“Mrs. Cassie, just enjoy the day. Everything has been arranged, so just relax and be comfortable,” the head servant suggests. I turn my attention to him. “Is that what Liam ordered you to say to me?” He nods. “But I also think it’s his way of showing that he loves you.” “Hmmm,” I mutter and look outside. He loves me, huh? I have never heard that from him. I wonder, doesn’t this head servant know I am just in a contract marriage with Liam? Arriving, I walk into a beauty salon. As soon as I walk in, I am welcomed with warm smiles, which immediately puts me at ease. Rather, from the decor to the scent of products and the warm color of the employees’ uniforms, everything screams relaxation. “Mr. Liam already recommended a spa package. In case you don’t like the hassle of choosing,” one employee informs. “It’s your first time here, right?” I nod, and the employee ushers me into a massage room, which is a cocoon of serenity. The lights are dimmed, and the music is soothing. As soon as
“Tom?” I ask. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I try to count the months. Oh damn! It’s about time for our twice-every-year seminar! “Since you resigned, they had no choice but to send me for the seminars,” he says, an awkward smile on his face. He sits on the stool next to mine and asks, “How are you? I heard you got married?” “I did,” I answer, looking away as I remember our past, my heart aching. Tom, who made my heart skips a beat a lot. He is also the one who made me all giddy and excited to go to work every day. We go out for lunch; hang out after work and weekends; enjoy a couple of activities together. Heck, we even started to shop, do groceries together, and meet each other’s friends. Not to mention the visits to each other’s houses. He even introduced me to his parents. There are a couple of touches here and there and chaste kisses. The only thing missing is for us to be officially together, and we can take one more step in our relationship. However, when I went abroad for a s
The following day, Tom is waiting for me to explore two neighborhoods–Chinatown and the Mission District. We visit Chinatown first for its temples and delicious dim sum. I also got a couple of souvenirs for Liam, Lukas, Alinn, and my family. Same as me, Tom buys things for his new family. Then, we head out to the Mission District–known for its vibrant Latin American culture and many taquerías. In fact, Tom and I filled ourselves with more tacos than we could ever eat. But I enjoy my time with him the most — when we look at the colorful buildings and murals that decorate the streets. We take many pictures, and we exhaust all the things we can discuss since the last time we met. Afterward, we make our way to a nearby park. We walk around, admiring the beauty of the plants and flowers. As the sun sets, we find a quiet spot and sit down for a small picnic. We talk, laugh, and enjoy the views together. The moment is so peaceful and calming. It is almost as if time stops and I am suddenly
‘See you tomorrow at lunch,’ the chat from Tom says. He ends it with some cute smiley that I can’t help but grin, too. I close my screen and shift my attention to Lukas, who is eyeing me suspiciously. “What?” I ask. “Who are you chatting with?” “A friend,” I answer. “Really? You seem delighted,” he remarks, his voice tinged with skepticism. “Lukas, I am chatting with a friend, okay?” “What’s the name of the friend?” he insists. “Tom. He’s my previous office mate. I met him in San Francisco during my solo trip.” “Oh,” he mutters. “He knows you are married?” “I told him.” “And my father knows?” I sigh. “Lukas, there is no reason for your father to know. Should we start telling each other about our friends?” “Maybe,” he responds. “Maybe you should invite your friend here, too.” “You realize I am only here for three years, right? Until you pass your University exams?” He nods. “And if we let our family and friends into our life, it will present some issues later.” He frown
Tom and I are sitting at a small cafe, the kind that’s always buzzing with people and the smell of coffee. As always, he never gets exhausted with things to talk about. “It’s been too long,” Tom says, looking off into the distance. “It has,” I agree, taking a sip of my coffee. “I feel like I’ve missed so much of your life.” “Me too,” he says. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper conversation.” I nod as my eyes go to him again. I’ve seen pictures of his baby. His partner, Heidi, is constantly posting about him and their baby. “Your partner knows about you meeting me?” “Honestly?” he starts. “Heidi doesn’t know. And you?” “I have yet to mention it to my husband. But his son knows.” “You plan to tell him?” “Yes.” That is, if I have the chance, because every time Liam is at home, all we do is have sex until we are both too exhausted to even have a proper conversation. “Are you planning to return to work?” “Not yet,” I answer, leaning back in my chair. In three years, I pr
Liam is on top of me, his body pressed against mine like a heavy but gentle weight. He moves with a purpose, his desire for me palpable as he pushes himself inside me. I gasp, my eyes closing as the pleasure washes over me. My head tilts back, and my hands dig into the bedsheets as he works himself deeper and deeper into me. I feel his hands move to mine, his fingertips tracing circles over my palms. The warmth of his touch sends sparks of electricity through my veins. My breathing speeds up, my heart hammering in my chest. “Oh! Liam, wait, ah!” I plead. I am going to lose control over myself again. Instead of answering, he sucks on my shoulders, making me shiver in desire. As if feral, I grab him too, biting on his neck like some wild animal in heat. Liam groans against my ear, his lips trailing kisses down my neck. His body is alive against mine, pulsing and acting like we are two pieces of a connected puzzle. I feel my muscles tightening around him, clinging to him in a way tha
It’s already seven on a Friday evening when I notice Lukas looking impatiently at the clock on the wall. We are sitting in the living room–me with my books and Lukas taking his rest after his travel from the province. “What’s wrong?” I ask. Lukas shifts his attention to me, an uncertain look on his face. “Would you know what time my dad will come home?” “Oh!” I say. “Actually, he won’t be returning tonight. But since tomorrow is Saturday, he might come despite being busy with work.” “But he promised it’s supposed to be a game night.” “Let it go for now. Your father might be really busy.” “It’s not the first time,” he whispers. “Not the first time? It’s only later you discovered about board games, right?” “But it’s not the first time he promised to spend time with me, and then got distracted with work instead.” Hmmm, sometimes he really does act like a cute child. “How often?” I ask, preventing a smile from forming. “At least once every three months,” he answers before sighing
“Oh,” is all he can say. Liam loosens his hand on my arm and steps back. After a while, he sits heavily on the couch. “You don’t love me, huh,” he whispers. My heart drops as soon as I hear the defeat in his voice. I can’t help but feel a pang of regret as I look down at him. I take a deep breath to steady myself, trying to make sense of the conflicting emotions that are raging inside me. I am about to move to him when he says, “Based on our intimate moments together, the way you scream my name, the way you respond to my touches, and the way you cling onto me as if your very life depends on it... I really thought we had formed a bond.” He looks up at me again and asks, “But it’s not the same for you, huh?” Even if I am frustrated at him, the way his voice sounds breaks my heart as well. I want to say sorry, but what will it do? It won’t fix anything, right? Instead, I ask, “You say you love me, but why?” I kneel before him and lightly touch his face. “What do you mean?” he asks.
********* 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