffing and walking inside the room where the doctor and another medical specialist were. “Grrr! Of all days, you chose to be here,” I sneered at my cousin and watched Lexa talk to her doctor.“Oh, let me pour my name on your day, Frank,” Felicity grinned, holding my hand and tugging me excitedly beside Lexa on the bed.“You look more excited than the parents, Felicity,” the doctor smiled.Lexa looked at the young nurse; her lips pressed like she wanted to ask me but did not bother to raise the question.“She’s Felicity, my cousin,” I answered Lexa in her unuttered question and watched the doctor apply the gel to her belly. “My mom and her mom are sisters… A Mars.” “Oh,” She exclaimed and glanced at Felicity again. “Oh!” she gasped when the doctor pressed the small device against her skin and began to capture images on the screen.Dr. Lee smiled. “There’s your growing bundle of joy,” she exclaimed
(Frank’s POV)I never thought the long meeting would ever end. The Travis case seemed never-ending, and looking at Finn, like me, he wished to escape and be with the women we loved. Sky had been aware of the case of attempted hacking and had this under investigation. The private investigator reported that the hacking was not just Chelsea’s doing alone, but she was an accomplice to the crime. One thing she somehow did not expect was falling in love deeply with Finn when she had to lure him so her brother could tap into his office without being noticed. Chuck was an old employee of Quick Soft IT whom Sky had terminated three years ago because of grave misconduct, and now he was on the loose after the news of Chelsea’s death leaked on social media.“I’m going back to the hospital,” Finn muttered, looking exhausted.“No,” Sky shook his head, surprising Finn and me.“Sky,” He scowled, his brows knitting in disapproval of his brother’s decision.Sky heaved a sigh and grabbed his brother