Hanna POVThe elevator area was empty. When I turned round a corner, I pressed my body on the wall to peek outside where I last saw Rowan Ford, but I made sure to conceal my presence by hiding into the wall. All this time, the pounding in my heart never stopped. Guilt eats at me. The suspicion I saw in Rowan's eyes was unnerving. I heaved a sigh of relief when the space I saw him last was empty. He's gone. My breathing started to regulate, and my chest rose repeatedly in quick succession as I filled my lungs with air. The elevator pinged, and its doors opened to let out passengers.When the car was empty, I got in. Every time the elevator stops and opens, my heart starts to beat harder. I have this insane idea that Rowan Ford would not let his discovery slide, and he would follow me to squeeze out every information he could get. He was Briana's sister. His suspecting me might lead to Briana suspecting me as well. I don't want Briana to find out what I have done. It would c
Rowan POV“Get out!” I ordered when Hanna remained seated in the passenger seat.I did not wait for her and moved out of the driver’s seat to open the door for her.Hanna moved slowly.When she got out of the car, the light shone on her face. It was then that I noticed her unnatural pallor.She wobbled when she took a step and almost kissed the floor when she lost her balance.I caught her up in time. My hand gripped the top of her arms.“Are you alright?” I asked with a frown.She did not respond, but she remained where she was.“I don’t feel well.” She managed to say.Doubt filled my heart. I thought it was a ploy to distract me to escape. I did not count on Hanna's head lolling to the side before her head dropped to my chest.And that was when it dawned on me.I pressed the back of my hand to her forehead to find her burning with fever.The knowledge alarmed me.Without much thought, I hefted Hanna and carried her bridal style inside the house. The maid saw me approach and open
Rowan POVI left Hanna after witnessing the pained look on her face.Call me a j*rk, but it gave me immense satisfaction that my insult got to her.I went to the ensuite bathroom to bathe.When I emerged wrapped in only a towel around my waist, I saw her turn her head away.“Are you giving me a show?” She snapped.I cocked a brow at her, seeing how she refused to look my way. I also noticed a blush tingeing her neck and smiled sardonically.“Why are you waiting for me to strip?” I asked and started to pull my towel off and throw it in her direction. It landed on her chest.“Rowan!” She croaked. Her face turned in my direction in anger.I spread my arms wide to let her see that I was not naked like she assumed.I saw her gulp when her eyes wandered from my face down to my chiseled chest, washboard abs, and tight legs.Her inspection made me grin. “Go get dressed.” She ordered with a hint of impatience to her voice.“I looped my index fingers on the waistband of my boxers, ready to p
Briana’s POVEntering the kitchen, I heard one of my brothers and Riley discussing something.“Our daddy’s here. I thought you would get lonely and jealous, so I found a girl you can marry and have babies with.” Riley said, and my mouth parted in shock.Rowan’s eyes suddenly became evasive. He looked stunned when our eyes connected.“Riley, what are you talking about?” I asked my son.My voice sounded scandalized, while the males around me, except for Rowan, were laughing.“I don’t think your Dada needs your help, Rye,” Noah said when Riley looked put down by their laughter.“And why is that?” Noah looked amused and it weirded me out.“Yesterday, your brother was seen leaving the hotel with an employee.” Noah disclosed, much to Rowan’s embarrassment.It was unusual for my brother to get embarrassed when caught with a girl. So, it got me thinking that the girl is special.“Who is she? Anyone I know?” I sidled up to him to ask, all gossipy.Noah sputtered. He lifted the apron strings f
Noah POVI followed Briana’s ascent with my eyes. While I watched her walking hurriedly upstairs, I resolved that this time, I would move heaven and earth until our time came.After a few minutes, Briana got down. She evaded my eyes when I tried to capture them with a look.“Are you going to the office?” I asked.“Yeah.” She sounded evasive, too.But I did not mind.Briana must be feeling awkward about what happened in the kitchen earlier.I got up from the couch, pulling my car keys from the front pocket of my pants.“Come on. I will take you there.” I beckoned her to follow me, but she refused to take a step.When I looked back, Briana looked awkward.“Come on. I will take you to the Rosewood Hotel before I report for work.” I informed her.Briana cleared her throat.I had not counted on what she told me next.“Luke is waiting for me outside.” She volunteered.The lilt in my steps vanished. I stopped behind the closed main door, and my outstretched hand – the one ready to take the k
Noah POVLuke was taking her time saying his goodbyes.Despite seeing me and triplets, he engaged Briana far longer than necessary.I was sure it was to annoy me.But I already resolved not to rise to his ploy. I already knew how my responses affected my children. I decided to cling hard to my cool.“What is mommy doing?”“Is he the guy mommy is dating?”My children asked while we waited for their mother in the lobby of Rosewood Hotel.We were attracting people. They will openly stare at the children before averting their attention to mine. Some would even talk in whispers.“What if Mommy marries that guy?” Riley nudged me on the ribs to ask the question I had dreaded thinking.What if Riley is right?Briana dated Goldstone, but it was just once. She did not date him again.Luke Bennett was in a different ball game altogether. She dated him yesterday, and today, he fetched her home. He sure is not wasting his time. My heart started to beat double as fear began to fester in my heart.
