Here's for Chidiogo! Thank you for the gem! Very much appreciated! :)
Before I pull open the door, I check on Liam. He is putting on a robe, annoyance present on his face. I grin at him before finally opening the door. “Hey, Lukas,” I greet. “Breakfast is ready, Cassie.” I sense Liam behind me. He drapes his arms around me and asks, “Why are you calling her Cassie? She is your teacher.” “You married her. She is my mother now,” he answers. “I think I should stop calling her teacher.” “You—” I press on Liam’s chest and shake my head. He calms down again. I focus on Lukas and say, “We will be down in a few minutes. We’ll just wear proper clothes.” Lukas nods and moves away from our room. I look disappointedly at Liam. “You should not lash out at Lukas like that,” I admonish. “He interrupted our time.” I move to the cabinet and look for any clothes. Liam goes behind me and slips his hands on my waist. “Let’s do it once more before breakfast.” Before his hand touches my crotch, I catch it before all rational thought leaves me again. I turn towards hi
When we hear that Liam arrives from work, Lukas and I exchange glances. We just had dinner, and I am giving Lukas his assignment for the entire week. “Seems like our lesson will end early,” Lukas remarks. “Your father is a bit early.” “I think you know the reason for that.” “Hmmm,” I mutter. “Then I will greet your father, and we’ll continue next week, okay?” “Yes, Cassie,” he says in an exasperated tone. I am about to turn around when Liam bursts into Lukas’ study room. I smile at him. “Hey, you had dinner already?” He looks me over, and I blush at the blatant gaze. I am just wearing a simple shirt and shorts. I should have worn that delicate pink dress I found on the dresser. He moves towards me and wraps me in his embrace. Then he whispers, “I have something for you.” “The two of you, will you please carry on with that in your room? You are corrupting this place of education,” Lukas says. I glance at him and am about to complain when Liam takes hold of my head and kisses m
After breakfast, we rush out of the door. We jump into the private car with our things and drive to the airport, where Liam’s private jet is waiting. As we drive off, Liam is on the phone while Lukas and I discuss all his assignments once he returns to the province. Arriving at the airport, I am astonished that this is a different private jet from the one that takes us to our honeymoon. It is twice as big, and I can’t help but wonder how a single person can own more than one private plane. We board the plane and take our seats. The interior is luxurious, with leather seats and mahogany trimmings. Even the windows have a crystal design. As the plane runs down the runway, I can feel the excitement bubbling up inside me. I grab Liam’s hand and squeeze them. I grin at him, and he pauses midway through his sentence. “Thank you,” I mouth to him before shifting my attention outside the plane. We fly for a couple of hours, and eventually, the plane begins its descent. I look out the wind
After lunch, we squeeze ourselves into a crowd of people. There are colorful characters, rides, and attractions. It is a pandemonium, yet it is still a magical place, as if we are in a different world. As we explore the park, a parade starts. The brightly colored costumes and the cheerful music are exciting. Lukas and I exclaim and point at the characters that we are familiar with. And then, we continue with the rides and attractions. From thrilling roller coasters to charming carousels and cinemas—we experienced it all. We were so excited that we didn’t feel hungry until Liam brought us a snack. “Here,” he says, handing me some drinks and sandwiches. “It’s already late afternoon.” I look around. The sun is setting, but my chest is still bubbling with happiness. I interlace my arms in his and beam at him. “Thank you, husband. This is so perfect.” He gazes at me. “Cassie, I—” “Cassie!” Lukas calls. “Come! Look at this!” I exclaim, excited at what Lukas wants to show me. “Keep tha
I roll over and prop myself up on one elbow. I let my fingers run through the middle of his chest and down his well-defined abs. Our bed smells like sex and sweat; I sure hope it’s not the entire bedroom or the entire suite though. “You were pretty passionate last night and earlier, husband,” I tease, my fingers tracing his body. He shifts his attention from the ceiling to me. “Wife, don’t seduce me. I know you are too sore already.” I grin and take out my hand from his body. He is right. I am too sore, my muscles are aching, and I don’t think I can go out and play anymore. “So, what was the cause?” I ask. “You were a bit rough last night.” He winces. “Did I hurt you?” I shake my head. “It might sound weird, but it’s... well, I liked the assertiveness.” He grins and pulls me closer to his body. I snuggle next to him, my leg on top of his. “So?” I urge him. “What’s with it?” He takes a deep breath. “I was jealous,” he says and instantly adds, “Not anymore, though.” “Jealous of
