Martina POV
After our impromptu wedding at the mansion Marcus purchased from Briana, and the breakfast we shared with his family in the garden area, the Ford siblings started to split, claiming they had appointments or plans for the day.
Briana was the last to leave.
“We’ll go ahead. The triplets have school, and Elijah is getting fussy.” Brina explained.
She kissed Marcus on the cheeks, then the twins. When she neared me, Briana gave me a warm hug.
“Welcome to the family, Martina. One day, let’s have coffee and chat.” She patted my back.
Martina POVMarcus’ one-month leave flew by swiftly. Today was his first day back at the office. After a heated lovemaking, I sighed and rolled out of his embrace.“Why the long sigh? Do you want me to file another leave of absence?” Marcus abandoned the comforter when he turned to his side to face me.The appalling suggestion made me turn around and go face-to-face with his naked chest. I gulped. “Rosewood Hotel will go bankrupt if you skip another day. Go to work, Marcus!” I pressed my palms to his chest to push him away when he inched closer, snaking his arms around me. The heat of his body sent tingles up my spine. “We are rich. We won’t go poor just because I don’t want to work.” Marcus groaned when I evaded his grasp and sat up on the bed. But that was a wrong move. Now, my naked body was fully exposed to his lustful eyes. Immediately, my hands gripped the ends of the comforter to wrap it around my body. “Why so shy? I’ve seen your body countless times, love.” His com
Martina POVMarcus’ face contorted when he saw Macy struggling in my arms, her little arms stretched toward him, wanting to be held.“Daddy’s leaving. Say bye-bye.” I urged her, but my little girl was adamant.She was reaching out to her father like he was her lifeline.“Macy, Daddy will be back. He’s just going to work.”“No. Daddy. Don’t leave.” She cried.I had not realized that she had become more attached to Marcus.Yesterday, she was not this cl
Martina POVMarcus could not wait to hold his children. After he changed out of his work clothes, he joined us on the bed.He was lying on his side, arms lightly wrapping the two children as they slept.Macy must have sensed his presence. She opened one eye, and when she realized her father was there, she sat up in bed and worked her way toward Marcus.She sniffed him before laying her head on his chest, secured in the arms of his love.“Daddy. Daddy.” She cried, patting Marcus’ face.Marcus picked up her hands to plant kisses on them.
Martina POVWhat Marcus said was an eye-opener. In my desire to stifle my feelings for him, fearing about my family, I inadvertently showed him I did not care. I shut him out.“I love you,” I told him, trying to wipe with that declaration the pain I might have caused him before.Marcus nodded his head. Maybe in his heart, he understood why I was like this. “I know. I am just happy that you are now ready to say the words you hid in your heart.” Even when Marcus left, my chest threatened to burst with so much emotion. I realized how I had been unfair to him before. Love unexpressed is love denied. How often have I denied Marcus my love because I never said them? Or showed him what I felt?Now, I feel so ashamed. Before lunch, I readied the children. Macy was still gloomy because she wanted to see her father, but since I was busy, I didn't have enough time to call Marcus so he could at least chat with his twins.When I finished dressing them, I prepared myself. I only donned
Martina POV“Briana.” I heard Beatrice call her name at the same time that I did.“What makes you think you have any right to talk to anyone like that? Did the Fords appoint you to become our spokesperson? You are not a member of my family, so back off!” Briana said harshly. Trepidation filled my chest.Beatrice became so red in the face as she worked her way through Briana’s ire, trying to save face. “I was just concerned. I only wanted to put Martina in her place. She shouldn’t come here.” Beatrice explained.Her voice did not lose its confidence, but I could see her eyeing Briana warily when the latter scoffed as if disgusted with what she heard. “What she is doing here is none of your concern.” Briana said, dismissing Beatrice’s reasons. It was a rare moment for Briana. In my years working with her, I had never seen her reprimand an employee in public. She must be p*ssed. Then, before Beatrice could say anything to her defense, Briana turned to me, completely ignoring h
Martina POVMaybe it was Marcus’s way of introducing us to everyone without making a fanfare out of it. Marcus was not the flamboyant type. He prefers to keep things to himself.I appreciated the gesture, though it feels a bit uncomfortable.I was also a private person and was not used to being the center of attention. But since I am with Marcus, whether I like it or not, I get a fair share of the curiosity circling him.Marcus is a celebrity, and everything he does is always newsworthy.Especially when I left Rosewood Hotel, I kept a low profile to hide from my biological family.
Marcus’ POVI was fuming mad!I was so busy with work, unaware that my wife was being bullied in my own hotel.I don't want to think what could have happened if Briana had not chanced upon Martina and the twins in the lobby.I never expected that my own people would dip their fingers in my family’s affairs. That was personal, and they are crossing my line!The twins' heads turned as they surveyed my private office. “I am sorry,” I said to Martina after we placed the kids on the couch.Martina shook her head. “No. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have barged in without telling you.” She evaded my eyes, and I don’t think I like that. “Martina, you don’t have to apologize. You can come here anytime you want. I did not train my employees properly so they treated you poorly. That is all on me.” I told her, ready to accept all the blame for what happened. I just feel sad that there are people like Beatrice who think they can judge people when they do not know anything.“Shh,” Martina said.
