(Aya’s POV)I lowered my head, not wanting him to see the tears shimmering in my eyes and the anger on my face.“You will never be happy, Aya,” He muttered angrily as if cursing me. “You’re no different from this parure.”My lips trembled, pursing my lips and breathing hard before speaking again. “I’m glad I did not choose you, Ryan,” I sniffled, hating him for breaking my heart this way.Couldn’t he just say he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me?“You wasted my time and money,” he said, taking his wallet from his suit jacket’s pocket.“Then don’t pay for this,” I gritted my teeth.“Let this be my parting gift to you,” he murmured angrily, standing up and leaving cash more than the cost he spent for the champagne and whatever he ordered in advance.I pressed my lips as I held my tears, hoping they would not flow down my cheeks. Sniffling, I raised my head and watched Ryan leave the restaurant. I made the mistake of closing my eyelids as it pressed the tears from my eyes.“Re
(Red’s POV)“What happened, baby?”To question what had occurred was stupid because I knew exactly what had happened today except for their conversation inside the restaurant. Liam and Mike interrogated me last night as if I was guilty of a crime, asking me if I had fallen in love with Aya to waste time and effort in making her believe I left today and would not return until Friday.Yes. No. Maybe.All I knew was that my heart hammered in my chest as soon as I saw her in the elevator, crying, and I could not help feeling bad for myself that she was forced to break up with her boyfriend because of my kids and me. When I opened my arms to her, she ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, burying her face into my chest as she cried. I embraced her, my fingers brushing her hair, hoping it would ease her pain. I sighed, wanting to apologize for getting in the way of having a promising future with Ryan.I let her cry for a while, and when she had stopped sobbing, I moved slightly awa
(Aya’s POV)I imagined getting drunk with Ariana or Addie tonight, drowning myself in alcohol while I cursed Ryan for being so mean to me, but after seeing Red, my drop-dead gorgeous husband, I felt relieved. After surprising me with his presence, gifts, and dinner, thinking of my favorite food instead of his, I could not stop myself from crying.As I always told myself, Utopia does not exist, but tonight, with Red’s arms wrapped around my body, I found myself in a place where everything was perfect. When he kissed my head, I wished his lips were pressed on mine, but I might wake up and realize this was all but a part of my dream after that horrible breakup with Ryan.“Let’s have that dinner. We don’t want to disappoint Fabian,” he chuckled, moving slightly away from me and tugging me to the table.He pulled the chair for me and kissed my cheek when I was settled. I watched him walk and sit on the chair across from me.“Why are you doing all these, Red?” I bit my bottom lip.I had to
(Aya’s POV) My eyes were shimmering with tears, and my heart overflowed with potent emotions I thought I would never feel again. I never expected Red could put back the pieces of my heart together, making me feel alive and happier. He moved closer to me, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my body as he rested his head on my shoulder. We watched the fireworks shattering bright sparks of colors, making the sky look enchanting and beautiful. “No one has ever made me so happy, Red,” I sniffled, thinking that even Gino had never made me feel this way. I turned around, not wanting my tears to flow down my cheeks, but happiness was overwhelming inside me. My whole body trembled as I gazed at my husband, looking divine before me. Who would have thought I could have my happy ending with Red? “I’ll do everything for you, Aya,” Red said, kissing my forehead. “It’s hard to believe, but you made my heart beat again,” he smiled softly and then pressed his lips on the tip of my nose
(Aya’s POV)“That bastard!” Addie growled in anger, clenching her fists like she was ready to punch Ryan if he was around.We had not arrived home yet, still in the driveway, when Liam called, asking him if it was okay for him to join the meeting. With nothing to do since the kids were already asleep, I told Red I would chat with Addie in the study room. I only went to our bedroom to keep the parure and change my clothes, wanting to avoid walking around the house with my red dress.I told her everything, but not what happened after Ryan left. I needed another day for that, perhaps tomorrow or the next day. She shifted to her seat, leaning to her side and glancing at Leslie, who was still in an online meeting.I raised my eyebrows when Addie scoffed. “For someone who went through that hell of a date, you seemed different.”“Different?” I choked, shaking my head. “How can I be different?” I chuckled softly.“You look -” She pursed her lips when the door opened.Red’s head peered at the
(Aya’s POV)I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom as soon as Red came out. I knew he glanced in my direction, startled but ignored me and walked toward the walk-in closet. I spent the entire hour taking a bath, pampering my skin with fragrant lotions, drying my hair leisurely, and choosing the sexiest sleepwear I could find in my closet.Still, when I was done, I hoped that Red had fallen asleep, not caring much about the effort I exerted for tonight. I stepped outside the walk-in closet and leaned on the doorframe, seeing him still awake and reading a baking cookbook Violet gave me.My lips curved into a smile as I gazed at him, looking adorable as he narrowed his eyes at my book.“How do you prepare something so delicious like this?” He asked without looking at me.“Have you chosen what you like? I’ll try baking it,” I said, getting his attention.He raised his head, and I was sure his jaw dropped, and then licked his lips, his brown eyes slowly sweeping over my face to my bla
(Aya’s POV)While people loved to indulge in the sin of eating cakes or pastries, it was the process of baking I fell in love with. This may be a part of my job, but whenever I baked, I got myself lost in my own adventure, from preparing the ingredients until the dough transformed into something delightful.When Red told me he knew one way of baking without stepping out of our bedroom, his deep voice and the way he said it was so sexy that he seemed to have turned on the oven inside me. Red and I had brought the missing ingredient, the stirring emotions of falling in love with each other that spread the fire inside me when he claimed my mouth.I parted my lips, releasing a sensuous sigh as Red caressed my bottom lip, licking and nibbling playfully before thrusting his tongue between my lips and delving deeper into my mouth. I moaned and eagerly tangled my tongue with his, and like him, I explored deeper, tasting the sweetness of his kiss.This feeling was brand new; there was exciteme
(Red’s POV)It was entirely logical for me to feel sexually attracted to Aya; that was what I felt the first time I saw her sitting in the study room for her interview. Hiring her was a mistake, but firing her made me insane. I proposed to her not because she was my only choice but because something about her fascinated me, and her saying yes intrigued me more.I knew she had the piece of my heart the first time we met, but I was a coward to admit it to her because I thought she preferred to be with a woman. It was not difficult to love a woman like her, and I was willing to do everything to make her heart forget about her painful past.I was not expecting this to happen, kissing and touching Aya. This was like a dream, having her in my arms, hearing her moan my name many times, whimpering and shivering her body with my touch and kisses.This was embarrassing to admit, but I had never done it with Scarlett before, as she did not like me kissing her on her private part. With Aya, I fel
(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