I had been teaching Lukas for some time when Alinn arrived. Lukas opens the door for her, and she comes bursting into the study room. She is full of energy and enthusiasm. Her face is flushed with excitement, as if we are going to play a game instead of studying the entire day. “Here comes the little bundle of trouble,” Lukas says with mischief. Alinn, on the other hand, is undeterred. She beams with delight and greets, “Good day, Teacher Cassie! I’ve come to join the fun!” “We are going to study, not have fun,” Lukas corrects while he returns to his seat. I smile warmly at Alinn. “Well, come on here, Alinn. Join our little torture session,” I say, my tone teasing. “I don’t find studying as torture, though,” she says, sitting beside me. Noticing her action, Lukas raises his brow before saying, “If that is the case, why don’t you help me with this cryptic problem?” And so Alinn transfers seats and scoots next to him. “Oh, it’s the coefficient. Just use this,” she explains. I obs
Unfortunately, the letter was ineffective. The malicious posts continue. In fact, it has become more rabid. Other than faking the awards and nude photos, she also adds that I am a gold digger, and that Liam is wrapped around my little finger. If only she knows that I am the one going crazy over him, especially when his fingers are inside me. I groan at my lewd thoughts, and Lukas looks weirdly at me. “Are the fake nude photos going to your brain? You going crazy, teacher?” I snort. “You smart-ass. Hurry up, or you’ll be late for school.” After dropping off Lukas, I need to file a complaint to the police and seek legal advice. Last night and earlier, I did all the necessary things. I took screenshots and collected all the relevant evidence. I documented the incident and created a timeline of events. That was just the gist of it. I also reported the page to the platform. And even posted on my social media page just to counter the allegations. Now, the police and the lawyers come nex
Yesterday, the regional office agreed to rescind Mark’s dismissal. He called me to apologize and said he had no involvement with the nude photos–just as I surmised. He also said that he cut off his relationship with Hilda before she started creating the social media profile. While my mind races, I watch Lukas complete his math problem with a determined expression. My phone is in my room, where I had left it, so Liam won’t be able to get a hold of me. I sigh. I intentionally did all that, but my gaze kept wandering back to the door, almost as if I was expecting him to come and ask why I did not return to the city today. “Done!” Lukas exclaims. “I think I will get a good grade this time.” “Hmmm,” I mutter as I take his paper and review it. As I go through it, I realize his assumption is correct. He really is improving. “How was it?” he asks, peering at his paper. “You are getting better,” I praise. “But you still got some items wrong.” I was about to start pointing out his mistake
********* A FEW YEARS LATER *********** I run my hand over my bulging stomach, savoring the warmth of the afternoon sun as it filters through the living room window. I am close now. The doctor says that any day this week I will give birth to a boy. Nearby, Lukas and Alinn teach Andy how to play a new board game, while Liam hovers close by and places snacks and drinks on the table. “Are you okay? Anything you need?” Liam asks. I grin at him. “I need my husband to sit beside me and hold my hand.” Liam’s face softens, and he nods, quickly making his way over to the couch beside me. As he sits down, he takes my hand in his, his fingers lacing through mine. I lean into him, my head resting on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me, holding me close and kissing my forehead. This time, I am not afraid. Because now, I feel safe and loved, surrounded by the people who mean the most to me. We will move forward, because we know now, that we are unstoppable together. ********* ANOTHER FEW
I chop vegetables for dinner as I note the instructions Lukas jotted down for our dinner. Liam enters the room, wraps his arms around my waist, and playfully nuzzles my neck. “Guess who?” he whispers, his breath tickling my skin. “Could it be... my handsome husband?” I tease. I turn in his embrace, meeting his lips with a sweet kiss before returning to my task. “Any updates on our lovebirds?” Liam asks, referring to Lukas and Alinn. “Actually, they went on a date yesterday evening,” I respond. “I think things are getting more serious between them.” “Good for them,” Liam says sincerely. He leans against the counter, watching me. “Remember how nervous we were when we first started dating?” “Of course,” I laugh. “We are so nervous that we shared a kiss during that same day and even made love when the evening came.” He laughs. “But look at us now. I want to ravish you every time I lay my eyes on you.” I caress his cheeks. “And we’ll do that once we are done with food and shower,” I
It’s already late in the afternoon when the four of us, Liam, Lukas, Andy and me, start the stroll through the bustling market in Morocco. All the vibrant colors, the tantalizing scents and cacophony of voices are overwhelming. Andy seems to enjoy everything, and she has become very curious. Once, she even asks what the two locals are doing. I explain to her that they are haggling over prices. And every time she sees some exotic wares, she will clap her hands in delight. Something that never fails to put a grin on Lukas’ face. “Mom! Stunning!” Andy exclaims as she points to a beautifully embroidered scarf. Liam chuckles. “It is. You can take what you like, Andy.” Andy squeals and pulls Lukas with her into the shop. On the other hand, Liam takes one scarf and drapes the fabric around my neck. He gazes at my face and whispers, “It really is stunning.” I blush, especially when last night was very hot—too passionate, in fact, that I wasn’t able to get up until it was close to lunch.
