Hello my loves, Am sorry for the late update. I will try to write another chapter tonight but if I can't make it, I will make it up to you another time. Love, J Cruz
Flint POVOur table, though situated at the far corner, offers a spectacular view overlooking the city. I looked at the skyline, head whirring about the swift turn of events in my life. “So, how does it feel being a new dad?” Rowan asked, and his eyes crinkled at the corner. I bet he was remembering Rohan Joy, too. “It feels great. My little Queen is smart and loving. Anna brought her up well.” “That’s good to hear. And how about being a husband? I am expecting that you already threw away your black book?” That earned a glare from me. I used to have a list of women I contacted for b*oty calls, and they called that list my black book. Rowan chuckled. “What?” He asked, raising his palm in surrender. “You are the player in the family. Of course, I am concerned for your wife.” “You are hurting my pride big time, bro. I used to play around, but not since I met Anna.” Rowan’s eyes bulged in surprise. “You are kidding me?” This time, I raised my palms like I was taking an oath
Anna/Linda POVI was feeling anxious as I sat alone on the couch.The adults were busy minding the kids, and I did not want to intrude.I watched my daughter. She looked happy, surrounded by her cousins, and had forgotten about Flint and me.I looked at my watch and grew increasingly worried.It had been close to an hour since Rowan dragged Flint away.I wondered what they were talking about.I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt someone sat beside me.
Flint POV“How are you feeling, my Queen?” I asked after we settled at the back of my car, waiting for the driver to pull away from the hospital. Anna swatted my arm. “Don’t call me that. You know that I hated the title. It just reminds me of what I threw away back in Arkadia.” She admitted.But her face showed she was so ready to cringe at the mere mention of her title. I chuckled. “Flint. I am not joking.” She warned.I swallowed my laughter and assumed a straight face. “You may never become the Queen of Arkadia, but in my heart, you will always be my Queen,” I told her softly and saw her looking stunned. “Just as our Penelope, she is my little Queen,” I added. Anna bit her lip. “You say the sweetest things. How do you know what I needed to hear?” She asked softly. I held her hand and squeezed it. “It must be my heart talking straight to you. All the things I tell you, they come from the heart.” I admitted. Anna smiled. “Thank you, Flint.”I pulled her head to rest on m
Flint POV“Shhh!” Anna warned me when Penelope stirred in her sleep. We just got home, and I placed our baby girl on her cot. “She hasn’t eaten yet. Should we wake her?” I asked, worried that my baby was going to sleep hungry. Anna smiled. “They munched on fruits earlier. If she gets hungry, she’ll wake up, don’t worry.” I nodded. We went to the kitchen to hunt for food. We looked like burglars while we opened and closed cupboards and the refrigerator. Anna was giggling every time I nuzzled her neck from behind. “Flint! Stop! I want to eat.” She admonished and swatted at my arm to make me behave. She looked happy. Her face glowed, and it was a huge turn-on. “I want to eat you instead,” I told her huskily, my breath fanning the loose tendril of hair that hung on the side of her face. Anna’s eyes bulged, and her nostrils flared, looking scandalized at my admission. She turned around and became silent.Anna evaded eye contact and knew that she was shy. That is the reason why
Anna/Linda POV“Hi.” Flint’s face was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. He was smiling, hovering over me, and it was infectious. I smiled back. “Hello,” I said and stretched my arms up my head. “Briana is inviting us to a family dinner.” “Tonight?” Flint nodded. ‘Martina will be discharged this afternoon, and Briana prepared a small party for her. She also wanted to formally welcome you and Penelope in the family.” That had me guarded. “Family only? No other people or..”There was fear in my eyes because the information Storm tipped me off never left my mind. Flint nodded. “Yeah. Only the family. Don’t worry, Briana won’t roast you. It must be her way also to make amends for the shabby way she treated you. She also wanted to get to know our little Queen.” Flint sounded tickled pink at the prospect of bonding with his family, and I didn't want to disappoint him. I got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. Flint followed me. He went
Anna/Linda POV“Good morning, Flint.” It was Goldstone. “Anna.” “You can call her Linda. I don’t want to confuse the people in addressing her. She is known here as Linda. Let it stay that way.” Goldstone handed Flint a brown envelope.“Thanks,” Flint said, taking the brown envelope and tucking it in his pants back pocket. Then, Flint invited Goldstone to join us for breakfast, but the latter declined. “I still have work waiting at the office.” He told us and nodded in my direction. I appreciated his tact, and we smiled at each other. Before Goldstone left us, he held Penelope’s hand, and our girl beamed. “Kwin!” She said, pointing to herself, and Goldstone chuckled. “Your daughter knew where she came from,” Goldstone murmured. “Of course. She is my little Queen. And her mother is my real Queen.” Flint said proudly, making me blush. I could not admonish him because I could feel the pride every time he spoke about us to people he knew. How can you resent a man whose eyes sh
Anna/Linda POVThat shut me up.I stared at Flint.Remorse spread through me when I saw the hurt in his eyes.“I don’t want to cause another friction in your family. I already did that once. I promised myself not to cause the Fords any trouble again.”I expelled a loud breath.“But here I am. Just a day passed after you reconciled with your family, and I am bringing another trouble for you. I am sorry, Flint.”Flint shushed me.
