Noah POV
“Are you alright?” Briana asked.
My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was her hovering above me.
Briana.
My head says her name, and I felt a growing sense of satisfaction that she had stayed behind for me.
“I thought you left with them,” I said, unable to conceal my happiness. Briana still has this soft spot for me. I can feel it every time we are near each other.
The attraction was still there, but more than that, I realized Briana had always been kind to me, even when I was rude to her when she was younger.
I never liked her before, even when she had not done me wrong.
Briana POVI walked as fast as I could to seek refuge at the hotel's restroom.Noah has changed.On the three occasions he and I interacted, I saw changes that made me pause to think because it did not add up.Where was the angry Noah who accused me five years ago of killing his parents?I splashed cold water on my face to jolt me back to my senses."It was an act, rig
Briana POV“Well, well, well. If this isn’t the cheater.” Britney White snickered when she noted the surprised expression on my face.I decided not to play her games and ignored her. I was about to step out when Britney blocked my path.“We are not done talking yet, b*tch!” She hissed in my face.Accidentally, I sucked in the air, and her stale breath clung to my nostrils. I almost gagged.“Have you been drinking?” I asked out of concern.“Don’t try to play the kind hostess fiancée stealer.” She spat out.Her face contorted in anger.
Briana POVAt the sight of Noah, Britney becomes hysterical.“Noah. Your ex hurt me. She twisted my hand.” She cried and clung to him.I rolled my eyes at them.Noah brushed her off, and I smirked because her face contorted.The tears brimming her eyes had been sucked back up by her tear glands.Then, I shifted my gaze at Noah, challenging him to defend her from me.Our gazes met, and I arched my brows.Britney tried to steal his attention by wailing so loudly. It was so ear-piercing that I finally had enough.I decided I didn’t want to be involved in their drama. Noah and I were done.I shrugged and smirked, daring him to believe her, and then I turned around to let myself out, but at this time, my brothers came barreling through the door.They looked at Britney’s face, Noah’s, and then me.“Did she hurt you?” Charles, my eldest brother, as
Briana POVI was so nervous.Every time the office phone rings to announce a visitor, my heart skips a beat.I tried to busy myself with reviewing proposals lined up on my desk, but I could not concentrate. With each tick-tock sound of the clock, my expectations mounted.After an hour of trying to get work done, I stopped pretending and called Martina.“Have any other visitors been waiting for me?” I asked.She answered in the negative, and I put the headset back on its cradle with so much disappointment.To keep myself busy, I called on the children. When I left the penthouse this morning, they were still sleeping.School opening is in a week, so I let them sleep longer hours as long as they wanted. They are in preschool. Next year, they will start formal schooling.“Mommy, you did not kiss me goodbye.” It was Mason, my sweetest boy.I smiled. “Of course I did. It’s just that you were so sound asleep that you did not feel it.” I told him.“Next time, wake me up.” He told me, still
Briana POVI went to my desk to pull out three large books and handed them to Noah.Without a word, he accepted them.I watched while he opened the book at the top and was silent, seemingly engrossed with its contents.“It’s the children’s baby book. From birth up to their birthday last year.” I informed him.He nodded absent-mindedly. His eyes never left the page as he scanned it.It seemed like he was lost in what he was seeing and had forgotten about me, but I didn’t mind.It gave me a sense of satisfaction watching Noah as he let his eyes roam around the pages. Sometimes, he would caress a page w
Noah POV“She has moved on,” I told Brent. We were back at the Blue Canyon, A VIP membership club overlooking the sea, and I was getting liberal with the booze. “What do you expect? She is married. Marcus Ford is a good man for taking responsibility for your children and raising them as his own. Briana would be a fool to let a man like him go.” I sighed. Between us, Marcus Ford is a better man, but I can’t shake this resolve that if only Briana would give me a chance, I would show her that I could be the best man for her and the triplets. Brent tapped my shoulder. “Give it a rest, dude. At least, be thankful that she is willing to introduce you to the children.” That sobered me up. I remembered Briana would be introducing the children to me tomorrow. It was supposed to be today, but she told me something came up, and she has an emergency meeting. I had no choice but to leave hurriedly then. After meeting with Brent, I drove straight home. When I left the car, I took out the
Noah POV“She is your fiancée. She had every right to escort you wherever you go. Besides, she’s well-known. What you did embarrassed her. The press had a field day. Fortunately, I intervened on her behalf and nipped a huge scandal in the bud.”I smirked to myself, but to Uncle Matt, I said dispassionately.“That was unnecessary. You could have let Britney be. She brought it upon herself. Let her suffer the consequences of her actions.”I have coddled Britney a lot of times in the past. Now, she is on her own.
Noah POVI parked my car outside the Ford’s mansion and took deep breaths.Then, I pulled the overhead mirror and checked my face.I rolled the windows down, breathed fresh air to calm my nerves, and waited for any activity inside the house. I do not want to come out as overly excited when in truth, I was.I kept rubbing my palms in anticipation when I heard the sounds of children.My heart skipped a bit. Checking the time, I heaved a sigh.I opened the driver’s door to get out.From the backseat, I pulled out several bags and walked to the house in front of me.I rang the bell, and instead of a maid, Marcus Ford greeted me.“Good morning!”He opened the door wider to let me pass. From the entrance, I could hear the boys. It looks like they were playing.“Forgive the chaos, but my other brothers are here as well.”I nodded and took a deep breath.Instead of one adult male and Briana, I have to meet Marcus Ford’s brothers, too.“Thank you for allowing me to get to know my children.
