Noah POVThe traffic had been light, and thirty minutes later, I pulled the car at the entrance to Rosewood Hotel.“You go ahead. I have an interview in thirty minutes.” Briana told me.Her arms reached for the snap of her seatbelt.My forehead creased into a frown.“What interview?”Briana never mentioned anything to me when we were at the house.“Remember what I told you before? Britney had to stop.”My heart raced.“What do you intend to do?”“I was just going to give her a dose of her own medicine. She abused her influence over the internet, and I intend to change that.” She said in a hard-edged voice.“Can’t we just let it go,” I asked.I felt partially guilty for what happened to Britney because I strung her along. For years, I thought she was really the love of my life until Briana’s comeback showed me that what I believed all these years was a sham.“Why? Do you love her? You don’t want to hurt her.”Briana’s lips thinned, making her insecurities appear unannounced.I did no
Noah POVI nodded. Maybe she was right.Maybe we needed to do this to stop Britney once and for all.“Alright.” I squeezed her before letting her go and taking her hand in mine.“Come. Let me walk you to your office.” I told her.I only meant to see her safe inside her office, and then I would leave. Still, when Martina informed us that the television crew that would interview Briana had arrived, I decided to follow Briana and get inside her office.I thought we had resolved our troubles before coming to Briana’s office. I had not counted that her visitors would make me antsy, making my heart feel ill at ease.I was seething when we arrived at Briana’s office and found Jimmy Ferguson, a late-night talk show host, waiting there with his staff.“Good morning, everyone. Sorry to have kept you waiting.” Briana said briskly to address Jimmy, his cameraman, and PA.Jimmy Ferguson stood from his seat, eyeing Briana with interest.The minute the door opened, he had already fixed his eyes on
Noah POVBriana gasped when I pulled her for a hug before Jimmy Ferguson could make his move on her.I saw the way he looked at her.He was attracted to my Briana.I abhor the way he looked at her.He was like a vulture ready to snap his prey.Briana returned my embrace. She must have momentarily forgotten about our visitors because she did not make any move to let go until Jimmy Ferguson cleared his throat.I felt her body go rigid at the sound of Jimmy’s throat clearing and squeezed her body to assure her.Still, I could sense Briana was embarrassed when she stepped away from me.I loosened my hold on her but did not allow her to leave my side. Instead, I snaked an arm around her and clipped her to my side, which Jimmy noticed immediately.I gloated at the envious way he looked at my arm around Briana.If he thinks that I will allow him a moment to touch what is mine, then he is highly mistaken.“Thank you, Jimmy,” Briana said.Jimmy extended his hand, and his smile brightened. “My
Briana POVI pretended to be busy for Noah’s sake.But when he closed the door behind him, I stopped the pretense and put down the pen and paper I was holding to lean back on my chair. Tiredness seemed to seep from every pore of my skin.I closed my eyes and sighed.There was a knock on the door. I knew it was Martina.“Come in.”The door opened and Martina came in.She frowned when she saw me.“What’s wrong? You looked troubled … and weary.” She sounded hesitant like she did not want to verbalize what was in her thoughts. “Has Noah left?” I asked, ignoring her comment.“Yes.” She replied, and I nodded slowly.I took a deep breath. I don’t know what I was feeling. I felt like Noah abandoned me. We had a misunderstanding, but he did not even stay to fix it.He has changed. He was not like this. Before whenever we had a misunderstanding, he wouldn’t leave my side until we made up. But now…I shook my head, wanting to dispel the sad thoughts. Maybe that’s how couples behave as they g
Noah POVI heard Briana’s surprised gasp and deepened the kiss.It was a gentle kiss aimed to soothe the pain I inflicted on her due to my insensitivity. Still, the minute my lips closed in on hers, passion burst inside me. I cannot seem to stop feeding on Briana's lips. They taste so much like honey, forgiveness, love, and lust. “I love you,” I told her when I pulled away because my phone had been ringing nonstop. “It was Langley,” I told her apologetically when I pulled the phone out of my pocket to check. Briana’s lids closed. But before that, I saw the yearning and the longing that matched my own. “Later, wife,” I promised and swiped the phone’s screen to receive Langley’s call. “What?” My voice came out harsh as it came between panting. I looked at Briana. She was panting, too. While my ears were glued to the phone, my eyes refused to abandon her face. I kept looking at her flushed face, wanting to continue where we left off. But Langley’s waiting. I took deep breaths t
Noah POV“Oral defamation case is not a criminal case in Redwood City.” My attorney explained when I told him what I wanted to do with Britney’s recent action that caused me a two-day staycation at the hospital.Brent brought a compilation of evidence against Britney. Unfortunately, we cannot file a criminal defamation case against her.“So, it was a useless case?” I asked, thoroughly disappointed.“If you want to put her behind bars, the law can’t help you.” My lawyer said, shaking his head.I clucked my tongue, feeling lost and drained.I thought I already had enough ammunition to make Britney accountable for her actions, but it seemed as if the prevailing law in Redwood restricted my hand.“Is there any other way?” I asked my lawyer, feeling discouraged that my plans won’t push through.I realized that my recent actions against Britney only showed Briana that I was protecting her when it was not my intention. Now, I intend to rectify that misconception and make Briana feel less thr
Briana POVWhen Noah left, my stomach started to churn, and my gums salivated.Bile rose from my throat.I tried to suppress it by covering my mouth with my palm but to no avail.Immediately, I rose from my seat and ran to the bathroom, where I puked my heart out.“Gwark! Gwark!”Acid spread through my throat and mouth, making me gag until another round of vomit hit me.I pushed my hair away from my face and opened the faucet to gargle tap water.Then, I pulled several paper towels from the dispenser to dab at my sweat-beading face.
