Briana POVI could not breathe.My lungs felt stuffy, and my cheeks were growing warm.The promise and the threat in Noah's words sent a warm tingle to my spine.But I can’t just let myself be swayed.I let myself believe him once, and where did that get me?I ended up a divorcee, and my children did not know their father for the first years of their lives.What if he dumped me again?So many thoughts ran in my head. I had gone completely blank and totally ignored Noah.“I have to go back to the office,” I told the triplets while the wait staff cleared our table.“You just got hewe.” Brixx commented with a long face.Mason and Riley joined in the protest.“Mommy has pending work to do, and I have a meeting in thirty minutes.”“We still have time. I want to go to the park. I want to try biking here. You promised we would ride the bike.” It was Riley, laying the guilt trip on me.My expression sank.I really don’t want to stay a little longer around their father. I don’t want to feel
BrianaI decided it was time to lay down my cards and let Noah know about any misgivings I had in this setup.He wanted to prove himself not as a father to his children but as a partner to me. He wanted us to try again.But that would be asking me for a lot. If I agreed to his request, that would mean shedding my armor and making myself vulnerable.It took me five years to slowly build up my armor, and now Noah is asking me to throw it away.“Your proposal was admirable. But we were only wasting our time if I can't trust you. Let's cut ourselves some slack. Let's stop this now and find something workable for us and the children. I am sure when they grow older, they will understand."
Briana POV“You okay, Daddy?” I heard Riley ask Noah the moment we got back to our table.My eldest is becoming a daddy’s boy. I envied Noah. It did not take him long to get the triplets’ affection.Despite the four-year absence, I could see that the triplets already loved their father and depended on him.In fairness to Noah, I could also see how he loves the triplets. He was ready to drop everything for the children.He was also ready to make our relationship work for them.“He said he loves me.” I sent my best friend Hanna a text.I noticed she had been silent lately and realized I had been too preoccupied with so many things that I had forgotten about her.So, when I got the chance, I tried calling her. I assumed she was busy since she was not answering my call.After waiting for her response, I suddenly remembered it was her birthday today.“Noah, I reserved a room for the children for their nap. You can sleep with them."Noah met my statement with a frown."What about you?""Ca
Hanna POVI was out in a meeting when my secretary called me.As head of the marketing department, I sometimes go outside to meet potential clients or people from the print and broadcast industry for adverts.My secretary called to tell me someone was waiting for me at the office.Since the meeting was just inside the hotel - in one of our restaurants, I marched back to my room right after concluding the meeting.I was all smiles.The client wanted to book the hotel for their company conference. It was a huge company comprising two hundred employees.I started planning in my head and got so busy, so it came as a surprise to me when I got to my office and found my best friend waiting for me.“Briana!”She is holding a cake with a small lighted candle in the middle, singing a happy birthday song.Other employees joined in the singing.My eyes misted.My mother had forgotten it was my birthday - even my sister. Dad is dead, so there was not much to expect.But the two living relatives fo
Hanna POVAfter a while, Briana got a phone call and looked apologetically at me before taking the call.“It’s Noah. He said the kids were awake and were looking for me.” She shared after she ended the call.I rose from the chair.Seeing what I did, Briana rose from her seat, too.“Oh, I forgot to give you this.” She rummaged through her bag to pull out a jewelry box. My eyes widened in alarm.“Briana, you don’t have to,” I told her when she handed me the box.She grinned. “It was a present from Woodside. I have been meaning to give that to you. I always forget. I figured now’s as good a time as any.”I opened the box and smiled. It was a gold bracelet with a rose design in the middle. “It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed.Briana smiled. “I am glad you like it. I chose the rose design because the yellow rose symbolizes friendship and loyalty.” I bit my lip. “Briana, I…”I hesitated. Should I tell her about my relationship with Britney?Briana misinterpreted my reaction.“It’s alright.
