(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)“I... I never got my chance, Aya,” Red walked closer to me, but I raised my hand, facing my palm to stop him from coming to me.My nostrils flared in anger. “You made me believe it’s over between you and her.”“I meant to talk to her tonight, but Ariana called and told me they can’t find you,” he growled. “You expect me to just sit down and break up with her when my wife is missing?”“Now it’s my fault? I have seen your interview, Red. My face and Katie’s were all over the news, and what you damn care about is you don’t talk about your private life?” I was furious that I could not hold my tears.“What do you want me to do? Tell the whole world about you?” His eyebrows knitted, looking at me in dismay.“If you love me, Red, you should have told the whole world you’re married! As to whom, it didn’t matter!” I yelled furiously at him, clutching my shirt as I thought my heart would explode any moment.“And what? If I had answered their questions about my life, would they stop?
(Aya’s POV)“Red, let’s stop all this before we start hurting the kids,” I muttered after brushing my teeth.With the toothbrush still in my hand, I grabbed his hands and escaped from his embrace, almost dashing to the bedroom to get my bag.“Aya, you can’t do this,” he groaned as he followed me.“But you can?” I breathed out and gave him a sullen look. I smirked, shaking my head as I took off my wedding ring, placing it on the bed. “You... you... you’re suffering because I said yes to you. I should not have complicated your life and stopped you from proposing to Deidre.”I swallowed hard, hating that my tummy was bothering me and my head was throbbing in pain. I took my phone, the cards and cash from my wallet, placing them beside the ring.“You’re the one suffering because I begged you to marry me. You did not complicate my life, Aya. You made me feel alive again,” he clenched his teeth, suppressing a cry. “It’s my fau -”I raised my hand, stopping him from talking and closing my ey
(Aya’s POV)The entire drive going back to my apartment was tormenting. Only one car followed us, just Vin’s. It was like I was being stripped from my privileges, losing the man who would follow me discreetly, although I could still see him around. Or maybe he lost his job because of me.I was expecting Red to say something… anything... but when he parked the car in front of Addie’s apartment, he kept his lips pressed together. I tilted my head and looked at my apartment’s porch. Without my father at home, it was quiet and dark. I unfastened my seatbelt and got off the car without saying goodbye to him. Dante usually waited for my father or me to enter the door before driving away, but Red left as soon as I got out of the car. I waited until they were out of my sight and walked toward my apartment with my palm rubbing my growling tummy. I knew Addie and Leslie were still awake, but knocking on their door would mean explaining to my cousin what had happened today.I walked past thei
(Red’s POV)“You’re not just my happy meal, Red. You are my life. You are my happiness.” Her lips curved into a sad smile as she sighed. “This is nuts! I’m not asking you to feel the same, but I think it’s unfair.”She raised her hand, and her index finger poked my chest.“I don’t want to be selfish, but that heart... and you...” she chuckled bitterly, shaking her head. “You’re always entangled with someone. I’m not sure why I had to compete with the dead and one living, but completely insane about you.”“There’s no competition here.” I pulled Aya and wrapped my arms around her body. “You and the kids are my everything, Aya. I love you,” I whispered, kissing her head. “If you did not come into my life, I would not have moved on. But I hope you understand... You just can’t ask me to forget Scarlett.”“I’m not asking you to do that, Red,” she whispered. “Besides, there are five beautiful children that looked like you and her, and don’t get offended, but I’m happy they inherited their mo
(Red’s POV)“Why do you want to find Myra and Katie’s father?” Aya whispered.Her eyes were filled with worries, blinking this time but still staring at me. She put the tub on the center table like she had lost her appetite in eating and turned to face me, waiting for my answer.Amusingly, it was the same question Mike uttered. “Why do you want to find Myra and Katie’s father?”“Because Katie is our daughter, Mike,” I answered my cousin but smiled at Aya, hoping to erase her worries away. “We knew Aya and Addie helped each other to provide for Katie, and my wife stood as her legal guardian since Myra left her in the hospital. I don’t have to tell you every bit of it, but Aya has been Katie’s mother ever since, and as her husband, I want a legal adoption of our daughter.”The tears shimmering in Aya’s eyes rolled down her cheeks.“Mike, let’s talk tomorrow morning, okay? You know that I have to be in different places abroad after tomorrow night.” I sighed, reaching for Aya’s hand and h
(Aya’s POV)Who doesn’t want a happy ending?I gazed at the most beautiful man I had ever met in my life, the one that completed me and my better half that I could not live without. Maybe we were impatient to get pregnant, or perhaps we just missed each other because as soon as we reached the hallway going to our bedroom last night, we were already kissing and touching.We made love, whispered promises, and got crazy, claiming each other in his office and then to his art room. I was glad we ended up in bed before running out of energy.Slowly, I moved toward the edge of the bed, not wanting to disturb Red in his sleep, but he startled me when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to his naked body.“Let’s sleep more, Aya,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around my body to imprison me.“I’d love to do that, Red, but it’s seven already.” I craned my neck and puckered my lips, kissing his jaw. “The kids -”“It’s the kids’ break, remember?” He said, pressing his lips to mine, his hand
(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