(Aya’s POV)It was a slow Monday.Ariana and Red left last night with their parents for a business trip, the children were back to school, and Leslie went to the office. Addie yawned wide, not bothering to cover her mouth. It was still early for her to open the tutorial center, and I would attend class later, starting at six in the evening. I should be ecstatic as this semester would be my last, but as if freedom was taken from Addie and me, we were here in her apartment’s living room, doing nothing but sighing and looking bored.Although I had placed cups of coffee on the center table, my cousin remained lying on the couch, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. I sat on the floor, crossing my legs, propping my elbows on the table, and squinting my eyes at the cups as I massaged my temples.“That was a crazy week,” Addie sighed, rolled on the couch, letting herself fall, and sat on the floor, copying me. “My life suddenly became empty without those six kids.”“I know,” I sighed sadly. “And m
(Aya’s POV)“Lucy, I’m here to treat my daughter,” Dean jokingly snarled at my manager when she said lunch was on her, and then he grinned. “But I’d appreciate a discount.”“A senior citizen discount, of course!” My manager chuckled as she led us to the table overlooking the garden.“Are you sure about this, Aya?” Dante asked, smiling apologetically at me and not sitting down. “Red will not be happy if he finds out -”I raised my hands and smiled. “I’m not the one who invited you, Dante. Besides, we’re just having a quick lunch.”I glanced at my personal security detail on the table near the main entrance. No matter how my father convinced him that we were only having lunch, he declined the offer and told him he was on duty.“I am paying for his meal,” Dad said, but Lucy shook her head as she pulled the chair for him.“Na-ah, Dean. I’m deducting his meal from Aya’s salary,” she muttered, winking at me.Knowing Lucy was only joking, my father laughed and took the menu card the server g
(Aya’s POV)“Deidre.”“Join me,” she said, gesturing her hand on the empty seat across from her.My eyes flickered on the chair, but I shook my head and wondered if Lucy knew about this. Knowing my manager, she would never feed me into a den with a hungry lioness inside, even if she were an important guest. I was hundred percent sure that Lucy would not fail to inform me about this.If not for Addie and Leslie, I would be standing here thinking about who she was. On the day Deidre called me, despite her popularity in the fashion world and is the only daughter of a billionaire like the Carlington, still, my cousin and her partner browsed her social media page and read news about her online, showing me her daring pictures as she wore designer clothes and shoes. Seeing her photographs, I concluded that Red was into her and stayed in their relationship despite her lack of love for her because of her uncanny resemblance to Scarlett.Seeing her in person, I realized my notion was wrong. Sca
(Aya’s POV)“I’m not sure the kids will be happy with your cupcakes, Aya.”Leslie’s voice startled me as she got one cupcake from the table, opening her mouth but showing the design of the pastry to the camera as she took a selfie. She put the cupcake back on the tray and began typing on her social media page, saying her post aloud.“Eating my sadness away,” she chuckled. “Post.”“Sadness?” Addie asked as she entered the kitchen, and when she realized what Leslie meant, she smirked and pulled a chair to sit across from me. She took one but took a bite of the pastry. “How long has Red been gone?”“Two weeks and two days,” Leslie answered.I turned my head at her, raising my eyebrows. “How did you know?”Addie swallowed the small cake she was chewing and then raised her index finger, pointing at the text written at the top of one of the cupcakes.“2w n 2d.” She took another one but placed it before me, showing me the sad emoji design, taking the piping bag with blue icing, and adding te
(Aya’s POV)At home, Red’s walk-in closet was three times my apartment. I pouted my lips for a second, sighed, and clucked my tongue as I opened my closet, realizing this was all my clothes. After Red left yesterday, I decided to stay for the night, giving dad my excuse that I could not sleep in the bedroom without my husband at home.I thought he would give me his long lecture about staying in my husband’s place, but he was thrilled by the news. Addie, Leslie, and my kids were ecstatic about my decision; the nannies were happier, giving them a day off, but not our bodyguards, who stayed in the car despite my father’s invitation to sleep in the living room. My boys slept in dad’s bed; Violet stayed with me in my old room, while Sapphire and Katie slept in Addie’s apartment.Sighing, I blinked at my clothes, hanging peacefully on the garment rod. After hearing from Deidre that the elegant gown Rina had given was her choice, I made a decision not to wear it. I knew my cousin and her par
(Aya’s POV) Deidre was a plague that had poisoned my sanity. After reading her post on her social media page, I have been post-stalking her, and her picture with Red at one of the dinner parties they attended made my nights sleepless. The other day, I told Dante I would be in the library and asked him to pick me up at eight in the evening, but as soon as I entered the building, I escaped from him and my bodyguard, exiting through the backdoor of the college building. I went to The Pacific to see if anyone would recognize me, and it hurt to know that Deidre was right. The security was tight, and I almost did not reach the front desk to ask for Red’s office. The two receptionists were stricter than the security guard, asking me for IDs, pertinent papers, or some sort of invitation before calling the person I needed to talk to. I could ask for Mike or Leslie, but I had already drowned myself in sadness, walking out of the building crying like a lost child in the taxi going home, forgett
