Luke’s P.O.V.With a heart full of love, I watch my five-month-pregnant wife and our six-year-old daughter twirl hand-in-hand beside the ocean on our private island. This beach is their happy place, and we make it a point to visit every three months here. It seems as if this place has become our second home. As it brings them joy, it’s become my favourite destination as well.Daisy looks as beautiful as ever in a white colour sundress. Pregnancy has made her glow even more, and her beauty takes my breath away every time I look at her.I capture their few photos. Daisy’s hair flows freely in the wind, and Hope’s giggles fill the air. I feel fortunate for the life we’ve built together.With a smile on my face, I approach my lifelines, feeling the sand shift beneath my feet. Daisy looks up, her eyes sparkling with love and contentment.Hope runs towards me, her arms outstretched. “Daddy, let’s play in the water!” She exclaims, grasping my hand and pulling me towards the water.I chuckle,
Daisy’s P.O.V.As the door to my room bursts open and I shift my gaze towards it, my eyes widen in horror upon seeing Luke, my husband, entering with a woman clad in a sexy outfit.“Luke, who is this woman?” I ask, my heart thumping inside my chest.He gives me a sinister smile, scaring me more. “This woman is my new toy because I’m bored with you, Daisy.”“Luke….” I stammer, tears welling up in my eyes. He can’t do this. The only thing which was giving me strength was that he was mine, my husband. He can’t just throw me away like this.The woman beside Luke giggles, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. “Hi, sweetie,” she purrs, sending a chill down my spine. “I’m Luke’s new playmate. He said you wouldn’t mind sharing.”I feel like the floor has slipped out from beneath me. Is this some sick joke? I’m his wife.My hands tremble as I clutch the edge of the window for support. “Luke, I’m your wife.”“You were never my wife, Daisy,” he sneers, and the woman standing beside him
Luke’s P.O.V.“I can’t believe this. Whenever I think things can’t go wrong, something worse happens.” I murmur under my breath, glancing at the watch sitting in the backseat of my car.My client is a pain in the ass. Instead of having a meeting in an office, he wants to meet at a cafe that is more than an hour away from my villa.I landed in NYC just yesterday for a business project and will be staying here for about two months. Since my arrival, I’ve been feeling uneasy, as if something is going to happen, and I’ve been missing Daisy even more.It’s been five years since I divorced her and pushed her out of my life when all I wanted was to confess my love and beg her for forgiveness for treating her like a shit.That day, if I’d told her I realised my mistake, things would have been different now. Daisy and I would be living together because I’m certain she would have forgiven me and given me a second chance instantly.However, I can never forgive myself for treating Daisy with crue
Luke’s P.O.V.I lose track of how long I’ve been admiring Hope. To my surprise, from the moment my eyes fall on this little bundle of joy, a beatific smile refuses to leave my face. It’s a smile that has been missing from my life for so long.Who is this girl? What is she doing to me? Why am I drawn to her? Maybe it’s because she reminds me of Daisy. Hope’s hair is exactly like hers. Whatever it is, there is something special about her that brings peace to my heart, a peace I have never felt before.But do I deserve this? Do I deserve to be happy? Does a monster like me deserve this peace?Although I know I don’t deserve these things in my life, I still want to stay with Hope.Haven’t I punished myself enough by depriving myself of all the pleasures of life? For five years, I have been running from happiness because I wanted to make myself suffer.Even though I want to punish myself until my last breath, it’s getting hard now. I’m yearning for peace and happiness. I’m longing to meet
Hope bounces on the bed, squealing with excitement. “Yippie! Tomorrow is my holiday!”After coming back to school, I changed her clothes. We had our lunch together, and then I put her on the bed so that she could take a small nap.Just a few minutes ago, she woke up, and I was telling her to get up and do her homework, but she was saying she was feeling lazy. However, all her laziness dissipated into thin air as soon as I told her that tomorrow was her day off.She is a tiny drama queen.“Be careful, Hopi. You might fall.” I caution her, glancing up from the laptop while sitting on the sofa.She exclaims, “Mommy, I’m so happy!Tomorrow, I get to be with you the entire day.”“Aww, same here, baby. Even I’m happy that we are going to spend the entire day together.” I tell her, glancing at her with a smile before again started working on my laptop.“Mommy.” I look at my left when I feel Hope tapping on my thighs.When did she come here? God, I wish I could have her energy.“Yes, baby,” I
Hope’s P.O.V.“Please, Mommy’s friend, take me to the park. Pretty please.” I bat my eyelashes at Mommy’s friend. I want to go to the park because I’m getting bored. When my mommy is not at home, I don't like to stay here.“No, Hope. You’re very naughty. Last time, you made me run after you so much. When I asked you to go home, you lay on the ground, saying that you wanted to play more. Gosh, I had to drag you. I won’t take you.”She is complaining about me—with me only. Huh! But I need to make her agree. Think something, Hope. Think something.Idea!“I’m sorry, Mommy’s friend. I will not repeat my mistake. Please forgive me.” I hold my ears, making an innocent face. She stares at me with raised eyebrows suspiciously.Just take me, and I’ll show you how sorry Hope is. Hehe. I’m mentally giggling. I know it always works on big people when small people apologise.“Aww, don’t say sorry, my baby. Fine, we will go. But promise me you won’t do anything naughty.” She picks me up in her arms,
Hope’s P.O.V.As Uncle leaves, Mommy’s friend returns from the washroom. She sits down in front of me and apologises for taking so long.“It’s okay,” I reassure her, smiling. “I had good company while you were gone.”She looks at me with curiosity. “Whose company?”“My uncle,” I tell her, my voice filled with excitement. “He went to finish his work, but when he comes back, I’ll introduce you to him. He’s my best friend now!”“When did you meet your uncle?” She asks, narrowing her brows at me warily.“It happened yesterday,” I begin with a sparkle in my eyes. “Uncle saved me from a car that almost hit me, and then he bought me an ice cream.” I lick my lips, imagining yummy ice cream before continuing, “He’s really nice. You know we had so much fun together. He always listens to Hope.”She smiles. “It sounds like you two have a great bond.”“We do.” I nod, beaming.As we chat, I eagerly wait for Uncle to return. I can’t wait to spend more time with him.As I see Uncle walking, wearing a
Daisy’s P.O.V.After dropping Hope off at school, I come to the cafe I usually visit when she’s at school. I like to spend my time here when I’m not feeling alright. The owner, Eva, is a sweetheart. She is a lady around my mother’s age and treats me like her daughter. Although her husband and daughter died in a car accident, I have never seen her cry for them. She always talks about them with a smile on her face. She is the kind of woman whose presence is enough to lift your spirits.I met her shortly after I moved to Manhattan. She helped me a lot during my pregnancy, or I should say, she took care of me.Manhattan has been quite lucky for me. First, I met Ella at my job, then Eva, and then received the good news that I was carrying a baby. Now I pray this place stays lucky for me forever.I’m seriously not ready to face my dreadful past, Luke.As I settle in the corner seat and engross myself in writing, keeping all my problems aside, Eva’s sweet voice catches my attention. “Daisy,