Marcus POV
I grimaced when Martrina mentioned that part of the city where the poor live.
I am not looking down on those people, but what pains me is knowing my children are living under those conditions.
Their father is a billionaire, and Martina came from a wealthy family in Redwood but was forced to live in an impoverished community because of desperation.
“I wanted to blame myself. I should have scoured the earth to find you, but what did I do? I moped and turned to drinking.”
I sighed when the traffic lights turned red, and Martina tapped my hand.
Marcus POVThe twins looked curiously at me. But it was a quick look because they turned their attention back to their mother.When Martina got their attention, I saw her swallow to clear the lump in her throat before speaking, forcing a cheery note into her voice.At the same time, she addressed the two, looking enraptured by her voice and face.Their eyes were glued on their mother like she was the world to them. Their grins covered their chubby cheeks.They were plump and pink and smooth. I itched to touch them with my fingers.Then, Martina’s voice distracted
Marcus POVI pressed my face to their downy heads, closing my eyes as I inhaled their baby scent. The sweet feel of them in my arms was incomparable to anything I ever had in my entire life. It was wonderful. It was intoxicatingly sweet and powerful!I don’t feel like relinquishing my hold on them for a while. While I enjoyed cuddling my twins in my arms, I felt a light tap on my shoulder and opened my eyes to see Martina. Her tender expression was one I did not see all the time, and I basked in it. It was a rare kind of high. “Your muscles are going to be sore after some time. The kids, if you noticed, are not lightweight. Let us put them on the bed first, and then we will talk.” She informed me. Talk?My brows furrowed in confusion. What is there to talk about? I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket but ignored it. I don’t want to release my hold on the children yet. There was this yearning inside me like I could not get enough of them even when they were nestled in my arms
Martina POV“Are you sure you wanted us to live with you?” I asked Marcus.“Of course. It’s a non-negotiable for me, Martina. We will live as a family, which we should have done years ago. We shouldn’t have gotten a divorce.”“But what about Briana? Is she still mad at you?”Marcus sighed.“Briana will come around. Don’t let her become a problem for us. We lost years apart, and I don’t want to add to the number of days we weren’t together. I wanted to live together - you, me, Marky, and Macy.”
Martina POV“Why are you all here?”Marcus said to his three brothers as they barged into the house, heads turning around as if looking for something or someone. “You can not just drop a bomb and expect we are going to sit still and wait calmly at home,” Flint replied. “And who told you?” Marcus arched his brows, but his eyes pinned Rowan. His two brothers, Flint and Charles pointed in Rowan’s direction, exposing him to us. Rowan grinned, unaffected in the slightest. “I can’t keep calm about it. I have to tell them.” He responded, looking not the least bit guilty.Marcus could only shake his head. At about that time, the door to Marie’s bedroom opened. “Martina…” Her voice trailed off when she saw the four brothers for the first time. She was shocked! It was clearly written on her face. Marie bowed her head, unable to meet their eyes. Who wouldn’t when Redwood City’s royalty stepped into your home?The Four brothers looked spectacular, standing side by side. The four of th
Marcus POVThe twins' giggles filled my ears, and my heart felt its most contentment when they stared up at me with adoration reflected in their eyes.I feel connected to them in ways I could not imagine.So, this is how it feels when your child looks at you in awe. My chest felt constricted with too much happiness.“Here, let me carry one.” Flint offered, interrupting my moment with my twins.“I can manage,” I told him curtly, elbowing his hands away.But Flint, ever the troublemaker, followed us. He snatched Marky away, and all I could do was
Marcus POVOutside the apartment building, Martina faltered in her steps.Since I was holding her hand, I, too, missed a step and almost lost my balance.“What is wrong?” Worry etched my voice.I thought she changed her mind.Martina gulped, looking uncomfortable. “Your brothers created a ruckus.” She informed me.Following her vision, I could only shake my head when I realized my brothers brought their flashy cars.So, that makes four luxury cars plus two high-end vehicles and a moving van.The sight of the cars attracted attention since this was a poor part of the city.Many residents left their houses curiously to check out what was happening.“We haven’t seen so many flashy cars around here, so we came to inspect.” Said one of the residents who approached Rowan.Of course, aside from the flashy cars, my brother brought
Martina POVI watched in awe as my twins blended in smoothly with their cousins. Briana’s triplets, as usual, are a rambunctious lot.But they are cute in their antics.I also loved how they included my twins in their play.Everyone is having a good time.The three older ones supervise the four younger ones.Of course, while the Ford siblings were busy talking about business, Hanna and I hovered over the children. We sat on the opposite sides of the mat, smiling shyly at each other.I h
Martina POV“I will. Will you look after Macy for me?” I asked.“Of course.” When I stood up, I saw Marcus follow my movements with his eyes. Our gazes connected. It was as if that one look already clued him on what I set out to do. Marcus let Flint carry Marky.“Don’t let my baby girl cry, or I will call your girls to tell them that you farted in your sleep when we were kids.” He warned when Macy hopped on Flint’s arms, too. Flint gave him the flip. Rowan playfully punched him on his biceps. “There are kids here, Flint. Stop that.” “Sorry,” Flint said, making the peace sign instead. He was late because now Riley wanted to mimic him. He pointed his middle finger upward and the rest of his fingers pointing down. “See?” Rowan admonished Flint, taking Marky away from him to hand my boy to Hanna. Then, he let Charles take Macy out of harm's way. When the coast was clear, Rowan straddled Flint and playfully punched him. The triplets found it funny. They started punching and hit
Flint POVJust as I was about to seal Anna’s lips with my own, we heard Penelope cry. We broke apart and raced up the stairs. “Daddy!” Penelope’s tear-drenched face lifted up in our direction when we opened the door to our room. She was standing on her cot. Her arms were outstretched toward me, silently asking to be pulled up. I didn’t think twice about responding to my daughter’s distress call. In three strides, I was in front of her. I cupped her chin.“Did you miss Daddy?” I asked gently. Longing pierced me when I saw her face. It was unfathomable how the two of us had become quite attached when we only knew about each other’s existence a few days ago. The connection was so strong. “You reek of alcohol.” Anna reminded me when I bent down to pick Penelope in my arms. “Just a while, dear. Let me comfort our daughter for a while." Anna stood to the side, watching while I rocked Penelope. I swayed my body from side to side while my little girl clung to me. Then, her eyes ha
Anna/Linda POVFlint stared at me like I had grown another head or something.It was disconcerting.This is why I rarely tell people who I am."Flint," I called him, afraid he would change his mind about me."Sorry." Flint shook his head as if he was still trying to let the information sink in and was trying to absorb it."Any more secrets I should know?" Flint asked.Now it was my turn to look stunned."You didn't think it was
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