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
Jenna POV“Are you here to gloat? Are you here to rub it in my face that you won? That despite your inability to bear him a child, Charles still chose you? You are so naive and inutile.” Gwen lashed out bitterly, head shaking in uncontrollable anger.The extent of her hate was something I could not fathom.“Why do you hate me so much, Gwen?” I asked, clearly not understanding the extreme feeling she displayed toward me.I trusted her.I thought she was a good friend and colleague.It turned out she was a snake out to ruin my marriage and my chan
Brie POV“Congratulations, Mrs. Hunter. You are ten weeks pregnant.”I got out of the doctor’s clinic completely in a daze. Her words echoed in my head, making my heart beat fast. In the midst of grief and pain, finally, there’s some good news, I mused to myself. Ecstatic, I could not help the grin that spread across my face, feeling the slight lifting of the weight on my shoulders. With renewed vigor, I quickened my steps. The elevator opened. I walked out, passing the nurse station on my way to the ICU.“Mrs. Hunter.” The nurse greeted me. “Hi. How’s Noah?” I asked the nurse, feeling a little fatigued. “Still the same. Mr. Hunter has not woken up yet.” The statement dampened my enthusiasm. Still, I marched to my husband’s bed, took the chair, and sat down. The nurse left to give us privacy. I looked at the dearly beloved face of the man I loved, and longing pierced my heart. Involuntarily, my hand lifted to touch his face. I let the tip of my finger trace his eyelids bef
Brie POVTwo things came to my head at once. My husband is awake, and he is divorcing me. “It does not make sense,” I said to Mr. Langley who looked so much like he wanted the ground he stood on to swallow him. His body language screamed of guilt and pity. I can’t stand it anymore. There had to be a misunderstanding somewhere, and the only person who could clarify and explain the questions in my head was my husband, who, I believed, was still lying in the ICU bed. Immediately, I asked one of the company drivers to get a car ready for me, but no one was moving. It looks like everyone knew about Noah’s decision to divorce me except me. I could not help feeling bitter, seeing how these same people who used to bow down in my presence suddenly turned cold and uncaring. How have the tides quickly turned?I pivoted on my heels and started walking back to the hospital. But before I could do that, Uncle Matt called me. When I turned around to inquire, I was shocked when he upended a box
Brie POVAfter signing my name on the divorce agreement, I walked out of Noah’s room as if the devil was after me. There was something about the air in Noah’s hospital room that had me suddenly feeling suffocated. “Mrs. Hunter, are you alright?” One of the nurses asked when she saw me pressing my palm to the wall for support, breathing heavily. The nurse walked up to me and held my arm. “You looked pale. Do you want me to get the doctor?” She asked, sounding concerned. I shook my head. It was then that I realized I had been crying. “I am alright. Thank you.” I told the kind-hearted nurse and hurriedly wiped at my tear-stained cheeks. I winced, feeling a sudden overpowering sense of nausea.“I have to go,” I told her. “Your box.” She reminded. I looked at the box in repugnance and shook my head, my chest constricting in pain. That box represents painful memories of today. I cannot take it. “Can I leave it here? You can throw it away for me.” I said.The elderly nurse looked a
Brie POVNoah must have assumed that I had accepted his accusation with my silence because when he spoke his words were full of venom.“Facts won’t lie Briana. And the report said that someone deliberately caused the accident. Someone tampered with the car.” “It wasn’t me!” I argued in my defense. My voice came out harsh because I never thought that I would become a suspect in the accident. Not in my wildest dreams.“You have the motive.” “What motive?” “Don’t tell me you have forgotten about your lover? Didn’t you plan this whole thing with him so you would be left to inherit our family’s fortune once we were gone?” His voice held his contempt, and my brows furrowed, recalling when I had ever had a lover. “You know I can never kill them. I love Marsha and Danny too much!” I tried to grope for the right words to say to make him see that what he was suggesting was preposterous. I can never kill the two people who took me in from the orphanage when I was young. The ones who had
Brie POVWhen I came around, the overpowering smell of antiseptic was the first thing my mind noticed. I opened my eyes to be greeted by a white ceiling before my sight wandered to take in the white walls, door, and blanket covering half of my body.This time, I already had a fairly good idea about where I was.It was also by this time that I acknowledged the presence of a cannula tube connected to the IV drip and attached to my hand when I got up from bed to sit up. The door burst open, and in came four young handsome, and tall men I haven’t seen before, but their presence suddenly made me feel safe. Their presence was enough to make me feel comforted. I did not feel so alone anymore. “Are you alright?” One of them asked. He had black eyes and brown hair just like me, but my hair color was slightly paler.It felt awkward when I noticed the four of them looking at me, and all I could do was nod yes in response. Their faces looked strikingly similar. “I am Charles Ford.” The s
Brie POVTwo days later, I was discharged from the hospital.I could have left the hospital that day when I met my brothers for the first time, but my brothers insisted I had to stay for another day.When it was time for my hospital release, I was surprised because, outside my room, men in black were standing in attention.“Is there a VIP confined on this floor?” I asked Jenna, who only laughed and commented,“Your brothers are crazy.”Then, she gripped the handrail of my wheelchair to push me out of my room.At the hospital entrance, I was amazed at the number of similar-looking cars parked outside.When they spotted us, the first car moved forward until it stopped in front of me while the others followed close behind.I could not believe my eyes. “S*it! Are you telling me this is for me?” I asked the four men when it finally dawned on me that the cars and the suited men were in their employ.“No one but the best for our little queen.” My brother Marcus said before he lifted his arm
Jenna POV“Are you here to gloat? Are you here to rub it in my face that you won? That despite your inability to bear him a child, Charles still chose you? You are so naive and inutile.” Gwen lashed out bitterly, head shaking in uncontrollable anger.The extent of her hate was something I could not fathom.“Why do you hate me so much, Gwen?” I asked, clearly not understanding the extreme feeling she displayed toward me.I trusted her.I thought she was a good friend and colleague.It turned out she was a snake out to ruin my marriage and my chan
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
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 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 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 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 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
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
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