Martina POV
Marcus’ 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
Martina POVI stared at Marcus with tears burning my eyes. “How could I ever be this lucky?” I asked.My voice sounded hoarse, so I had to clear my throat. “We are both lucky. You endured so much because you did not want your family to use me. You don’t want your family to have leverage against me. We both made sacrifices for our love, Martina.” That did it!Tears streamed down my face. “I don’t deserve you.” I bawled my eyes out.Marcus hugged me to his chest.He lifted my chin to look at me eye-to-eye. “You deserve every inch of me, my love.”“But you can have any woman you like. You can date better girls than me. Why did you choose me?” That's what I don't understand. Marcus could have any girl he wanted, but he chose me. Marcus cupped my face. He tenderly brushed the tendrils of hair that clung to my face and eyes. “Because no one loved me better than you do! The women who professed to love me love me for my money, fame, and family name. You were never that. You loved
Martina POV The past few days, we got into our routine. Every other day, Marcus’ siblings would gather together, either in Briana’s house, Rowan’s, or ours. It has become a tradition for the family, a time for the Ford siblings to bond, and a time for the children to spend time with their cousins. It was a good family tradition. It makes me appreciate the value of having your family around you. At the orphanage, I never got to experience having a true family. Still, the Fords, when they embraced me, gave me more than a family. They gave me a safe place to belong to. I haven’t heard from my family, except that my brother and father were in prison for their crimes. Marcus told me how my father was responsible for the death of their parents, and the few things I knew about my family, I didn’t for a minute doubt Marcus’ words. I just hope that their time in prison would allow them time for introspection and remorse, though I highly doubt it. Still, people can change. “Mar
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