Flint POVPenelope thrashed in my arms.She was crying in earnest now that I had curtailed her freedom. “Daddy!” She was kicking her legs. When we reached the elevator, I pulled Anna inside and let Penelope down. Once she was on her feet, she lifted her head toward me and smiled, finally winning this round. Anna pinched me on the side.What can I do? I can say no to my little Queen for too long.When the elevator pinged, announcing our arrival on our destination floor, I took Penelope’s hands to hold it securely. “Let’s walk together, Penny,” I told her before grabbing Anna’s hand to entwine our fingers together. My secretary rose from her seat when she noticed my arrival.Her eyes were drawn to our clasped hands but tactfully said nothing about it. “Good morning, Mr. Ford, ma’am, little miss.” I nodded at her and asked. “Did they arrive?” She nodded in response. She opened the door to let us inside my office.I saw Anna stiffened when she saw who was inside my room. “Tha
Jenna POVThe floor very nearly split in half every time I took a step because of the heaviness of my footsteps.I was so livid.My hand itched to hit Charles Ford.I was sure Charles was toying with me, and that frustrated the h*ll out of me.How dare he insinuate that my body bends easily to him? The arrogance of the man!It was short of saying that I still have the hots for him.That all he had to do was give me that come-hither command, and I would go running back in his arms.He must have a screw loose somewhere.What is the point of divorcing him when I couldn't even control my body’s responses if it wanted him?I admit I lacked determination when it came to Charles. But did he have to rub that fact in my face?I am moving on.I am drilling it into my head that I should start getting used to a life without him because we are divorced
Jenna POV“Congratulations, everyone!” I told my team after the operation.“I have food delivered, waiting at the pantry,” I added.It was my reward for a job well done, and they all shouted in glee.I always believed that breaking bread with your people fosters good working relationships, and it has become a tradition every time we have a delivery or operation.“But I am sorry," I told them."I can’t join you tonight. I want to rest.”My team protested, and I sa
Jenna POVI watched the man I loved for eight years walk away from me and feel my heart break in two. I know I wanted the divorce. I had planned it several times in my head, but why did it hurt so much?I prepared for this eventually, but the reality of the breakup hurt like h*ll. I heard the opening and closing of the door and shut my eyes to control myself. Why do I feel like my heart was being ripped into tiny pieces when Charles stepped away from me?I got what I wanted, but why do I feel like I lost the game? The realization that Charles will no longer be a part of my life hits me from the foundation up. The whole situation had shaken me. The mere thought that I had to face the future from hereon without Charles by my side pained me. I sighed as my vision blurred. My chest felt stuffy because I wanted so much to howl in pain, but I couldn't because I didn't want the house staff to talk. So I had to keep everything in. Charles did not even make it hard for me. He accep
Charles POV“Divorce? You wanted a divorce?”I looked at Jenna, my wife of eight years, after she sprung the talk of divorce, catching me unawares.“Just sign this, please.”She sighed when I did not take the divorce papers she thrust my way.“Why?” I asked inanely.Jenna’s features hardened.“You know why. This is not working anymore, Charles.”My eyes explored her face, looking for something.&nbs
Hello, my loves, As usual, when you see this page, it means you have reached the end of another installment of this story. And as usual, I wanted to thank all of you for walking with me up to this point. It was a marvelous journey, reading through all your comments, requests, and suggestions. After the high Flint’s story gave me, I didn’t realize that you would continue to receive Brent’s story with enthusiasm, but you did. So, thank you all. I am sorry, but I cannot accommodate all your requests because I have to align them to how the story should flow. I got a request for a Riley-Krizzie story, but I already told you earlier that Charles’ story will be the last installment of this book. I can not add more because I realized I have been writing non-stop since December 2023. I needed to take a breather, too.I hope you understand. Plotting a story is easy, but thinking of the scenes, and the dialogues and making all the chapters come up seamlessly was what makes it a bit diff
