Noah POV
My expression soured when I saw her coming in at the restaurant with Luke Bennett tailing her.
It was one thing to know about them, but to see them together was torture.
Despite feeling discouraged, I rose from my chair to meet her.
Briana was like a charging bull. She was stomping her feet as she walked s
Briana POVI want to take back the words I hurled in anger when I saw Noah’s expression.He looked dazed.Then, he shook his head. Noah looked at me with sad eyes.“Since I can’t redeem myself in your eyes. Can I at least be the father my children needed? They sought me out earlier because they thought I would leave them. They were frightened at the thought that since mommy is dating and daddy had a fiancée, they would be cast aside like yesterday’s refuse.”That stung.The children came to their father for comfort, not me.It might take a while for me to get used to th
Briana POVI stared at him. Really stared at him.What he said sounded like a promise, and a threat rolled into one.It provoked me. It made me want to stay and hear things, but that would give me away.It was like having two Briana in one body: one wants the promise, and the other dreads the threat.I was so torn.“You have nothing to claim, Hunter. Divorce made sure of that.” I told him harshly.Wanting to take the upper hand, I turned the knob, pushed the door open, and got away from Noah as fast as I could.While doing that, I rummaged through my bag for my phone and dialed Noah’s assistant’s number.He answered my call at the first ring.“Ms. Ford.”“I need to collect my children. Where can I fetch them.” I asked in a trembling voice.Even my hands shook, and I took deep breaths to calm myself while my feet kept walking farther away from Noah Hunter.But that’s what I thought.“You don’t have to do that. The children are in my office. I’ll take you to them.” Noah interrupted.
Briana POVI smiled when I noticed the lisp in Brixx’s pronunciation of r. He’s excited and no longer frightened of me.This realization made me heave a sigh of relief.I never wanted to scare my children. That was the last thing I wanted to do.Noah is right. I should watch my reactions mor
Briana POVMy eyes watered.Somehow, Noah’s revelation did not surprise me.Uncle Matt had always been cruel to me when I was a child. He was the main oppositionist when Dan and Marsha took me to their home and openly showed his dislike for me at every opportunity.“That b*stard! I am going to kill him!” I hissed.My lungs felt stuffy, and my nose was clogged because I was openly crying now, lamenting Dan and Marsha’s death.“Why?” I asked as tears streamed down my face.Noah replied with a wry smile.“Money, of course. He wanted Hunter
Briana POVI felt self-conscious when people we passed by greeted Noah and then,stared teasingly at our clasped hands before walking away.The knowing expressions on their faces make me shy.“People are going to talk.” I hissed at Noah when I tugged at the hand he was holding, but he wouldn’t budge.“Let them.” He told me.“You are becoming very brazen, Mr. Hunter. What if your fiancée gets wind of this, and she would create another ruckus to attack me again on the internet?" I asked waspishly as irritation over what Britney had done filled me. I cannot shake the fact that if it were not for her, my life would not be complicated right now. My brother wouldn't force me to date Luke Bennett and explore the idea of a marriage-merger."She won't," Noah replied dismissively - like my concerns did not matter to him.That stung."Are you going to sit still and watch me fight her?” Bitterness laced my voice.Noah had never done anything to counter Britney’s attack on my behalf. It only ceme
Briana POVNoah did not seem to understand me at first.“Heidi. She was your ex-girlfriend. You used to date her before I came into the picture.” I said, attempting to jog his memory.The frown disappeared on Noah’s face, and he shrugged as if the issue did not bother him.“Why not? She is capable. Besides, it happened a long time ago. I am sure Heidi has forgotten about it just as I have.”Noah obviously did not know what I was getting at. So, who is the dense one now?I nodded mockingly.“Yeah. And I assure you she hadn’t. She is a disaste
