Hello, My loves,
First off, I would like to thank each and everyone of you who has reached this far.
At first, I didn’t think that you would still join me as I delved into the lives of the other characters after I concluded the main story.
But boy! You all surprised me!
Your comments, reviews, gems and rewards not only help the book, it also helped me organize my thoughts, and how I would have wanted the story to unfold.
I make it a point to take note of your suggestions because this is as much your story as it is mine.
I wanted to write what my readers wanted to read. Although, sometimes, I can’t grant your requests, I make concessions in some other way. Like in the case of Melani Mare-Botha. She so wanted a baby girl for Briana’s fourth child, but he turned out to be a boy. I'm sorry I had to disappoint her.
I hope I was able to make it up in Rowan and Hanna’s story. Their baby’s gender is a girl.
Again, thank you everyone.
As I have said in my first author’s note, Marcus' story will come in next, followed by Flint’s story, then Brent’s.
I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I would writing them.
See you, my loves.
J Cruz
Book three: Marcus StoryMarcus POVAfter putting my signature on the last folder on my desk, I began to stretch.Then, I picked up the office phone to ask my assistant if there were pending works I needed to review or sign.When she said none, I rose from my desk and headed to my sister's office next door."Hey sis, aren’t you leaving?”At the sound of my voice, Briana smiled and pulled her gaze away from the documents she was reading.It was after office hours, but my sister did not look li
Marcus POVMy expression soured instantly at the unexpected sight of her.Why, of all times, did she pick this day to show up?I am moving on.“What are you doing here, Martina?” My voice came out harsh.I did not intend for it to sound like that, but Martina's unexpected presence opened up old wounds.It was like a dam had broken up inside me, and the deluge of emotion was uncontrollable.I can’t fight it even if I want to.I was fi
Marcus POVI heaved a sigh when I saw her at the same spot where I left her.My heart felt constricted when I looked at her.She looked pitiful - her hair swaying gently in the wind and her eyes staring off into space.Anger burgeoned inside me.I do not want to feel this.I shouldn’t be feeling this.I hated her.I pulled near her and opened the passenger side window.&ldqu
Marcus POVI rolled off her and stood up naked from the couch.Then, I picked up my ringing phone from the pocket of my dress pants.“Hello, Belle. I am sorry, something came up. Are you still at the restaurant? Okay, don’t leave. I will meet you there in a while.”From my peripheral view, I saw Martina sit up to pick up the pieces of her clothes I strewed around us, cradling them to her chest.The sight made me want to take a dig at her.I wanted to get a reaction out of spite.“I miss you,&
Marcus POVWhen I got down to the lobby, there was no sign of Martrina.I jogged to the parking area, but while doing so, my head kept turning around, and my eyes searched her figure to no avail.Realizing she had already left, I got in my car and drove to the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Belle.While driving, my brows furrowed. Until now, it has not sunk in my head that Martina showed up.Her haunched face haunted me. I know I hated her, but something about her expression made me want to reach out and comfort her.It was hard to maintain my stance.&nb
Martina POVIt was ten minutes to six. I half-run toward Marcus' apartment complex in a hurry. It was an upscale apartment building with a view of the harbor and quick access to downtown. I shrugged. What do I expect from someone as rich as Marcus?His taste is topnotch except for women because he chose me when he can have anyone he wants. At the thought, my expression soured. I remembered Marcus' expression when he talked on the phone. I was sure it was the same girl calling him when I was in his car. His caller ID says her name was Belle. I smirked.I was sure it was not his assistant, Belle. Call it a woman’s gut feeling. She was not a person related to his work. You don’t take calls from your assistant after having s*x with your ex-wife and tell her you miss her unless you are a total j*rk.The Marcus I remembered was not that kind of person. He was protective of his family and responsible. It was the reason I swallowed my pride and came to him after two years. He was the
Martina POVWe settled into some routine. Every day, I would come by at six am, and by lunchtime, I would have finished the household chores and left.On my second day, Marcus showed me the password to his unit so he would not have to get up from bed to open the door when I arrived.I was surprised because it was our wedding day.I didn’t know if he really kept the date all this time or if it was some ploy to get a rise out of me.When I glanced furtively at him the first time he showed me, his face did not have any expression. If he had forgotten or was simply faking it, beats me.
Martina POVAfter pocketing the small brown envelope Marcus handed me containing my salary for the week, I stared at his closed door, debating within myself.I shook my head and walked away, deciding to write a note to him instead, and stuck it to the fridge.The note says I am leaving for the day.I was hesitant to face him and bid him farewell after he slammed the door shut in my face.The note will suffice. It would just be for when he looks for me, which I highly doubt.Marcus steers clear from me.