(Aya’s POV)I was mainly staring blankly out the window on my way to my mother, and while in the taxi, I was out of reach, not bothering to turn on my cell phone even when I reached the cemetery. This was my first time going here alone as I was always afraid the dead would rise from their grave like in the horror movies, but I had no one to talk to except my mother.After paying the taxi driver, I hiked the long pathway to find my mother’s grave. When she died, Aunt Mae insisted my mother’s remains join their parents in the same lot instead of placing her in a public cemetery. This was more like a hike in a big park, but still and quiet. “Hi, mom!” I sat crossed-legged on the grass in front of the gravestone. “Miss me, Grandma? How are you doing, Grandpa?” I sighed and looked heavenward. “I... Mom, I know we’re not as close as you were to Myra, but I really wanted someone to talk to.”I covered my face with my palms as I sobbed. I was closer to my father but would not dare break his
(Aya’s POV)“Are you out of your mind, Aya? Why did you just leave like that without anyone knowing where you went?” Dad sniffled, hugging me. “What if something happened to you?”“I’m sorry, Daddy,” I murmured. “I’m sorry,” I mouthed at Dante, looking relieved to see me.“Was this about the interview?” My father asked, easing back and cupping my face. “I’m... I’m sure Red has an explanation about it.”“You saw it?” I asked, pursing my lips to avoid saying more.He scoffed. “It’s all over the news, and it spread like wildfire, but Aya, why don’t you talk to your husband about Deidre? I’m not saying I’m not disappointed with him, but he must have a reason for staying quiet, not answering their question.”“Then, he should not have kissed her back,” I gritted my teeth and hissed angrily, remembering how they kissed in front of the camera.My father raised his hands. “Talk to Red. That’s all I can say. Because even I got angry when I saw them kissing. But now... let me get you home so you
(Aya’s POV) Three months later... I raised my hand, my fingers trailing my little one’s soft skin as she had her milk from my breast. I smiled when she stopped, a habit she seemed to have whenever she heard something familiar. “You heard daddy’s voice, Athena?” I asked lovingly. When I raised my head, my lips curved into a sweet smile seeing Red stopping and leaning on the doorframe. He kept his cell phone inside his pocket and gazed at us. “Cora left already?” I asked as I fixed my nursing bra and thought to pump milk later. I could not believe I was blessed with lots of milk. He shook his head. “She’s hiking with Ariana tomorrow. Can you believe it?” He chuckled. “Or should I call a rescuer in advance?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Don’t say that in front of your sister. She might think of something else, like camping there for the night. So, please...” As Roman promised, his two children, Ariana and Red, stayed until I gave birth, and they seemed to have changed their mind
(Red’s POV)“Are you sure?” Mike asked me as Emmet and Scarlett went to the playroom to talk to Rosie.“You said it yourself, Mike, that even if I don’t press charges, she will still go to jail,” I muttered, sighing as I eyed Aya sitting in the living room, murmuring words to our little one as she caressed her belly.I hoped it was still because of her pregnancy that she was soft-hearted, sobbing over the story she heard from Scarlett. She lived poorly with Emmet, who worked as a security guard in a warehouse in the province he mentioned, but she never looked sad, not even regretting marrying him. If asked, she said she wanted to stay dead in her family’s eyes rather than go back, but Sherrilyn found her again, threatening her of hurting Emmet and Rosie if she didn’t help her with money. Sherrilyn must have forgotten that even her daughter signed a prenuptial agreement before our marriage, and the few gifts I gave her as a gift would take time to repossess because of her death. “But
(Aya’s POV)Almost eight months ago, when I first came here to the Carlington Residence, I believed I was born a selfless person with no ‘me’ time in my system. I had never expected to be part of this family when all I wanted at that time was to get a job and replace the parure Ryan gave me. I was not qualified for the job, but I had to lie to Red. The pieces of jewelry, the need for money, and the hope of finishing my studies and getting a good job for my father and Katie were the forces that pushed me to pretend to be someone else. Who knew I would meet Red, the man who had told me many times I was not qualified, had given me a chance because of his love for his children? It was not even a year, but a lot of things had happened in my life. I turned my head and gazed lovingly at my husband. He didn’t have to say it, but I knew deep inside he was hurting. I might not have witnessed their long years of marriage before the plane crash, but I saw how he tried to cope, live for his chil