Briana POV“What are you talking about?” Hanna sputtered like the idea was cringy.Her body shook, telling me that she found the idea repulsive.Yet I could feel something in her response. It was exaggerated; meaning, she was trying to shake the idea off my head.She also looked flustered, which tells me she’s not telling the entire truth.“Nothing," I replied and saw her visibly relaxed.But the idea of having Hanna as a sister-in-law appealed to me. So I persisted. Who knows..."You can tell me if you like my brother. I can set you up on a date with Rowan, or if you like Flint…” My voice trailed off when she rejected my offer vehemently.Hanna shook her head, a mocking smile lacing her lips.“No. I’m fine.”“Okay. But if you change your mind, you know you can always come up to me.” I told her.Hanna glared at me, telling me to stop, and I only laughed her reaction off.“Positive. Dating is far from my mind at the moment. I just got promoted. I need to show the company and my boss t
Briana POV“Where have you been? I was frantic with worry.” Noah greeted me after finally showing up at home.It was past the children’s bedtime.Noah leaned close and sniffed my hair.“You smelled cigarettes and alcohol. Where did you go?” Suspicion laced his voice.“I was just at the hotel.”Noah frowned. “Yet you did not bother to call me back or tell me? I had been calling you countless times, Briana.”I walked past him. I am not in the mood to face his scrutiny and interrogation. All I want is to lie in bed and rest.I feel so tired.Noah clamped on my arm and tugged. “Hey. What’s wrong? Do you have a problem? I thought we would try to make our relationship work. Why are you suddenly growing cold on me?”The gentleness in his tone was a mockery to me.When I remembered what Britney told me, my heart was being squeezed painfully in my chest.I squeezed my eyes shut.“I am sorry. I don’t think I can do this.” I told him frankly when our eyes met.“Why? Tell me your reasons so I
Briana POVWhen I woke up the following morning, I did not find the children in their room.Their nannies said that they were in the kitchen.I padded the floor on bare feet to join them.Since I got in late last night, Noah tucked them in.Breakfast and dinners were a sacred time for our family.When I entered the kitchen, the first person I saw was Noah. He was busy flipping burgers while the children waited at the island counter.They occupied a long stool each. Riley propped his elbows on the counter while Brixx spun his stool left and right.On the other hand, Mason was lyi
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
Flint POVI saw a myriad of emotions playing on Anna’s face and it made me want to crush her to my chest to offer assurance. I am a Ford.I have everything, but when it comes to Anna, I felt lacking as a man. Of course, it was different with our daughter.Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to be the only man for her, not just the father of her daughter? I wanted to be the best man for them both. “One day, I will make you fall in love with me,” I told her and saw her taken aback. I wanted to add that I will erase every feeling she has for my brother.I will be the only man she would need. The wedding ended. “Congratulations.” The priest held out his hand to send us his best wishes. He even patted Penelope’s head, making her giggle. “You have a lovely daughter.” He told us.Anna and I exchanged a look. She smiled, feeling proud of our daughter. I was, too. We did not linger. Our group left the church and ended up in the parking lot, where we went in separate directions.
Anna/Linda POVIt was not a grand wedding.The only attendees to our wedding were Flint, Penelope, and me.A man I did not know rose from the back pew to approach us."Goldstone!" Flint said in greeting when the man neared us.They shook hands while my eyes surveyed the church.A red carpet was laid in the center aisle decked with flowers. The church was prepped for a simple and solemn wedding."This is Anna, my soon-to-be wife. My Queen, I want you to meet Goldstone, our family's magician. He solv
Anna/Linda POVThe whole ride to Flint’s home, Penelope clung to her father.It was not a problem since Flint did not want to let her go either. He would point out the other cars outside the window, and Penelope would watch them race past us. Sometimes, he would make faces at her, and she would try to mimic them.They also played peek-a-boo. From time to time, Flint would cover his face with his palm, and Penelope would pull up or down the hand that blocked his face from her sight. And when she exposed his face, Flint would cry.“Peek-a-boo!” “Boo!” Penelope would shout before she broke into giggles. From time to time, the father-daughter tandem would include me in their play. When Flint noticed I was looking outside the window, he would pull me close to him and our daughter. One time, he wrapped an arm around my waist while his other hand supported Penelope, who bounced on his lap, enjoying the ride. It was a rare treat for Penelope.What makes this moment even more special