Marcus POV“One day, Flint will get knocked on his feet. I could not wait for that time when a woman would make him fall head over heels in love.” “G*d forbid! That would be a disaster waiting to happen.” I announced before Goldstone left my office. When the door closed on Goldstone, leaving Martina and me alone in the office, I walked over to where Martina sat. I hugged her back from behind.Martina leaned back and held my arms with her hands. “Was Flint that bad?” Martina asked. Somehow, the knot on her forehead says that she could not reconcile what she heard from the Flint she knew. I laughed. “Don’t worry about him. Flint is soon going to get his turn. You only have to wait and see. He was not a Ford for nothing.” I told her.Martina nodded.“Let’s go,” I said and helped her to her feet. “Where are we going?” She asked, clueless. I smiled. “My work is done for the day. I want to spend the rest of the day with you and the children. They are growing fast, love. I wanted th
Speechless! This word best describes what I was feeling right now. Do you know that you were amazing readers? Yes, you who stayed with me until this page. When I first started writing this story, I had so many trepidations. I did not think I would be able to pull this through. First, it has a little similarity to my previous novel, Billionaire Ex Wants Me Back, but my editor believed so much in my draft that she encouraged me to consider doing this. (My heartfelt thanks to Lyra Pinter, who had been a constant source of support.)My feeling of uncertainty magnified when I received so many attacks when the story was first published. Too many detractors lashed out at my characters that I had a hard time concentrating.I know what I wanted to do, but the first people who were vocal about the story did not give me enough encouragement. They did not give my characters a chance to redeem themselves as the story progresses. Fear grips me everytime I face the blank screen of my computer
Briana’s POVThe soul always knows how to heal itself. I had often heard that phrase before but it was never more gratingly obvious til now. After I volunteered to be Charles and Jenna’s surrogate, I had not counted on the pain the act would invariably inflict on me. At the start, it was all too easy. For 40 weeks, I would be carrying their baby in my womb, and that was it. Jenna and Charles will have that baby they desperately wanted. Of course, Noah and I submitted to counseling before I did this, but I never expected that when the time came that I had to turn over baby Amira to her parents, it would hit me so hard. I had not counted on how my self-sacrifice would backfire on me. It hurts so much. I was so heartbroken when I realized that Amira would no longer be a part of my life. Noah took me to several sessions of counseling, and with his support, I was able to get past the hurt and accept that Amira was not mine.The rest of the family helped. My brothers hovered over me
Hello my loves, Jenna and Charles’ story was one of the most painful stories I had written so far. It was because I had to dig up long-forgotten events in my life.But I had to do it for you to be able to understand the motives behind Jenna and Charles’ actions and the pain they invariably inflicted on each other. Jenna and Charles were both non confrontational. They keep things in stride and hope for the best, but sometimes even with the best intentions, our pain could not lay hidden for too long. It needed to be addressed and voiced out, not because you wanted to lash out at your partner or give them the same pain they were giving you.Sometimes, our silence is our cry for help. Or it was a way to protect ourselves. We retreated into the inner recesses of our soul to find solace and comfort because the people we expected to comfort and provide solace for us could not hear our cry for help.But all’s well that ends well. Am glad for those people who had requested me to do a story
Charles POVOne year later…I was standing behind the french windows of the room I was occupying at the Rosewood Hotel, eyes looking outside toward my wife.This past year was a crazy one.Just as Briana predicted, Jenna and I barely had time for ourselves. The kids were growing, and they were beautiful to watch.Jenna’s laugh made its way to where I was.As I watched Jenna play with our children, I could not help comparing her to a rose in bloom.I could not help feeling proud of the changes in her.&nb
Charles POVWe placed our babies in a customized baby carrier that could fit the four of them, and Jenna and I walked out of the suite that had been our temporary home for the past month.At the lobby, we looked like we were on a parade with our nannies in tow and bodyguards, but that’s a small price to pay for the security and safety of my family.“Jenna! Charles!” Beth called out to us.We stopped when we neared her.“Where are your kids?” I asked after she and Jenna hugged each other.I learned this past month that Beth chose to be a stay-at-home m
Charles POVThe next day, our other two babies were born one after the other.Jenna and I were also there to witness everything and become part of our children’s birth.Jenna’s eyes were puffy when she held our two other newborns in her arms. She had been crying nonstop since yesterday because it still had not sunk in that she was a mom of four babies.When we visited Briana, she and Jenna had a long talk.Briana was smiling, but I could see that she was at a loss when it was time to take the baby away from her.I realized that this ordeal put a lot of strain on
Charles POVThe phone in the delivery room rang, and a nurse went to answer it.“Dr. Martin, it’s delivery room 2.” She said from across the room, allowing us to hear.Dr. Martin went to answer it. Her face was serious when she placed the phone back in its cradle.Then, she turned her head back to her medical team.“Are you still up for another delivery?” She asked her team.Their high spirits rubbed off on Jenna and me. We were smiling when they shouted, of course.
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