Hello loves, Hope you like the two chapters I uploaded before the day ends. Thank you for patiently waiting. Love, J Cruz
Noah POVBriana looked like she was geared for battle earlier, but upon hearing my statement, she wilted like a day-old flower.A ghost of a smile laced my lips, knowing how my words affected her.It was not just talk on my part. I can and will do anything to protect her and the children. They are my life now.Briana excused herself. She wanted to go to the bathroom.I showed her and waited outside.“Chris, get all my files on Luke Bennett,” I instructed my assistant when he answered my call.Chris has always been a capable assistant. He manages the fort while I am away. I heard some rustling of papers and knew he was putting away whatever paperwork he held to attend to my orders.“I put it in one file, boss. Where do you want me to send it?”“My email.”“Done, boss,” Chris said before I received a notification on my phone alerting me of a new message.I checked the files and nodded in silence.“Thanks for this, Chris. Also, arrange for a meeting with Luke Bennett within two hours.”
Noah POVWhen we reached Luke Bennett’s office, he pretended not to notice our arrival as he continued reading from the paper he was holding.He was trying to stall us. He was making it appear that we are at his mercy.I cleared my throat to get his attention.When he raised his head, it was to meet my impatient gaze.He did not smile as he acknowledged our presence.“Hunter, come in.” He said, referring to me and ignoring Briana purposely.I knew he was trying to make her uncomfortable, but Briana was holding her fort. I could not be prouder at the way she was holding herself. Proud and beautiful.I stepped inside. Briana followed close behind me.I itched to hold her hand to stake my claim, but that would demean Briana’s power in the eyes of our host.“I did not come here for chitchat,” I told him before throwing the folder Chris handed me to his desk.“What’s this?”Luke Bennett asked as he picked the folder from the table.I waited for his reaction when he opened the file and was
Noah POV“I am sorry,” Briana said when we were riding the elevator on our way down to the lobby of Bennett Holdings.The battle with Luke Bennett is over. I didn’t think that it would be that easy.I heaved a sigh of relief, knowing we already averted the crisis.I thought Luke would make it hard for us.I knew how much he wanted Briana to be his trophy wife, but he conceded early.“For what?” I asked, clueless.“You warned me against him, but I did not listen.” She explained, referring to Luke Bennett.Briana seemed lost in thought.I knew that she was blaming herself for trusting Luke Bennett.That is how Briana is. She takes people at face value, which sometimes could be her bane and a blessing.Briana has a pure heart. She believes that every person is good unless proven otherwise.“It was not your fault. You were angry at me. You don’t trust me that time. I hope that after this, you will trust me more. You should know that I will always put your best interests at heart. I love
Marcus POV“Have you talked to Briana?” Martina asked.I do not want to respond, but I can't keep her anxious for long. She was also worried about my sister.Briana is her friend, too.“Yeah. Briana and Noah will be here in a while.” I told her and stood up.“Marcus.” She said in her soft, feathery voice that involuntarily sent shivers down my spine.The feelings she evoked in me were unexpected and unwelcome, so my response was a bit harsh.“What?”She was taken aback. I itched to reach out a hand to comfort her.“I am sorry. I did not mean to be rude."She winced.“Can’t we at least be civil to each other?” She asked.I closed my eyes, summoning strength. Martina is the only woman I want, but she kept rejecting me. How can I get over her if she wants us to be civil to each other?I brushed my hair back and looked wearily at her.“Do you know how many times I wanted to grab you when you passed by me? We can’t be friends.” I told her, shaking my head to compound my words.My voice
Marcus POV“What do you mean?” Martina swallowed hard.I knew that she was nervous. It was not my intention to make her upset, but her hard-headedness upsets me, too. She was stubbornly spurning me at every turn, and it was starting to freak me out.“You heard me. If I found out that you are pregnant with my child, you won’t shoo me that easily.” I retorted in a strained voice due to my mounting frustration.Can’t Martina see what she was doing to me?My patience is slowly dipping low, and I can’t hold back the threat that escaped my lips.“I am not getting you off the hook.”Martina looked shaken by my threat.“I am not going to be pregnant.” She declared like she was sure of it.I cocked a brow.“How can you be so sure?”It gave me immense satisfaction to see her blush.I walked toward to close the gap between us.Martina fought me all the way.With every step I took, Martina stepped back until she reached the wall, and there was no way she could escape me.I chuckled at the look of
Marcus POV“You are scaring her, Marcus.” Briana accused after Martina ran out of the room like a scared rabbit.She was Briana’s friend. It won’t come as a surprise to me that she would take Martina’s side. Though I am her brother, Briana had a soft spot for Martina.Probably because they shared the same experience, Martina grew up in the orphanage, the same as my sister. The only difference was that Braina was taken in by the Hunters when she was six. Martina remained in the orphanage until she turned eighteen. Since eighteen is considered an adult, the system let her go to fend for herself. She started working to support herself until Briana met her and hired her to be her assistant.High-strung, I brushed my hair back in frustration.“I was so tired of our push-and-pull set-up. Something has to give. It’s either me or her, but I can’t let go, Briana.” I told my sister sadly.“But you know it’s hard for Martina to trust people. Unlike me, nobody wanted her. Imagine spending ei
Marcus POVThat night, I came home to the usual chaos at the dinner table.The children were happily eating their meal together with the adults.“Daddy M! Let’s eat.” Riley invited me when he saw me at the entrance to the dining hall.As usual, Noah Hunter sits at the table with them.My other two elder siblings, Charles and Rowan do not seem to mind.Briana got up to get me a plate. “I thought you were dining out?” She asked.“Who told you?” I asked, eyes turning sharp.Briana’s expression changed. She must have realized her slip.“I just thought you would eat out.” She said, shrugging.I let it slide.If there had been anyone who had access to her, it was her assistant, Martina. She must have told Briana what she heard earlier.An involuntary grin laced my lips. It gave me immense pleasure to realize that all this while, Martina had been eavesdropping. She pretended not to care, but her actions gave her away all the time.If she was not interested, she wouldn’t be listening to my
Marcus POVI watched my brothers disappear inside their rooms individually, but my feet were reluctant to do the same. My room does not appear inviting at the moment.In the end, I let it carry me outside.I took my car and drove around until I stopped at a low-cost apartment building.I pulled at the curb and looked up at Martina’s unit before glancing at the dashboard clock.It was past midnight, but the light on Martina's unit was still up. She was not asleep yet.I decided to watch and wait for some movement above, but when there was none, something told me to turn the engine off, and I got out of the car.I walked to her doorstep, hesitating.Then, I knocked on her door. There was no answer.I pressed my ear to the door to check if there was movement inside, and when I heard none, I started to panic. What if something happened to her? What if criminals came to her house to rob her?“Martina!” I knocked once again and waited.When there was still no response, I started pounding o