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
Noah POVI am losing her.I thought showing her my love - giving her time and effort would make her come back to me.But right now, I am feeling that she is slowly slipping away.And it breaks my heart in two.She left the kitchen, and I followed upstairs.She went straight to her room while I said goodbye to my kids. The children were enrolled in the best school in Redwood and will start school in a week.“Daddy! Let’s paint!” Mason called me when he spotted me standing by the doorway.He was sitting on a small artist's chair. The mini easel on his front hangs a small canvas.I watched while he wielded colors on the canvas and could say we have a fine artist in the making.He wields his brush like an expert, creating a dramatic fusion of colors.As a connoisseur, I could tell my son had talent.“Wow, son! This is great!”“Mason studied art back in Woodside. He had a solo exhibition last year. This year, the Ford Empire will sponsor another exhibition for him.” It was Marcus.I did n
Noah POVI saw her stumped.But when she recovered, tears pooled in her eyes.“But what is love without trust?” She countered.“How can I love you without trusting you?” She added when I did not respond.At the same time, the light turned green, and I had to start
Briana POV“I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!” I mumbled the words like a mantra while I marched to my office.My heavy steps, emphasized by the hard clacking of my heels on the floor, echoed in the lobby, attracting unwanted attention.I don't care.I was so p*ssed!Most of the employees I came across would try to avoid me, not wanting to become the target of my ire.I was genial most of the time, but Noah p*ssed me off big time.Martina, who followed me after I walked out, openly laughed at me.She tried to stifle her laughter, but it came out as a
Briana POVMatina is crazy. I thought to myself later.I can’t accept what she said that I was s*xually frustrated; that is why I explode on Noah all the time.My phone rang, and it was him.Martina and I were at the hotel’s spa at that time. I realized what I needed was a good body massage to relax.“I brought the triplets to the butterfly sanctuary near Rosewood Hotel. Can we drop by later for a snack?”“Okay.” I agreed.I assumed Martina and I would be finished by then.I also went to inquire about the banners he posted around Redwood City.
Briana POVI heard a moan, which sounded so much like it came from me.I was about to pull back when I heard Noah’s groan.The kiss became volatile. It was like Noah couldn't get enough of me.I can’t get enough of him, too.His heady taste, the warm feel of his body enveloping mine, reminds me so much of the years before our separation. I was ready if Noah decided to take me right there and then, but it seemed like he was not.He pulled back. We were both panting while staring at each other.“Why did you stop?” I said in between my pants.Noah cupped my face with his palms. His movements and gaze were tender.“It’s not the right time.”I pouted. Sexual frustration made my body shiver involuntarily.“I am dying here,” I admitted.Noah leaned and pressed our foreheads together. “So, do I. God knows how much I wanted to, but you deserve to be worshipped. I want to pay homage to your body for bringing my triplets into this world.”I nearly cried in frustration, but Noah continued.“Unt
Noah POVNight of the Party.I watched Briana the minute she stepped inside the reception area for the senior Bennett’s anniversary party. She was flanked by her four brothers on both sides.Charles, her eldest brother, had his arm around his wife's shoulder.They looked formidable from the outset. Two beautiful young women and four dashing young men – all have the power to command attention.Their presence seemed to magnify the whole place, making everyone seem insignificant in comparison.Briana looked stunning in her gown with her upswept hair. She looked regale, like a princess from a fairy tale with her four bodyguards.Her four brothers looked dapper in their matching suits. She was their Queen. Jenna, Charles’s wife, looked pale in comparison to her.I chuckled secretly to myself while my eyes swept the grand ballroom. Who am I kidding?No one compares to her. Briana's beauty glowed, and all eyes, especially male ones, were enraptured by her beauty.My jaw clenched when I saw
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