Briana POV“I thought I made it clear that I don’t want to see you again.” He hissed.“If so, why did you come to the interview this afternoon, knowing I would be there?” I could not help the retort that escaped my lips.I wanted to let Noah know that I’ve changed. I was not the old pushover Briana he could string along.“I was informed that I would be guesting with Briana Ford. How would I know it was you? I was not informed you remarried.” Now, he sounded defensive, and it brought me a little bit of satisfaction at the knowledge.“I didn’t know you wanted to keep tabs on my life.” I retorted sarcastically.The edges of Noah’s mouth tightened, telling me he was not taking my barb well.“What are
Briana POVI was stumped.I did not know how Noah and I ended up kissing each other fiercely. Hanna was staring at me, but I could not meet her gaze. I also kept silent because, frankly, right now, I was still shaken by what happened. It was so sudden. So unexpected. I wanted to blame it all on Noah.I hated him. I knew that. But why did I respond to his kiss?More importantly, why did it feel right? Gosh! The man has a fiancée. He loves someone else and has been in love with her for years. I wanted to bang my head on the mirror to knock some sense into me. I am not a relationship wrecker. Britney White does not deserve it.If Noah did not stop, would it end with just a kiss? I stared at my reddening face in the mirror when Hanna's gasp interrupted my musings. "Oh, my gee! You are still in love with him!"My heart started to pound double in my chest. Five years! "No. I don't." I denied hotly and fumbled to do something to avoid meeting Hanna's gaze from our reflection in the
Noah POVI was looking at Briana while Hanna dragged her away and felt a sense of unexplainable loss.I shook my head, not understanding myself anymore.I hated her. I knew that.But as I watch her leave, why does it feel like something is squeezing my gut?"I thought you hated her."Britney’s voice intruded into the mess in my head.Detecting a hint of pain in her voice, I could not help but wince.“What are you doing here?” I asked harshly.Britney flinched. She looked taken aback, and I realized I had been aggressive with her.I felt sorry for her.In all the years we had been together, I had always been patient with her, just as she was patient with me.She understood what I had gone through.I sighed.“I am sorry,” I said wearily, brushing my hair back for want of doing something.My hands missed holding Briana, and I itch to r
Noah POV“So, what happened was just an unfortunate accident.” I mused to myself while at the same time, I felt regret filled me with shame.I let hate consume me for something that was not even there.And what’s worse?I shook my head for the years lost.“Not really,” Brent murmured on the other end.There was something in his voice that I picked up.“What do you mean?” I said dully.I couldn’t undo the years passed, but I could not stop myself from feeling an immense sense of loss.I did not only lose my parents. I also lost my wife.Brent cleared his throat. I could feel the hesitation in the prolonged silence.“Out with it, Brent. You know I can take it.” I hissed in impatience.“Someone tampered with your car. The police could not find any suspect except your wife because she purportedly has the motive.”“You said she was having an affair, and the police picked that up.”I sighed. “Before the accident, Uncle Matt showed me pictures of Briana in suggestive shots with the same m
Noah POVAs I waited for my car, I was filled with remorse, the what ifs and the could have been.When the car stopped in front of me, Chris, my assistant, got out to open the door for me.“Are we going to the apartment, sir?” He asked when I got in.“No. Just drive around.” I told him.The car engine started, and we drove off the hotel.We just circled around. I wound the window down and let the night breeze slap my cheeks. “I needed a cigarette,” I told Chris.The driver stopped the car outside the parking area near the convenience store that operated twenty-four-seven.I got out and ordered Chris and the driver to stay behind.“I’ll just be a moment,” I told them.I got inside and went straight to the counter to request my brand. I stand in line and wait for my turn.While waiting, I sensed a presence on my legs. When I looked down, I saw a boy about four or five years old. He was about to untie the laces of my Oxfords.He looked surprised when our eyes met. I noticed he was t
Noah POVI felt like a stalker watching the black SUV cruise down the highway. At the next stoplight, it turned left and stopped outside a huge house. The house looked brand new. It is a two-story modern mansion that looks majestic from afar. The lamps outside cast a muted color of gold that looked breathtaking in the moonlight.The green backdrop of trees and mossy green grass emphasized simplicity, neatness, and understated opulence.Looking at this house was like looking at Briana herself. She used to be simple, but her beauty radiates from within.“Bye, Daddy M.” They cried in unison as they clambered out of the car, ducking their father’s tall figure.I looked at the sight with envy and a dull ache in my chest.“It’s Mr. Ford. I did not know he had children.” The driver’s voice pulled me out of my trance.“He’s in the limelight because of his work. He must have done it to protect his family.” It was Chris explaining.I sighed.“Let’s go,” I told the driver, and we left the are
Noah POV"How did I get home last night?"That was the first question that came to my head when I opened my eyes and saw the familiar sight of my bedroom's ceiling.My phone rings, and despite feeling hung over, I squinted to locate my phone. I grabbed it from the nightstand and pressed the answer button.“Hunter,” I mumbled huskily.The caller spoke, and I sat up straight.“Chris, who brought me home?” I asked, brushing back the hair that fell loosely on my forehead.I really could not remember what happened the night before. I was so hammered.