Britney POV“The number you have dialed is out of coverage area. Please try again later.” I have been hearing this same voice prompt for the nth time since last week, and the sound of it makes me crazy. I tried calling the number again, but the same voice prompt said that the phone number I was calling was unavailable. “Gosh!” I looked heavenward as desperation filled me. “Britney, you got to stop pacing. You need to rest. You haven’t slept a wink since last night.” My manager and friend told me. “And how can I sleep if Noah dropped me like a hot potato? He severed all ties with me.” I cried out in frustration and anger. My manager flinched at the show of abrasive behavior. It was the first time she had seen me like this. I was always the composed one. “Tough luck. Noah broke up with you, but it’s not the end of the world.”My hands and jaw clenched as I recalled his threat, the temporary restraining order, and worst of all – publicly declaring that he was done with me. “It is
Britney POV“What do you want?” Hanna’s hostile tone pricked me. “Long time no see, sister dear. Can’t we at least be civil to each other? You can’t hate me forever because Mom loves me more than she does you.” Hanna rolled her eyes.“So, you think I am still prickly about that? Grow up, Britney!”I let it slide when she glared at me and got right down to business.“I don’t know where to find Matt Bryant, Noah’s uncle. Do you have any clue as to his whereabouts?”Hanna’s eyes sharpened.“I told you. I won’t cooperate with you anymore. The last time I did that, I gave Briana so much heartbreak. I can’t do that again anymore. I can’t snitch on my best friend just because we are sisters!”I laughed, but it sounded hollow.“You said it. We are sisters. Isn’t blood thicker than water? Why do you always have to take her side? Can’t you see what she was doing to me?"Hanna looked unconcerned, prodding me to explode on her.She was ruining my life!” I cried out in frustration.Why can’t Ha
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
Flint POVAfter dinner, I was excited to put Penelope to sleep, but to my chagrin, she wouldn’t sleep however hard I coaxed her.She was too busy playing with the rose petals. She kept stepping on them while she walked around our rented villa.“Maybe she loved the downy feel of the rose petals on her soles.” Anna offered a likely explanation for our daughter’s seeming propensity for the flowers.She even pulled her shoes off before she jumped, skipped, and kicked on the petals covering the floor.I dropped my head playfully in response, but inside, I was dying for Penelope to lay her head on the bed so t
Flint POVI saw a myriad of emotions playing on Anna’s face and it made me want to crush her to my chest to offer assurance. I am a Ford.I have everything, but when it comes to Anna, I felt lacking as a man. Of course, it was different with our daughter.Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to be the only man for her, not just the father of her daughter? I wanted to be the best man for them both. “One day, I will make you fall in love with me,” I told her and saw her taken aback. I wanted to add that I will erase every feeling she has for my brother.I will be the only man she would need. The wedding ended. “Congratulations.” The priest held out his hand to send us his best wishes. He even patted Penelope’s head, making her giggle. “You have a lovely daughter.” He told us.Anna and I exchanged a look. She smiled, feeling proud of our daughter. I was, too. We did not linger. Our group left the church and ended up in the parking lot, where we went in separate directions.
Anna/Linda POVIt was not a grand wedding.The only attendees to our wedding were Flint, Penelope, and me.A man I did not know rose from the back pew to approach us."Goldstone!" Flint said in greeting when the man neared us.They shook hands while my eyes surveyed the church.A red carpet was laid in the center aisle decked with flowers. The church was prepped for a simple and solemn wedding."This is Anna, my soon-to-be wife. My Queen, I want you to meet Goldstone, our family's magician. He solv
Anna/Linda POVThe whole ride to Flint’s home, Penelope clung to her father.It was not a problem since Flint did not want to let her go either. He would point out the other cars outside the window, and Penelope would watch them race past us. Sometimes, he would make faces at her, and she would try to mimic them.They also played peek-a-boo. From time to time, Flint would cover his face with his palm, and Penelope would pull up or down the hand that blocked his face from her sight. And when she exposed his face, Flint would cry.“Peek-a-boo!” “Boo!” Penelope would shout before she broke into giggles. From time to time, the father-daughter tandem would include me in their play. When Flint noticed I was looking outside the window, he would pull me close to him and our daughter. One time, he wrapped an arm around my waist while his other hand supported Penelope, who bounced on his lap, enjoying the ride. It was a rare treat for Penelope.What makes this moment even more special