Charles POVMy head started to shake, but the expression on Jenna’s face halted my movements. “You do not have to talk to her to know why she did it. She wanted revenge.” I admitted, feeling a little lost, myself. I cannot fathom the fact that Jenna wanted to meet with someone who had hurt her deeply and sabotaged any chance she would ever have of experiencing the joys and hardships of nurturing a child in her womb.“Rowan already told me."She must have sensed my confusion because then, she explained. "Before he forced me to listen to your conversation, Rowan told me everything he knew. He even mentioned that Gwen had been arrested and awaiting trial behind bars." Jenna said in a shaky breath. From her reaction, I can glean that the idea is taking its toll on her. It was an effort. Yet, I admire the bravery of this woman I married. "But still, I wanted to talk to her.” Jenna’s quiet resolve was hard to shake. I stared at her long and hard as if trying to delve deep into the
Charles POVThe admitting doctor announced that Briana was okay for discharge, and her boys started to jump around. “Can we go to the hotel tonight, please?” Brixx made the request. Noah nodded. “Of course. We will stay at the penthouse.” He promised his children. He also invited us for dinner to celebrate.I nodded. There is so much to celebrate tonight. “We do not want to miss it for the world.” My other two brothers and their wives agreed. Jenna, on the other hand, talked to Briana’s doctor to update herself on Briana’s pregnancy journey. As early as now, I could see how excited and involved she wanted to be with this pregnancy, and Briana was very understanding. My sister asked Jenna to sit beside her on the bed while they talked about how she was feeling. I loved how Briana included Jenna in all aspects of her pregnancy and even invited Jenna to her next doctor’s appointment, which Jenna gladly accepted.When Noah stepped out of the room to settle Briana’s bill so she cou
Jenna POVI could not believe it when Riley called me Mama Jenna. It was unexpected, but I relished the sound of that. It was a mixed feeling. Mama. In a few month's time, I was going to be someone else’s mama, and the giddy feeling it evoked in me stayed with me throughout our ride to the Hunter Hotel. At the hospital’s parking area, I was surprised when Riley chose to ride with us instead of his parent’s car.He insisted that he had to accompany us. I saw Charles smiling throughout the ride. His chest puffed up, proud of his nephew’s thoughtfulness. When we reached the hotel, Riley took my hand to help me out of the car. He assisted me while he walked. Charles walked behind us.When we reached the hotel’s lobby, the receptionist and other employees stopped to greet Riley and us. “We are having dinner with my family,” Charles explained, and the receptionist instructed an usher to guide us to our venue. We walked the well-lit corridor. This time, the usher and Charles were
Jenna POVThe hall became noisy after that. Everyone cheered for us. Even the children joined in the fun even when they did not know what was happening except, of course, the older ones. Riley, Mason, and Brixx clapped their hands and kept chanting my name. Mama Jenna. Mama Jenna. Their acceptance and unbridled love got me on high. Shyness had overtaken me. I don’t know. We were surrounded by family. I was used to their teasing, but this hits differently. I burrowed my face on Charles’ massive chest, making me acutely aware of his familiar scent and feel. “I missed you,” I told him, my heart in my eyes. Charles' eyes darkened. “As I, you.” He responded.And amidst the claps, the hoots, and the shouts that greeted Charle’s proposal and my reply, Charles tipped my head by hooking his index finger on the tip of my chin.He lifted my face while he descended, and he sealed our promise with a hot kiss. Charles gave and took equally in that kiss, pulling me in and scorching m
Jenna POVBecause pregnant women - I was referring to Beth and Briana, and our three other surrogates - shouldn’t stay late, and Flint’s family has jet lag, the party broke up early. Riley kissed my cheeks, surprising me with its spontaneity and sincerity. His two brothers followed suit.“Bye Bye Mama Jenna.” The name they called me stuck, and the little ones mimicked the older ones, calling me with that name. I was in euphoria the whole time.I can’t explain it, but my happiness redoubled that very moment. I kissed each of them on the top of their heads, even the little girls and Mia. Krizzie, who felt left out, also called me Mama Jenna instead of the customary Aunt Jenna, surprising Beth and me.We looked at each other and smiled warmly. “Are you happy?” Charles asked when I was already strapped to the front passenger of his car. I sighed and leaned my head on the backrest. “I am more than happy. I am ecstatic. It’s greedy to want more, Charles.” I told him honestly.Charl
Jenna POVThe next morning, I woke up in Charles's arms.At first, I was disoriented because the place looked strange. Then, my eyes started roaming around the room we were in, and then I realized we were in our new house.Immediately, I was galvanized into action.I wanted to check on Briana.But before I could get off the bed, Charles’ arms tightened around me.“Where do you think you are going?” He asked, pulling me closer and nuzzling my neck.I shrieked at the unexpected move.
Jenna POVI looked at the time and groaned. "Briana must be at the office by now. We are so late." I complained. Charles rose naked from the bed, giving me a full view of his sinewy back and taut b*tt.He looked sinful -like a god who had descended from Mt. Olympus. Truly drool-worthy!He pulled his sweatpants over his legs.He turned around, caught me staring, and winked at me. I giggled and lifted the comforter off my body before swinging my legs off the bed.The skirt of my nightgown fell around my thighs, and I padded barefoot toward the door. "I will be in the kitchen," I informed Charles. Just as I was about to descend the stairs, I heard Charles's footsteps behind me. I felt his arm gently snaking around me as we walked down the stairs side-by-side. When we reached the kitchen, we worked separately but seamlessly. We had practice over the years, that was why.Charles made coffee while I checked the fridge for stocks."You want sausage and egg?" I asked. "Sure." Charl
Jenna POVThe girls, Hanna and Martina, were surprised when they saw Charles entering the wedding planner’s office behind me.“Charles.”They both greeted him.“I will just stay here while you girls discuss what you want for the wedding,” Charles explained, sitting on the couch that the wedding planner’s assistant had shown him.With his legs crossed, Charles sat there like he owned the place, exuding natural dominance in character. Maybe, it was because he had been in charge all his life.“Your husband is one hot man.” O
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