Briana POVWe bought several packs of home pregnancy kits. Then, we also visited the neighboring convenience store to buy food.“The hotel has everything you need and want,” Martina commented when she saw me buy some items from the grocery that were also available in the hotel’s kitchen.“I want this brand. It’s different from our supply at the hotel.” I explained and dumped all my haul at the counter.I paid for our purchases, and we hurriedly left.“Are you ready?” Martina asked.We finished attacking the food we bought at the convenience store to stall the planned test. But now that we are full, there is nothing left to do but to face what we set out to do.“Are you?” I countered back.And we both chuckled at our silliness.“I’ll go ahead,” I told her, walking briskly to the bathroom. The faster the task is done, the better.I peed and collected samples in a small container provided in the box. Then, I soaked the white absorbent end of the strip in the urine for five to ten second
Beth POVI looked at the time and realized I had skipped lunch. My patient had a very demanding visitor. I could not leave my station because she rang the emergency bell all the time. She was gone now, and I heaved a sigh of relief.“Beth, someone’s calling you while you were attending to a patient.” My co-worker informed me when I got back from my rounds. I glanced at my phone and saw that it was Brent who called. I was about to type back a reply when Dr. Roberts called my name. “Beth, may I have a word?” My body stiffened silently, rejecting the request.I do not want to talk to Jeremy because he lied to me. I thought he was a friend, but clearly omitting that he was married while he was dating me was a big no-no for me. It was my non-negotiable. “What do you want?” I did not intend for my words to come out sharp, but what happened last night was still fresh in my mind. I trusted him, and he was one of the reputable doctors in the hospital, so it was hard to imagine him doi
Brent POVAfter ensuring Beth’s bodyguards were in place, I drove home with Krizzie.“Daddy, are you going to leave me with the triplets while you go to work?” she asked.We were seated on the bed. Krizzie was sitting in my lap while I held her long hair in one hand to tie it with a pink ribbon that she loves so much.“Yeah. It’s just for an hour or two. Aunt Briana will look after the five of you.”“Yey! Are we going to stay at the hotel?”She asked, eyes lighting up because she often visited Rosewood Hotel t
Brent POVI turned to my side to look at my daughter and Beth.Seeing them content in sleep made me smile to myself. Krizzie sure knew how to thwart her old man’s happiness. I thought as my eyes lingered on Beth. I so wanted her.It had been years, and I could not wait to meld our bodies together as I had promised earlier, but Krizzie put a damper on my plans. I chuckled to myself.At the same time, I was thankful that Beth had finally seen through the doctor. For a moment, I thought she would be heartbroken when she found out about his duplicity. Beth liked him enough to date him. That night I got back from Arkadia was the first time she had shown interest in a man after so many years. That is why the idea of her dating alarmed me. If I hadn’t acted sooner and allowed Beth to date the man, there would be no turning back for us. Beth would have been taken away from me.But fate had been kind. And a simple investigation put the doctor in a landmine. I gritted my teeth, vowi
Beth POVBrent bent his head to kiss me, but we quickly pulled apart when the door to our room was aggressively flung wide open, and our daughter came in.“Mommy! Daddy! Are we going to live in one house from now on?” She asked, eyes glowing in happiness when she noted Brent's presence inside my room, which is technically our room from now on.Brent bent to sit on his haunches and pulled Krizzie toward his lap. She was already in her PJs and was ready for bed.“You like that. Don’t you, baby?”Krizzie nodded. “Yes! I do! I always wanted to sleep beside my two favorite