Brent POVDo you know what heaven feels like?It was having the love of your life wrap her arms around your massive frame and hold on to you like she did not want to let go or part from you. That was heaven for me - being held by Beth like this was my new definition of high. Before, what made me high was dodging bullets and trying to outwit Hades from the door of death.I used to live in the thrill of danger, but no more. That’s the reason I built BASS Incorporated frame by frame. For my own protection.I already cheated death once, and I am not sure I can do it again. I released her and cupped her chin. Then, I leaned my head in to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. At first, I only pressed our lips together and pulled back. Her tongue darted to worry her upper and lower lips, and I became excited.I pulled her again, and this time, I took her lips in a searing kiss.I took control of the kiss, nibbling and chewing on her lips before I let my tongue slide over the seams, wai
Brent POV“You are a billionaire.” She uttered in a daze, and I nodded my head. BASS Incorporated is a renowned surveillance and security company.“Why didn’t you tell me?”“As you mentioned earlier, your desires are simple. There is nothing about my company or wealth that could impress you.” I told her bluntly. “Still. It’s one piece of information you kept from me. I was supposed to know because I was your wife.”“At the time, the BASS was not this big. I started as a private investigator. My reputation grew with the help of Noah Hunter. He threw work my way. I specialized in corporate espionage. I unravel many cases of economic sabotage and stealing company trade secrets. Then, the Fords also gave me jobs.” “Isn’t that a bit dangerous?” Worry etched on her face, and I leaned forward to smoothen the folds it created on her forehead. “I am doing administrative work nowadays. Before, I used to handle cases that took me weeks, sometimes months, to finish.” The creases on her foreh
Brent POVI held out my hand and anxiously waited for Beth to take it.When she placed her hand on mine, I closed the gap between us to pull her to my chest and wrapped my arms around her.“Thank you.” I closed my eyes and sighed.Beth pushed at my chest and self-consciously looked around.“People are staring.” She whispered shyly.But I was not concerned about that. What matters is that Beth agreed to give us a try.“I don’t care about them. I only care about us.&rdqu
Brent POVI felt her resistance fading away.Our chests heaved with too much emotion, but I was not letting her go.She twisted her body, and I released her, but I made sure that she was not far.I took her hand, all the while looking straight into her eyes.“I told you, I love you.”“Love is nurtured, Bernt. You did nothing in
Brent POVI did not know my promise would come to a test early that morning when Krizzie and I walked out of the kitchen to find Beth and Dr. Roberts at the door, talking sweetly.They were so engrossed with each other that they did not notice us.“I am sorry about last night,” Beth said.“No. It’s me who needed to apologize for my rude behavior. I am sorry, Beth. I got jealous of your ex-husband.”Beth hugged a bouquet of roses to her chest and put them under her nose to sniff.Her action dove a knife deep into my heart, but I wouldn’t gi
Brent POVShe is avoiding me.“Mommy, ahh!” Krizzie opened her mouth and took a bite from the sandwich Beth placed near her mouth.“Yummy.” She declared while munching happily.“How about Daddy? You let him have a bite out of our sandwich, too.” Krizzie prodded her mom.The smile on Beth’s face froze. She did not move until I forced her by coiling my fingers around her wrist and pulling her hands near my mouth so I could take a bite out of her sandwich.All the while, I was looking at her.
Beth POV“Mommy, wakey, wakey!” I opened bloodshot eyes to search for Krizzie, but when I felt the tremors around me, I immediately shot up in bed. “Krizzie!” I cried in alarm.I was ready to pluck her from the bed when I realized something.Krizzie was jumping on the bed. I pressed a hand to my chest to steady my heavily pounding heart as I stared at my daughter. I really thought there was an earthquake. Phew!“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Krizzie stopped her play to stare at me, erasing the smile on her lips.I shook my head. “I thought there was an earthquake.” Krizzie’s eyes widened, and she giggled. “You are s*lly, Mommy. It’s just me, Krizzie.” She informed me. I nodded, glad that it was just my overactive imagination.“Yeah. Mommy’s s*lly.” I agreed and grabbed her by the shoulders to pepper tiny kisses on her face. We heard a knock on the door, prompting me to release my daughter. Krizzie’s eyes connected with mine before her hands flew to her mouth. Then, without warnin
Beth POVWhen the door slammed shut, and I was left alone in the house, it was as if all the fight left me.I felt so drained.Arguing with Brent had been emotionally and mentally taxing. That is why I avoided it at all costs.If we could co-exist peacefully with our child, that would be better.For years after our divorce, I accepted that all we could ever be is Krizzie’s parents.I never want to return to that time when all I do is beg for his love and attention.When he offered marriage,
Beth POV“If I am selfish. I would do that.” He countered so casually that my anger meter was beginning to exceed its limit. It was ready to burst into flames. “And what are you trying to imply? That you are the epitome of selflessness, is that it?” I snapped, too angry to care whether my voice was going through the roof. I don’t know where Brent was getting all this nerve to tell me.“You have some nerve! You who never wanted my baby in the first place.” I hissed.My teeth gritted and my hands clenched into fists. “Because it was never in our agreement, d*mn it, Beth. All along, I thought we were in sync with our ideals. We agreed not to have any babies, but what did you do? You went behind my back and got yourself pregnant without my knowledge.” Tears sprung in my eyes when I remembered all that happened nine years ago. I thought I was already past it, but d*mn, it still hurts like h*ll.I sighed, trying to keep my tears in check because I didn’t need them now. It was not g