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
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
Jenna POVI turned my head sharply in Beth’s direction to find her busy talking with Brent.They were whispering, and from the blush that tinted her cheeks, I was sure the talk was naughty.“Don’t you want me to be here?” The uncertainty in Charles’ voice got to me.“Of course not!” I denied it, but I could feel my face growing warm because Charles’ eyes were riveted on my packages.I was sure that by just looking at the logo outside the bags, he would know what Beth and I were up to.My guess was not far from the t
Jenna POVWe arrived at our new home much later than expected because I requested the cab driver to drop us off at the nearest florist.After purchasing the flowers I needed, I dragged Beth to the supermarket to buy some scented candles and stuff.“Are you going to sed*ce your husband?” Beth looked confused.I lifted my head from browsing through the label of a scented oil I wanted to purchase to look at her.“What?” I asked since I did not hear her.“If you plan to tempt your husband, you don’t need this.” She told me, looking exasp
Jenna POVAfter Charles left the hospital, I urged Beth to trace our way back inside.We passed the lobby, and I felt weirded out by the looks everyone was giving me. It caused a frown to form on my head. Beth must have noticed my reaction. “Don’t mind them. They just heard about what Gwen did. They all feel sorry for you.” She explained, brushing off the stares I was getting. She even covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sarcastic laugh. I was surprised not only by the information she shared but also by her reaction. “How?” “Police came here to arrest her. It kind of got messy because Gwen resisted the arrest even when they showed her the warrant. She even tried to run away as if she could escape them. What a d*mmy!” Beth scoffed. It used to confuse me when Beth acted unfriendly toward Gwen. Beth is warm-hearted and is often on good terms with our co-workers, except with Gwen. Now, I know. At first, I did not understand her. Beth admitted that she did not understan
Charles POVAt Jenna’s insistence, I reluctantly left the hospital to go to the office. When I arrived at my office, I was dragging my feet. Whereas before, work had been the boon of my existence.I realized recently that all work and no play made me a very dull person. That’s why it puzzled me why Jenna loved me regardless. “You don’t look too happy reporting for work,” Rowan commented after dragging my feet to my office and finding him, Marcus, and Flint sitting around my conference table. “What are you doing here?” I asked, frowning. “Don’t you have better things to do than loitering around my office?” I asked them when they did not answer my question. My three brothers shrugged their shoulders and simultaneously picked up their coffee mugs to take a sip. My eyes squinted. My brother looked too relaxed for my peace of mind. My eyes narrowed into slits as I pierced them with a glare. Flint immediately rose from his seat to pour my coffee mug and offered it to me. I accepte
Charles POV“Good morning, sir.” The bodyguards posted outside the suite of our surrogates greeted us.“How is everyone?” I asked, stopping to talk to them.Jenna and Beth were still busy in their own world, talking and catching up.Jenna listened in rapt attention as Beth told her about the hardships of first-trimester pregnancy.A smile never left her face, but in my heart, I would always regret that what happened to Jenna denied her the chance to experience pregnancy and motherhood.Still, her talk about forgiveness hit me hard.