Noah POV
“Dearly beloved, we have gathered together to witness Briana Ford and Noah James Hunter in holy matrimony. We rejoice in their delight of finding love with each other and support their decision to commit themselves to a lifelong relationship ….”
I looked at my wife, who was openly crying at the start of the ceremony.
I was teary-eyed, too.
“Excuse me, father.” It was Mason. He stood from his seat.
He looked so solemn that the
Noah POVThe sound of the alarm woke me up.“What time is it?” Briana asked with eyes still closed.“It’s still early, sweetheart.”The bed dipped under my weight when I hovered over her, and she immediately put out her arms to embrace me.I kissed her.She sniffed and squinted her eyes at me when I pulled back.“Where are you going?” She asked and sat on the bed.The duvet fell to her lap, exposing her creamy, sexy clavicle in a spaghetti-strapped satin nightgown.She looked tempting, so I looked away.“I have to go meet my lawyer. The court hearing for defamation charges against Britney is set for today. I need to come in prepared."Briana grimaced. We spent a three-day honeymoon on the island of Crete right after the wedding. On the fourth day, Briana requested that the children join us.We rented a chartered flight for the triplets, their nannies and bodyguards.The triplets enjoyed the two-day vacation. We even had to call their school to request a two-day leave.Last night, we
Noah POVAfter breakfast, I kissed Briana goodbye. “Kiss the triplets for me. I will be home early to fetch them from school.” I informed Briana and was off. While driving, Chris called. “Yes. Is the lawyer waiting already?” I asked when I answered his call. Chris never calls me if it’s not urgent. There was a pause. “Sorry, sir, but Ms. White is outside the building. She was demanding to see you.” The news did not sit well with me. “What is wrong with the security? Can’t they handle her?” I asked, pissed off. “Sir, reporters were covering the commotion.” I clenched my fist and almost threw the mobile phone in anger. Britney is really testing my patience. “She’s sick. Tell the security to call the police. She is disturbing the peace.” I grunted and ended the call.“Benny,” I called my driver. “Drive fast.” My driver nodded when our eyes met in the rearview mirror. Then, the car shifted gears and accelerated. When I arrived at the hotel, the police had not arrived yet
Noah POV“But that does not exonerate Briana.” Britney charged when she recovered and regained her composure.“She was just like me. She’s a liar and a cheater. She cheated on you, remember?” I walked toward Britney and towered over her. My eyes traveled her whole length disdainfully. “Didn’t you hear me earlier? Uncle Matt concocted lies about her. He used my amnesia to manipulate me into believing my wife cheated on me. He’s now serving time in jail. Do you want to join him?”Britney’s eyes widened in shock.She backed away from me with disbelieving eyes. “You are a b*stard!” she cried. I crossed my arms over my chest. “And what should l call you? B*tch?” Without missing a beat, Britney shoved the hands that held her. Then, she rushed toward me. Her hand flew to my face and slapped me hard when it connected to my skin. I did not expect her attack, and I almost lost balance because she put all her weight on that one blow. My bodyguards looked stricken when they saw the
Noah POVHer pronouncements put a smile on my face. If this is the payback for Britney’s slap. Then, I am all in. “And why are you smiling?” Briana said irritably upon noticing my facial expression.The smile widened into a grin, but I clamped it with my lips. It had been too late to backtrack now. I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak. “Nothing, sweetheart. I am just happy.Briana snorted. “You are one weird guy.” She told me.I had to agree with her on that. Anyone in my shoes would have acted differently, but Briana’s concern and the way she showed it was enough to put a smile on my face. “I have the weirdest woman, too.” I agreed.She harrumphed and ended the call on me. I looked at the black screen of my phone and shook my head. The trip back to the office was uneventful. When we reached the hotel, I found out some reporters were still milling around, but it was generally peaceful. When they saw me, they ran toward me for an ambush interview, but I declined to
Noah POVThat afternoon, I came face to face with Britney again.This time, she was so livid. She did not care about her image. Gone was the perfect woman who graced the runway. Her hair is a mess, and her make-up is a mess, too.There were no cameras around since I requested a private hearing.Britney grabbed at the opportunity to lash out at me.“You are suing me for ten million dollars in damages for oral defamation?” Britney cried in disbelief when she heard the charges my team submitted in court.Her eyes looked like they were going out of their sockets in rage. She was fuming mad. Her face was contorted in anger as she eyed me in contempt.“Ms. White, compensatory damages comprising general damages, special damages, and aggravated damages are filed against you by the plaintiff, Mr. Noah Hunter, which includes injury to reputation, injury to feelings, injury to health, and pecuniary loss.” The judge explained.But Britney did not take it well. She did not even acknowledge that i
Briana POV“Can you please stop doing that?”Marcus irritably told me when he saw me pacing the floor of my room.He just got back from an appointment outside of the office. I am just not sure if the appointment concerns business or it concerns his wife, Martina.I heard that he was still trying to find her.“How did you get in?” I asked, stopping.“I knocked, but your mind seemed elsewhere. What is your problem?”“I am worried. I can’t sit still.” I told my brother.He walked toward me and tapped me on the nose.“Don’t worry. It is in the wrap. Nothing bad is going to happen to Noah and your family.”I sighed. &ldquo
Briana POV“Where is Daddy?” Riley asked when he noticed that I was alone fetching them. Disappointment filled my son’s eyes.“Daddy still has something to do at the hotel.” Brixx’s eyes lit up when I mentioned the hotel, and I groaned in my head, having a clue about what was going to happen next. “Can we go see Daddy?” Brixx asked in his puppy-dog look.“I am hungry, mommy,” Riley complained. “I want to eat at Daddy’s restaurant.” I almost laughed at Riley’s ploy. It was like hitting two birds with one stone. He wanted to see his daddy and eat at his favorite restaurant. The revolving restaurant has become the triplets’ favorite eating place. The novelty of eating with the sky and clouds has not worn off yet. “Do you also want to see your daddy?” I asked Mason.Among my children, he speaks less, but he is the most intuitive and gentle. Mason nodded enthusiastically. His eyes lit up when I mentioned this. “Can we, Mommy?” “Of course.” I nodded.The bodyguards helped me st
Briana POVWe went to the revolving restaurant and Riley immediately spotted Linda.“Linda. How have you been? Did my Uncle Rowan call you?” He inquired.Riley never gave up matchmaking the two. He likes Linda to be a part of our family.Linda smiled and shook her head.“I think your uncle likes someone else.” She admitted shyly.Riley frowned. “But he never introduced anyone to us. Are you sure he likes someone else?” Riley insisted.Linda nodded bef
Flint POV“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admitted to Brent while drinking vodka in a private room inside the Blue Canyon, a country club in Redwood where we both enjoyed VIP memberships.“Why don’t you ask her? Instead of overthinking and suspecting your brother, go to your wife and seek the answers to all the questions crowding your head.”“I really love talking to you, Brent. You are like a cold bath - scary but necessary.” I told him bluntly.Brent chuckled.“You needed it.”I clapped Brent on the back.“Thanks.”“Let’s go. It’s two in the morning, and the manager had been giving us deadly looks already. I think this club is closing for the day.”After Brent settled the bill, we rose from our seats and ambled back to his car.I left my c
Briana POVAfter the police officers took my three brothers, I got back on my desk and sat morosely there.“Where are your brothers? I thought you had an emergency meeting?” Noah asked, disrupting my solitude.I looked at him sharply. “They were at the police station.”Noah opened the door wider and walked in.He loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He looked tired, but he was looking at me with love in his eyes.It had been four years since I took a chance on him, and his love never wavered. In truth, it had intensified through the years.
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.