Beth POVIn the next few months, Brent and I quickly settled into married life.It was not always a bed of roses because he was stubborn, and so was I. We had arguments, but it was not something we resolved later.Besides, Krizzie always reminded us that life with each other may be crazy but it was wonderful.Brent worked at the hospital, overseeing its daily management and operations. At the same time, I remained in the ward, working as a NICU nurse.Most of the time, we sneak out during my break to have cuddles in his office. Sometimes, it gets hot because my husband can't get his hands off me, but that was alright. I love it. "Beth, you are looking pale. Are you alright?" One of the staff nurses asked. I just got back from a bathroom break because I feel nauseated. My stomach churned unexpectedly, and I had to rush to the bathroom to vomit. I still don’t feel fine. "I must have eaten something that upset my stomach," I told her and resumed working. I picked up the tray of m
Brent POVSomeone cleared his throat, and not long after, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Dude, that is too much public display of affection.” It was Flint, the Prince consort of Arkadia, with his wife, the Queen. There was a hush in the hospital lobby, and I knew exactly how everyone felt right that moment. There was this reverence as they eyed the royal couple. I felt it, too, even though they are my friends.It also did not help that the rest of my friends trickled in. Noah and his wife Briana came in, followed by Rowan and Hanna. Then Charles and Jenna came next. Last to appear was Marcus and his wife Martina. This time, the people in the lobby began to get noisy. They gushed over Marcus, who looked like he stepped out of the page of a magazine cover. I could not deny it. The Fords and Hunters gathered so much attention. It was a rare event to see them all together in one setting.The who’s who of Redwood City gathered in one place, making it hard for everyone not to react
Beth POVThe romantic date set the tone for the rest of our one-week leave until it was time to return to our real lives.“Goodbye, baby!” Brent called out to Krizzie’s departing figure while we watched her walk toward her building. We waited and watched until we saw her figure disappear when she entered her classroom. “She is growing.” I can’t help but be teary-eyed.Last night, Krizzie surprised us when she decided to sleep on her own bed. Brent and I stared at each other when she kissed us both goodnight and then returned to her room. “Krizzie?” I called her, feeling weirded out. “What Mommy?” She walked back to the bed where I sat. “Aren’t you going to sleep with us?” A frown marred my face when I asked.I patted the middle of the bed, urging her to climb in, but Krizzie only shook her head and smiled at me. “The Hunter triplets said I am old enough to be sleeping with Mommy and Daddy. They don’t.” She informed me. I nodded, feeling a little stuffy inside. I knew that it
Brent POVJust like what Noah said the night before, they were not at the hotel to see us off, but he gave instructions to his people to assist us. We got ready very early because Krizzie had classes. “Are you free today?” I asked Beth after we sent Krizzie to school. “You were the one who talked to my supervisor about taking a leave. How long did you apply for my leave?”“A week. You still have two more days of rest. Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. I want to spend more time catching up. What do you think?” I wiggled my brows at her, grinning mischievously. Beth slapped my chest.“I don’t like that look, Brent. I want to rest.” She warned me. She looked so d*rn cute that I stepped forward, arms spread to encircle her in my arms, and hugged her tight. Beth struggled in my arms. “Brent, people are staring.” She warned me, but I don’t care. I am too happy to care about what other people would think.“Let them.” I urged her and held her in my arms for a while longer. When I got