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
Martina POVI walked the short distance from the parking lot to the entrance of the Rosewood Hotel with bags in my eyes.Marcus’s midnight visit caused me to lose sleep.When he left my apartment last night, I quickly went back to the shower to rinse the sudsy water from my body.All the while, I was cursing him in my head.Why did he have to show up? Was he trying to rub in my face the fact that he just got out of a date with Chloe?He arrived at my apartment past midnight, and I doubt they only had dinner.With Marcus’ caliber, I was sure they did more.“Excuse me!” A man’s voice interrupted me from my musing.Surprised, I turned around to check and saw men walking toward me. They each carry an elaborate flower arrangement in their hands.I stopped and stepped to the right to let them pass.“Good morning, Martina.” The bellhop greeted me at the entrance.I frowned when I noticed a parade of flower baskets ahead of me. “Do we have a special event today, Joe?”Joe shook his head and s
Martina POVEveryone gasped.It was the first time Marcus told Ford Empire employees his intention toward me.“What are you doing?” I hissed, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.Marcus smirked. “I am courting you.” He said out loud, and everyone started teasing us.There were tweets, whistles, and heckles all around us.Some even clapped Marcus’ back approvingly.“Way to go, Marcus! Don’t let Martina say no.”I smiled at her. People around us had this knowing look on their faces.“Martina, don’t just stand there. Don’t let Marcus wait, or someone might snap him up.” Belle, one of my co-workers, snickered.Marcus wiggled his eyebrows. “See? Stop putting me in misery, Martina.” He joined in the good-natured teasing.I was about to make a searing comeback to reject him, but Marcus intercepted my intent. He grabbed my hand,d and amidst cheering from our small audience, he dragged me out of the office and out of Rosewood Hotel.“Where are you taking me?” I asked when he locked the doo
BrianaBack at the Office.“Where is Martina, and why does my office look like a flower shop?” I asked everyone when I came to my office that morning, and the sight of blooms lining the floor, counters, and tabletops greeted me.Roses, Tulips, Hydrangeas, and Stargazer Lilies were elaborately arranged in bouquets and baskets, creating a satisfying blend of colors. It was actually lovely.At first, I thought it came from Noah, and my heart began beating fast with excitement.Then, I realized the flowers were arranged on my assistant's table, and a hunch formed in my head.One of my employees confirmed my hunch for me.“Didn’t you see them? Marcus took Martina away. The flowers came from him.” Belle, Marcus’ assistant, informed me when the small crowd gathered outside my office started to disperse following my arrival.“What happened?” I asked Belle.“Marcus is courting Martina. Would you believe it?” Belle’s high-pitched voice could not mask her excitement.“You should have seen Martin
Noah POVIt was around lunchtime when Langley called me to inform me that he was meeting Briana to hand over the certificate of stocks my deceased parents left her.I already discussed with him the cancellation of transferring all my stocks to Briana, but I was thinking of allotting fifty percent of my shares to the triplets.“Okay, but hold off on the transfer of shares for the triplets. I have yet to discuss it with Briana.” I told him.Langley agreed, and by afternoon he called to inform me that he would be leaving for Rosewood Hotel.I was in a meeting when I got a call from Briana. Thinking there was a problem with the certificate of shares that Langley brought, I immediately answered her call.“Sweetheart, what’s up?”“Did you know that our divorce petition was denied?” She asked in a shaky voice.I did not get what she was saying, but I could sense the urgency in her tone.I stepped out of the conference room, signaling Chris to take over before leaving the meeting.“What, swe
Noah POV“How come I did not know?” I asked.It was a question I asked myself, but I did not realize I had spoken aloud. “It must be because of amnesia. You were not yourself when the verdict came down.” Langley replied.I read the entirety of the document, and beads started to form on my forehead.“It was stated here that the divorce was denied because the petitioner was not of sound mind at the time the divorce petition was filed.”What I read caused me to panic.I got up from my desk and left my room.“Where are you going?” Langley asked, confused by my behavior.
Noah POVIt amazed me how efficiently and effectively Briana took charge.She was amazing. She looked like a woman who can do anything regardless.With my bodyguards surrounding us, Briana helped me to her car.“The Rosewood Hotel has its own clinic, but I wanted to be assured of your condition if a competent neurologist will look into you.” She explained when her driver opened the door for me.She slid into the backseat after helping me and ordered the driver to the nearest hospital. In less than five minutes, the car parked at the entrance to the emergency room.Briana supported me. She wrapped an arm around my waist. And though I can manage to walk alone, I zipped my mouth shut.Who can complain when someone you love openly wraps you in her arms in broad daylight – even if it was for the wrong reasons – I would take it any time of the day.At the doctor’s clinic, the nurse gave Briana a form to fill out while the doctor asked me questions about the incident that caused us to rush t
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