(Aya’s POV)“Aya, you saved me!”Gracie sighed, relieved, as she walked toward their restaurant’s kitchen and stood before the table to see the round birthday cake. She looked admiringly at it for a couple of minutes before she stepped beside me and watched me place icing and sprinkles on top of the cupcakes.“We have one skilled and talented pastry baker under our nose,” Ofelia smiled, glancing at her daughter before she continued counting the plates she took from the cabinet. “Tell your brothers to come home already, and I’ll let Aya choose from one of them,” she joked.Ofelia sucked in her lips when Katie raised her head and shot an eyebrow at her. It was only for a second, and then she returned her attention to the cupcakes she lined up before her. Gracie turned her head to me, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips.“You look familiar. Have we met before?” She tilted her head as she asked me. Katie and I had been here for two weeks, but this was our first time seeing each other.
(Red's POV)Aya...Slowly, I opened my eyes, realizing I had slept on the couch in the study room again. Ever since Scarlett returned home, I could not bear sleeping in our bedroom. Either I would stay in the penthouse I bought for Aya, sleep in Liam’s place, or work all night in the study room.I heaved a sigh and thought of Aya as I got up. Although it had been two weeks, I was not losing hope that I would find her and Katie. If only Aya would turn on her cell phone... If only she had a social media account, it would be easy for us to track her.Addie excitedly told me yesterday that she and Leslie talked to Katie, but the call ended before she could tell where they were. She only told them she and her mommy were on a field trip, and she was calling from a telephone as big as Sapphire’s doll house. Which of Sapphire’s doll houses, I wondered because they had plenty of dollhouses in the playroom.My cell phone chimed in a message from Cora, giving me a heads-up about my schedule toda
(Red’s POV)“Woah!”Deidre raised her hands as she moved to the side when Violet bolted out of the kitchen, followed by her siblings. Her hands were still in the air as she stepped into the kitchen, ignoring Scarlett and me and walking toward the cake she saw on the table.“What is she doing here?” Scarlett growled at me. Her face was crimson in anger as she walked past me, going in Deidre’s direction.My unexpected guest, not threatened by the possible attack of my wife, was enjoying as she took a picture of Violet’s edible artwork before picking up one flower and tasting it.“Are you trying to be funny?” My angry wife asked her. “What are you doing here? You think you can come here just like that?”“Hmm...” She raised her index finger, stopping Scarlett as she closed her eyes, having a whale of a time as she chewed the flower fondant.My nostrils flared in annoyance as I followed Scarlett before she picked up something to hurt Deidre.“Deidre, what are you doing here? We have an app
(Aya’s POV)My optimism went under the bed, and my perspective hid in the closet as my hand grabbed the doorknob. I thought my hand stiffened because I could not open the bedroom door as soon as I twisted the knob. I stepped back and walked to the mirror to check on myself again. I inhaled, filling my lungs with air and slowly breathing out in my mouth.Ofelia and Marco had mentioned the possibility of their children helping in financing the business. I had been preparing my pitch for days to encourage them to support us with our plan, but I realized baking was easier than asking for investment, and discussing how we intend to return or grow their money was complicated.On our second day here, as Katie and I looked around the area of the B&B, I thought of renovating and upgrading the whole site of The Sophia House, not just the lodge but everything. But adding more amenities and fun activities so guests could enjoy their stay was too good to be true because when Marco and I asked abou
(Aya’s POV)I swallowed hard, pushing my heart back to my chest as I looked at Ofelia and then at her two sons. Why didn’t I see it from the beginning? Mourning was not an excuse for me not to realize where or how I met Ofelia. We did not precisely meet in person per se, but I had seen her photos before, and she might have seen mine in his son’s gallery or on his social media account. It must also be the reason why Gracie thought she had seen me before.“Aya? What are you doing here?” He asked again.When I answered him with a blink, he curved his lips into a friendly smile and gazed lovingly at my daughter. “Katie, what are you doing here?”“You know each other?” Ofelia and his eldest son asked at the same time.“Mommy and I…” she pursed her lips and craned her neck to look at me before answering. “We’re on a field trip.”“How do you know her?” asked his brother as he studied my face. His eyes narrowed, slowly gliding his gaze from my head and stopping at the slope of my breasts hidd
(Aya’s POV)“Why?” I stood up, my eyes not leaving Jared.Curiosity joined us in the living room. Gino eyed his brother, probably wondering at the amount he wrote in the check. Even Ofelia looked at her older son and gave him a quizzical look at his son’s behavior.“Why?” Jared scoffed. “Let’s just say I love this place. I grew up here and...” His lips curved into a smile, causing my heart to beat strangely. “I love the pond idea.”Katie giggled when he winked at her, but she moved her lips from side to side as she turned her head at the paper I held because Gino seemed could not take his eyes off it.Jared returned the checkbook to his bag and took it. “I changed my mind, mom. I’m staying a day or two.”“Huh?” Gino furrowed his eyebrows. “I thought you’ll leave after talking to the owner?” Gino asked before their mother could raise the question.He smirked. “The drive here was not a joke, Gino.” He looked at Katie. “Besides, if my dad fills the pond with water alone, it’ll take years
(Aya’s POV)I waited until Katie was finally asleep before getting out of bed. I kissed her forehead again and took the folder and a pouch before exiting the bedroom. I found Aunt Mae smiling and sitting on the couch, browsing her phone. When I got closer, I saw she was looking at the photos she had taken a while ago, mainly of Katie’s.“Your daughter’s so adorable,” she chuckled, zooming in on her picture. “We have one of these in Myra’s photos her age. It’s like looking at her when she’s four.”I sat beside Aunt Mae, placing the envelope and the pouch beside me, and leaned closer to look at the picture.“You know she’s not my daughter...” My voice trailed off as I stared, panic-stricken, at my aunt.She tilted her head and nodded, pursing her lips as she held my hand. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m here, Aya. Myra asked for my help and -”As if I was burnt by the name she mentioned, I took my hand away from her and clenched my fists, placing them on my lap. I lowered my head and
(Red’s POV)“Red, what happened to the kids?” Ariana asked, her voice in a panic.I raised my head and watched my sister enter the study room, glancing back as if checking if she had closed the door behind her before she walked in my direction. My eyebrows knitted, thinking about where I last saw them an hour ago.“In the family room?” I answered, unsure. “Why?” I stopped reading the report Liam gave me a while ago.I stood up, suddenly worried at the urgency of Ariana’s voice. My sister would not be here if none of my kids had contacted her, especially Violet. My eyes narrowed, thinking what the problem could be. I walked toward the door, hoping they were still in the family room.“Green called me,” she answered, following me as I exited the study room. “God, I know they were just with me yesterday, but Red, when he called me, and everyone’s talking to me at the same, I panicked.”I must have absorbed the panic in my sister’s body because fear and worry crept through me when I saw th
(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