Brent POV“We both made mistakes, Beth,” I said, eyeing Beth with the corner of my eye. “Release yourself from the bondage of self-blame and just savor what we have now. Life is too precious for self-recrimination and regrets. We have to keep moving forward. Let’s be happy, Beth. You, me and Krizzie.” Beth sighed. “I will try.” My hand left the steering wheel to pat the back of her hand, lying on her lap. “That’s my woman. Do it because from now on, I don’t want you to be unhappy, Beth. I wanted to fill our lives with laughter and happiness.”“Daddy, can we go to the playground to play?” Krizzie butted in at the back when we were near one of the famous indoor playground facilities in Redwood. I turned my head to look at Beth, seeking her opinion.Since it was a Friday and Krizzie had no classes the following day, Beth nodded her assent. “Sure, baby,” I said before entering the facility’s parking area.We went to a gated playground with slides and cute trees. Krizzie had a gr
Beth POVI watched Briana’s back as she strolled to her family’s car. Noah waited for her. He assisted her as she climbed into the car before he followed suit. Looking at Noah Hunter earlier, I admit I was guilty as Brent has charged, but seeing Briana Hunter in person made me feel awed by her personality.She was like a goddess who had descended from Mt. Olympus. Her striking beauty and genteel personality took my breath away. I shook my head to give clarity to my brain. “I didn’t think Briana Hunter could be so..” I looked around, floundering for words. Brent grinned. “The Fords are an inspiration. Not only were they gifted with good looks and richness beyond mere imagination, but they were passionate people. They love and hate with equal intensity. But more importantly, they were all family-oriented individuals. To be their friend is a privilege.” Brent explained. “Will they accept me? I didn’t have so many friends outside the medical field.” I told him honestly, afraid that
Brent POVBeth looked so starstruck that I had to flick my hands before her face to get her attention.“You like Noah Hunter?” I asked, feeling a surge of the green-eyed monster unexpectedly. Beth laughed. “Are you jealous, Mr. Anderson?” She asked in a rare display of coquettishness. I glared at her. “What if I am? What are you going to do about it?” I said in a challenging tone. Beth looked happy. There was a glow in her eyes that was not there before.She dropped my hand suddenly, which made me halt in my tracks in surprise.Fear slowly spread all over me. I shook my head. “Don’t you dare chase another man, Beth? Noah Hunter is so very in love with his wife. He worships the ground she walks on. You don’t have a chance.” Beth’s smile grew wider. She was eyeing me with a glint in her eyes which made me uneasy. Did I offend her?Was she p*ssed?Would she slap me for speaking my mind?“You already promised me to work on our relationship. Don’t dare break that promise, Beth.”
Beth POVThe genuine happiness on Krizzie’s face was one I did not often see. “Are we going to live in one house from now on?” She asked hopefully. I met Brent’s gaze over Krizzie’s head, and the silent question splashed over his face. I turned to our daughter, realizing that I had failed to give her a happy home. “Don’t.” Brent mouthed when our gazes locked, seeming to know what was happening inside my head.I nodded, but could not help the sadness that crept into my heart.“Would you like us to live under one roof?” I asked our daughter. I did not have to wait. Krizzie’s resounding yes filled the air. She let go of our hands to clap them together. “Yipee! Mommy, Daddy, and Krizzie are going to live in one house.” She cried, her eyes glowing.When we reached the parking lot, we saw the Hunter triplets. They were Krizzie’s friends. “Riley! Brixx! Mason!” She called them. The three simultaneously looked in our direction.I had to laugh at the same expression plastered on th
Beth POVI was speechless. I didn’t know where I found the temerity to think so lowly of myself when Brent had been openly worshipping me like this. “I am so sorry. For a moment, I thought…”I tried to explain myself, but Brent quickly placed his index finger to my lips, preventing me from speaking further. “I understand. Jealousy is a b*tch, right? Now, you know how I feel every time that doctor is around you. It hurts so much here.” Brent took my hand and placed it at the center of his chest to emphasize his point. I was deeply chastened that I could not look Brent in the eye. “It s*cks!” I admitted.Brent laughed and pulled my head toward his chest. I buried my face in his chest to avoid meeting his gaze, feeling ashamed of myself. “Sweetie, it’s alright. No harm done. Next time, tell me what bothers you.” Brent released me to fetch the cup from the cart and offered it to me. I cupped my palm around the cup and sipped, nodding approvingly when I found that it was my favor