Briana POV“Are you alright?” Anthony Goldstone asked after the conference.We walked out ahead of the others because I felt like my whole body was burning.Sitting with your ex sucks.“I’m fine, Anthony. Can you and Martina wait for me in the car? I’ll just need to freshen up.” I told him.Anthony seemed reluctant to go. He looked at my face for a while before nodding his assent.When he and Martina left, I went to the powder room, following the directions of one of the staff.I looked at my flushed face in the mirror and groaned.It was so hard keeping myself together, appearing nonchalant while your ex-husband sat right next to you.It was discomfiting, at the least.Throughout the conference, I was so anxious. I wanted to make the hands of time move faster so I could go.Noah was the only man in my life, and though I hated him for the last five years, seeing him and sitting next to him shook my insides to the core.I realized, much to my dismay, that Noah still has that same effe
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
Anna/Linda POVWhile Penelope napped, I worked on securing our important stuff - documents, passports, etc. and put them in my tote bag.Then, I took out our suitcases and began packing.Penelope and I didn't have much.This apartment came in fully furnished when we moved in.The only problem I have is how to pack Penelope's favorite toys. I can't leave them here because my baby will look out for them later.An hour later, I heard a knock on the door.I peered into the hole to see it was Flint and was surprise
Anna/Linda POVAfter Flint left, I transferred Penelope to our room. Her head turned around as if she was looking for something or someone. She only spent a few hours with her father, but she has adjusted so well. I think Penelope would be a daddy’s girl. I saw their bond earlier and marveled at how easily Flint got my daughter’s heart. He got you that first night, says the little voice in my head, so there’s really no wonder that Penelope would be attached to her father this early. An apple doesn't fall far from the tree. When she got bored with her toys, she started fussing. She was rubbing her eyes, a sign that she was impatient. It did not help that she was calling for her daddy. “Dad-dy! Dad-dy!” Penelope walked toward the door. She struggled when I grabbed her and placed her back on the floor at the foot of the bed. “Dad-dy!”She was openly crying now. I bent to the waist to carry her. “Shhh, baby. Don’t cry. Daddy will be back.” I swayed her from side to side to get h
Flint POVAfter I got Anna's approval to marry me and agreed to my proposal to try to give Penelope the family she deserves, a mix of unidentified emotions assailed me.It was a victory. I won.I was able to convince Anna that marriage is our best bet.But why do I feel like I lost the battle? Why did I feel like I won an empty fight?Maybe it was because of the sorrow that crossed Anna’s eyes briefly. It was a split second that I even doubted it was there.But my gut feeling tells me something.Anna was not happy w
Flint POV“What? Are you out of your mind?”Anna’s loud voice startled Penelope.Our baby jumped in fright, and she started bawling. Penelope's bottom lip protruded cutely, and her eyes smarted with tears.She pointed at her mother before pressing her face to my neck, seeking comfort. “You don’t have to shout. You frightened our daughter.” I pointed out. The anger on Anna’s face has not abated. In fact, it worsened when she eyed the way Penelope clutched at my neck.It was like our daughter had forgotten her.“Because you say the most st*pid things. We can’t marry each other Flint.” It was a blatant rejection; a first in my case. Even when I was a child, I don’t remember a time when a woman denied me. Well, there will always be a first in everything. Still, her rejection rankled. “Why?” My tone became sharp.I mentally knocked my head.I should be coaxing her, not antagonizing her. But the rebuff I got from her did not sit well with me, especially as I suspect she still hold