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 run after her to continue what we have started.Britney must have sensed the way my mind was going when she intruded, yet again into my thoughts. "Your u
Noah POV“What have I done?” I mused to myself while at the same time, I felt regret filled me with shame.I let hate consume me. “I will handle the reinvestigation and once I found out that Briana was not guilty, I will reopen the case,” Brent told me. “I thought the reinvestigation was to clear her name?” I asked in bated breath. “Yes. But the accident still happened. Someone tampered with your car. The police stopped investigating because you told them it was a close case. You were sure Briana did it, but you did not want to turn her in.” The memories of what happened in the past came to assault my senses. That was my bargain with Briana before. Divorce me and she will leave scot-free. “Maybe at the back of my head I hoped she didn’t do it. She loved my parents.” I reasoned.“Or maybe because you do love her. You were just consumed by anger that time.”What Brent said made me pensive. I couldn’t undo the years passed, but I could not stop myself from feeling an immense sense
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
Briana POVI darted away as fast as I could.Noah called out to me.I could hear the creaking sound of his shoes as they met the floor and pressed my feet to hasten my walk.Curious heads turned my way, but that did not stop me.
Briana POVI left Noah in the middle of the lobby with his mouth hanging open and felt great satisfaction at my handiwork.It was not always that I got to leave him stupefied in an argument, and it gave me immense pleasure to know that today, I did just that. I left Noah Hunter speechless!I believe I deserve a mental pat on the back.There was a skip to my step when I walked out of the building and into my brother’s waiting black SUV.When I opened the door, three tornadoes slipped past me to jump out of the car. They were wily that my attempt to pull them back was futile.I watched in amazement as they ran inside the building, shouting at the top of their lungs
Charles POVIt was a crazy day.We were having a meeting when I heard that Briana had been rushed to the hospital.“Brie is having our baby,” I told my brothers and friend after I dropped the call.It was Jenna. She, Noah, and Biana were already in the hospital because Briana's water broke.My face contorted as emotions I could not name assailed.A mix of fear, excitement, nervousness, worry, and happiness barraged me.Briana, my baby sister, was going to deliver my and Jenna's baby right now. 
Jenna POVThe days quickly passed by.Though we did not talk about it, it seemed as if Charles and I were in tacit agreement to take things slow concerning our careers and concentrate more on each other.We go out of town and do things we had never done before as a couple.It was marvelous.“It’s good that you spend more time with each other because I tell you, once the four babies arrive, you won’t get even a wink of sleep,” Briana told me when I came to her house that afternoon to catch up and to check on her.It’s the baby’s
Jenna POVI turned my head sharply in Beth’s direction to find her busy talking with Brent.They were whispering, and from the blush that tinted her cheeks, I was sure the talk was naughty.“Don’t you want me to be here?” The uncertainty in Charles’ voice got to me.“Of course not!” I denied it, but I could feel my face growing warm because Charles’ eyes were riveted on my packages.I was sure that by just looking at the logo outside the bags, he would know what Beth and I were up to.My guess was not far from the t
Jenna POVWe arrived at our new home much later than expected because I requested the cab driver to drop us off at the nearest florist.After purchasing the flowers I needed, I dragged Beth to the supermarket to buy some scented candles and stuff.“Are you going to sed*ce your husband?” Beth looked confused.I lifted my head from browsing through the label of a scented oil I wanted to purchase to look at her.“What?” I asked since I did not hear her.“If you plan to tempt your husband, you don’t need this.” She told me, looking exasp
Jenna POVAfter Charles left the hospital, I urged Beth to trace our way back inside.We passed the lobby, and I felt weirded out by the looks everyone was giving me. It caused a frown to form on my head. Beth must have noticed my reaction. “Don’t mind them. They just heard about what Gwen did. They all feel sorry for you.” She explained, brushing off the stares I was getting. She even covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sarcastic laugh. I was surprised not only by the information she shared but also by her reaction. “How?” “Police came here to arrest her. It kind of got messy because Gwen resisted the arrest even when they showed her the warrant. She even tried to run away as if she could escape them. What a d*mmy!” Beth scoffed. It used to confuse me when Beth acted unfriendly toward Gwen. Beth is warm-hearted and is often on good terms with our co-workers, except with Gwen. Now, I know. At first, I did not understand her. Beth admitted that she did not understan
Charles POVAt Jenna’s insistence, I reluctantly left the hospital to go to the office. When I arrived at my office, I was dragging my feet. Whereas before, work had been the boon of my existence.I realized recently that all work and no play made me a very dull person. That’s why it puzzled me why Jenna loved me regardless. “You don’t look too happy reporting for work,” Rowan commented after dragging my feet to my office and finding him, Marcus, and Flint sitting around my conference table. “What are you doing here?” I asked, frowning. “Don’t you have better things to do than loitering around my office?” I asked them when they did not answer my question. My three brothers shrugged their shoulders and simultaneously picked up their coffee mugs to take a sip. My eyes squinted. My brother looked too relaxed for my peace of mind. My eyes narrowed into slits as I pierced them with a glare. Flint immediately rose from his seat to pour my coffee mug and offered it to me. I accepte
Charles POV“Good morning, sir.” The bodyguards posted outside the suite of our surrogates greeted us.“How is everyone?” I asked, stopping to talk to them.Jenna and Beth were still busy in their own world, talking and catching up.Jenna listened in rapt attention as Beth told her about the hardships of first-trimester pregnancy.A smile never left her face, but in my heart, I would always regret that what happened to Jenna denied her the chance to experience pregnancy and motherhood.Still, her talk about forgiveness hit me hard.
Jenna POV“Are you alright?” I asked Charles after some time.He had been staring off into space for a while now. His tears had subsided, but he still looked disconnected from the rest of the world.I realized that Charles needed that. Breaking down is not a sign of weakness, even for a man.I always think it was a release from the pain that bonds us.I stared ahead, in front of the windshield, waiting.Then, I felt Charles’s hand reach out to mine. He squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back, telling him without words that I was there and understood what he w
Jenna POV“Are you here to gloat? Are you here to rub it in my face that you won? That despite your inability to bear him a child, Charles still chose you? You are so naive and inutile.” Gwen lashed out bitterly, head shaking in uncontrollable anger.The extent of her hate was something I could not fathom.“Why do you hate me so much, Gwen?” I asked, clearly not understanding the extreme feeling she displayed toward me.I trusted her.I thought she was a good friend and colleague.It turned out she was a snake out to ruin my marriage and my chan