Anna/Linda POVFlint stared at me like I had grown another head or something.It was disconcerting.This is why I rarely tell people who I am."Flint," I called him, afraid he would change his mind about me."Sorry." Flint shook his head as if he was still trying to let the information sink in and was trying to absorb it."Any more secrets I should know?" Flint asked.Now it was my turn to look stunned."You didn't think it was
Flint POV“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admitted to Brent while drinking vodka in a private room inside the Blue Canyon, a country club in Redwood where we both enjoyed VIP memberships.“Why don’t you ask her? Instead of overthinking and suspecting your brother, go to your wife and seek the answers to all the questions crowding your head.”“I really love talking to you, Brent. You are like a cold bath - scary but necessary.” I told him bluntly.Brent chuckled.“You needed it.”I clapped Brent on the back.“Thanks.”“Let’s go. It’s two in the morning, and the manager had been giving us deadly looks already. I think this club is closing for the day.”After Brent settled the bill, we rose from our seats and ambled back to his car.I left my c
Briana POVAfter the police officers took my three brothers, I got back on my desk and sat morosely there.“Where are your brothers? I thought you had an emergency meeting?” Noah asked, disrupting my solitude.I looked at him sharply. “They were at the police station.”Noah opened the door wider and walked in.He loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He looked tired, but he was looking at me with love in his eyes.It had been four years since I took a chance on him, and his love never wavered. In truth, it had intensified through the years.
Flint POVI could not believe it.Brinaa had us arrested! The f*ck!After the police handcuffed the three of us, Briana took our phones.“Why are you confiscating our phones? I need that!” Marcus cried.Between the three of us, he was the most uncooperative and talkative.Briana ignored him. “You will get your phones later. For now, I am going to keep it.” She promised before the police officers led us out of her study.Downstairs, I saw the household staff gathered in
Flint POVRowan’s question, asking me about fathering Anna’s baby, hangs in the air.It wrapped around us like an elephant in the room.I took in my brothers’ look, feeling like the odd man out.Can’t I be man enough to take on my responsibility? Can I not be trusted to care for my own family?The dam inside me burst, and I lashed out at my brother, Rowan.“Yes, so don’t cross my line and stop meddling in my wife’s life. They don’t need you.”Rowan stared m
Flint POV“I am not talking to you, Flint. You embarrassed me in front of Linda, and that was unforgivable.”I winced, feeling guilty.In my eagerness to defend my family, I had forgotten that Briana was never an enemy.She was my sister.“I am sorry.”“I am just looking out for you. Haven’t you forgotten how hard women tried to trap you into marriage, not because they loved you but because they loved what you represented?” She lashed out at me.I chuckled. &ldqu
Anna/Linda POV“Hey, sis! ” Flint walked toward his sister with a wriggling Penelope in his arms.When he reached her, he stooped to kiss her cheeks.Penelope saw what he did and did the same. She kissed Briana’s cheek.Briana was left stunned, especially when Penelope showed her natural cuteness.She bounced in Flint’s arms, raising her hands to clap."Yay! Kwin ver gud!" Penelope said in a stilted manner.On the other hand, Flint looked like he was ready to burst into pride. He puffed
Anna/Linda POVWe spent three days secluded in the exclusive villa Flint rented for us. It was nothing short of idyllic. Penelope had a wonderful time. “Dad-dy!” She squealed and jumped on her little feet to evade the coming waves. “Bubbles!” She would cry in gibberish, pointing at the sea foam that crowded her feet and ankles. Then she would run to Flint, and Flint would swoop down to capture her and put her to dry sand. Then, she would stroll toward the waves again, repeating the same actions until Flint rescues her.“You are silent,” Flint said when he deposited Penelope beside me. I was sitting on the sand with my legs stretched out in front of me. He quickly worked on the sand, digging with his hands and throwing them to cover my legs. It attracted Penelope, and she mimicked her father. She took clumps of sand in her hands and threw them to my legs. “You need a spade, my little Queen,” Flint said.He looked around our surroundings before his eyes focused on something no
Flint POVAfter dinner, I was excited to put Penelope to sleep, but to my chagrin, she wouldn’t sleep however hard I coaxed her.She was too busy playing with the rose petals. She kept stepping on them while she walked around our rented villa.“Maybe she loved the downy feel of the rose petals on her soles.” Anna offered a likely explanation for our daughter’s seeming propensity for the flowers.She even pulled her shoes off before she jumped, skipped, and kicked on the petals covering the floor.I dropped my head playfully in response, but inside, I was dying for Penelope to lay her head on the bed so t