The lush garden surrounds an elegant white gazebo. There are cascading floral arrangements that are draped gracefully over the lattices. Not to mention the sweet scent in the warm air. And beneath the canopy of flowers, I stand with Liam. We are gazing into each other’s eyes as our family and friends gather around us. Everyone is dressed at their finest, chattering excitedly amongst themselves while sipping champagne and nibbling on mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres. My mother is wiping away a tear as she looks at us. My father is beaming proudly at her side. With all our relatives around us, this is a far cry from when we had our first wedding. “Ready?” Liam asks beside me, his voice full of tender reassurance. I nod, my eyes shining with happiness and love. “Friends and family,” the officiant begins. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the love and commitment of Liam and Cassie. Today, they choose to renew their vows, solidifying their bond and reaffirming their devotion to on
Suddenly, a waiter approaches us and clears his throat. Liam and I look at him. There is an awkward smile on his face. “Apologies for disturbing you, ma’am, sir, but your food is ready. Should I... ahm, send it here? Or should I pack it up or something?” he asks. Given the time to breathe, I reach for my wineglass and take a slow, deliberate sip. As the rich liquid warms my throat, I resolve to face my emotions head-on. “We are going to continue our date night here,” Liam answers while staring hard at me. The waiter gestures for the others to come closer. They set down plates and bowls in front of the table while Liam fixes himself and sits across me. When the waiters leave, Liam reaches for my hand again. “You see, Cassie. You might have forgotten, but this is the anniversary of when we met at that police station. The first time you kissed me.” “Oh.” “You also think that you were not pretty enough back then. That you are undeserving of love.” I purse my lips again. I glance at
I arrive at the elegant restaurant alone, my heart heavy with the weight of agreeing to Scarlet’s request. Even the soft glow of the candlelight that dances against the polished silverware and crystal glasses on the tables do not improve my mood. The atmosphere is intimate, and it could have been a perfect night with Liam. I take a deep breath, inhaling the rich aroma of seared scallops and garlic butter that fill the air. “Reservation for two under Mr. Chapman?” I ask the hostess who has come to assist me. “Of course,” the hostess replies, leading me to a secluded table by the window. “Your server will be with you shortly.” “Thank you,” I murmur, taking my seat while noting the crisp, white linen napkin and the glasses on the table. I glance around the room. Couples are sharing tender smiles and stealing kisses from each other. The sight only deepens the ache in my chest, reminding me of my earlier decision. “Good evening, ma’am,” a friendly server greets me as he approaches the
I stand in front of a full-length mirror, my reflection framed by the delicate curve of the gilded edges. I watch the way the smooth silk of my midnight blue dress clings to my body, accentuating my curves and cascading until my knees. Then I adjust the thin straps over my shoulders. The anticipation of my romantic date with Liam is making my heart race. There is a knock on the door and I say, “Come in,” my voice sounding happier. The soft click of heels makes my hand pause on the fabric of my dress. I turn my attention to the guest and see Scarlet looking me up and down. I purse my lips at her beauty. She is definitely a sight in yet another red dress–a contrast to her creamy skin. Scarlet’s eyes take in every inch of me, appraising me like a predator sizing up its prey. “Hmmm,” she mutters. “You are starting to look the part of being Liam Chapman’s wife.” “I am his wife,” I tell her. I am just not sure until when. “It’s a pity, really,” she says, her voice dripping with sacchar
Last night, I was dreaming about Lukas and Liam’s laughter again and I woke up with a mix of love and fear. I sigh. This is just fine. I know that my decision to distance myself is for the best. “Momma, Lukas?” Andy asks, still stuttering. “Tomorrow, dear, okay? Your brother will come here to play with you.” She nods and takes hold of a doll. Lukas has gone to the beach with Scarlet. As for Liam, he decided to finish his work in the office. “For today, it’s just you and me...” I whisper. “And probably, in the future too.” I settle in the chair and my gaze lingers on the family photos adorning the walls. Most of it are pictures of Lukas and Andy, but there is also Alinn, Liam, and me. I really do miss doing activities with them. When my eyes fill with tears, I blink them away. I chose this. I should not be sad about this. I have to be stronger than this. More unfeeling than this. I can walk away, just like how I escaped from all the men and drama around me before. They said it bef
“Are you okay, love?” Liam asks. He is on top of me, still panting from the pleasure we just shared. I smile at him, attempting to hide the turmoil raging within me–anxiety that I only feel every time we stop drowning in our pleasure. “I am fine,” I lie. Liam’s piercing eyes search mine, but instead of pressing further, he brushes a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “I am not such a skilled conversationalist, but please know that I will listen to you, any time you want to talk about something.” I beam at him and I hook my arms around his neck. “I always see you as a great communicator, though.” “Maybe I communicate my love for you in bed? Where you will feel it the most?” he asks, playful now. “I think we should wear our clothes and pause from communicating in bed. I need to check up on Andy.” He presses a kiss on my neck. “Lukas and the nanny are here. Stay a little more in my arms.” I giggle, but then I push him away from me. Sitting up and retrieving my clothes, my min