(Aya’s POV)“Think, Sherrilyn,” I chuckled nervously. “The restroom is small for me to trip. And wait! Are you threatening me?”I thought of different ways to run toward the door, but Sherrilyn’s plan of possibly pushing me would be more realistic than the one in the restroom. I took a deep breath to calm myself and hoped Red would come on time. If I weren’t pregnant, I would care less about what she planned to do, but my sole concern now is my child.“Mom, will you please stop!” Scarlett grabbed her mother’s arm, stopping her.“Stop?” Sherrilyn hissed at her daughter. “As long as she’s here, she’s going to be the end of you.”“What do you plan to do with her, huh?” She asked annoyingly. “We’ll only make Red furious. Mom, all my life, I did what you wanted. Will you listen to me once? Let Aya go.”“What’s happening with you?” Sherrilyn brushed off her hand and gave her daughter a dagger look. “Have you gone mad?”“No!” Scarlett stood before her, blocking Sherrilyn from coming to me. “
(Aya’s POV)“Did you bring everything you needed?” Addie chuckled, asking me jokingly the same question she had the first time I got here in the villa in Rose Hills.I laughed as I get off the car, hating that I had to feel like my bladder was about to explode if I didn’t find a toilet right this minute. I had no intention of getting inside the villa, but Dante stopped the car in the driveway. I already had the chills, my tiny hair standing up, and my baby seemed to feel my need as it moved and kicked. I almost rolled my hair, seeing Scarlett standing in the doorway, waiting for her family.“I’m not sure I need them now, Addie,” I growled on the phone, thinking quickly about where the nearest restroom would be. “What I want now is to pee, and if I don’t, I’ll leak in Gino’s car… or worse, here in the porch!”“Then leak there first. I’m sure Scarlett won’t mind,” she advised. “Got to go, cous. We have a guest. Take care, okay?” she said, ending the call.“Why don’t you use the one nea
(Aya’s POV)“Will I get a discount if I give referrals?” Miles smiled as he picked up his cup of coffee. His eyes wandered around the common room.“Even if you don’t give referrals, Miles. I’ll still give you a discount... or maybe have your accommodation for free,” I promised him.Miles chuckled. “I’ll call you when I have the time to hike,” he sipped his coffee and then put his cup back on the center table. “But before my hiking plans, I should close this case first.”He must be working overtime; his wide-set eyes looked tired but still focused on our discussion. I wondered if he had ever slept or had time to eat. When Red called Mike and asked them to come, they arrived in less than three hours at the lodge.It was almost midnight.“You should go home, Red,” Miles said, surprising us with his advice. “Bring the kids back to the villa and pretend for a while, at least for the kids, that everything’s normal between you and Scarlett.”“I think it’s too late for that,” I cut in and smi
(Red’s POV)“Did we do something wrong?” Blue blinked his adorable eyes at me. “I’m okay having a baby sister, I swear!” He said, raising his right hand. “It’s okay we lost the bet.”We were in the main bedroom, looking like having a story-telling class, when I asked them to sit on the bed while Aya and I sat, almost leaning on the bed’s headboard, facing the children.“No,” Violet answered without breaking her gaze at me. “Mom and Dad are going to talk to us about Emmet and Rosie... and mom... the Scarlett mom,” she muttered, emphasizing her mother’s name.Katie pursed her lips as she played with her slime toy. “Why is your mom also Rosie’s mom?” she asked, leaning forward to look at Violet and her round eyes blinking curiously at her sister.She leaned back when my eldest daughter pursed her lips. Katie’s eyebrows knitted as she thought, then she shrugged her shoulders and continued playing with her toy.Violet sighed. “I hope I know the answer to that question, Katie,” she muttered
(Red’s POV)“You... know that I am Scarlett’s...” I gritted my teeth, clenching my fists but trying to control myself from hitting Emmet’s face.Emmet met my eyes and slowly shook his head. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. When he opened his eyes, he looked at his sister.“Emily, why don’t you take Rosie home?” He begged and smiled sadly at his daughter.“I don’t want to go home yet,” Rosie pouted her lips, her eyes pleading with him to let her stay.“You should listen to your daddy. Go home, Rosie,” Blue said as he got off his chair. “I’ll play outside. Triplets, do you like to play with me?”This was the first time I saw my children push away another child. Ariana always said that my kids could be awarded for amiableness and friendliness, which she sometimes disliked because it sometimes ended up trouble for her wallet when my kids also wanted to treat others with ice cream or any treats. My twins, even Katie, the sweetest of our daughters, said nothing about Rosie. She got
(Aya’s POV) “Can we name our baby sister now,” Green muttered excitedly as he ate his cake. Red turned his head to me, raising his eyebrows and asking me in silence if it was okay. I nodded, also excited about their suggestions. “Oh…kay…” He nodded slowly to them. “We’re open to suggestions,” he said, emphasizing the last word and glancing at the open main door when a familiar girl peered from the outside. “Can we do that later? We have guests.” Emily showed up at the door, smiling apologetically at us and glancing at the little girl she was with. For Rosie’s sake, I begged Red not to file a case against Emmet because on the day he ran toward me, he was not attacking; he was also trying to catch me. Violet smiled at Rosie, walking toward her and extending her hand to the child. “Hi, Rosie. Do you like cupcakes?” She nodded, her eyes wide as she looked interestingly at the balloons. She grabbed Violet’s hand and followed her toward the table. Red and I walked toward Emily, who st