Briana POVI wanted to glance at the glass window, knowing Noah and the children were looking at me, but I kept a tight rein to the urge.They were waiting at the lounge reserved for guests and their guests while I said my goodbyes to Luke.“I know you are itching to return to your children, but may I borrow a few more minutes of your time?” My brows furrowed.“Why?” I asked inanely, not knowing what to say because half my mind was already with the children, and if I must admit it, their father.I love seeing how, in a short time, Noah had bonded with the children. The triplets love him, and I could see the feeling is mutual.Noah doted on them, too.I never thought he would be a great father, but as the days went by, he was proving himself more and more.Noah is born to be a Daddy.My eyes misted.“Hey, are you listening?” Luke pulled me out of my musings.I raised my head to look into his eyes.“Come again?”Luke smiled, but there was something about the smile. It looked wistful.“I
Briana POVWhile talking to Noah, I purposely made my voice loud so the two women eyeing Noah earlier would get my general drift.They had been checking Noah out when I arrived, and the sight just got to my head, making my fuse meter surge.I am not angry at Noah.I am also not angry at the women who eyed him shamelessly.I am more angry at my body’s reaction.I can’t seem to shake my eyes off him. Well, who won’t be tempted? He wore trunks that showed off his chiseled chest, washboard abs, and sleek legs. Truly drool-worthy.And I was too aware of his natural magnetism.When Noah left to change to dry clothes, I very nearly groaned in disappointment.When he emerged dressed in casual attire, I could not help but notice his manly appeal. Naked or with clothes, Noah had this magnetic appeal that drew attention to him.Even with the triplets hanging on to him, he still gets his fair share of attention from the restaurant clientele.“You are angry,” Noah whispered when he settled Maso
Anna/Linda POVI was screaming in my head.He loves me. He has fallen in love with me at first sight.The warmth of Flint’s arm and hand as it wrapped around my waist felt like a comfortable cocoon that warmed my heart.I could feel the attention we were getting and knew it was because of the incredible man I was with.The Fords are equally attractive, but Flint’s personality brimmed with so much charisma that he drew people to him without doing anything.“What a cute baby girl!” Hanna gushed when we entered Martina’s room.
Flint POV“Are you okay?” I asked Anna when the car stopped at the entrance to the hospital. She nodded, but I knew she was nervous. I squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back. Then our eyes met, and we smiled at each other. Penelope was sleeping in my arms. “Shall we go in?” She asked. “Not yet. Our little Queen is still asleep.” I told her, not wanting to disrupt Penelope’s sleep.Once we left the car and entered Martina's room, my baby girl would be jolted by the loudness of my family. “Let’s wait a little longer,” I told Anna.She nodded, and I gathered her close with my free hand while my other hand supported our baby girl. My phone vibrated in my pocket. “Dear, can you dip your hands into my pocket to get my phone?” I asked. Anna immediately followed my request, but I could see that she was blushing. I smiled to myself. Anna is not your typical modern girl. She was usually shy. Then, she thrust the phone into my chest.“Here.” I grabbed the phone and swiped the scre
Flint POVI did not have to arrange a meeting with Rowan for that apology because circumstances did that for me.My phone started ringing at the break of dawn.Half-awake, I answered the call.“Martina has given birth to a baby girl,” Briana announced when I answered the phone.I pried open one eye and checked the time on the bedside table to realize that Anna and I had only slept for an hour.“I will be right there.” I croaked.The part of the bed behind me sagged when Anna moved to sit.&
Flint POVJust as I was about to seal Anna’s lips with my own, we heard Penelope cry. We broke apart and raced up the stairs. “Daddy!” Penelope’s tear-drenched face lifted up in our direction when we opened the door to our room. She was standing on her cot. Her arms were outstretched toward me, silently asking to be pulled up. I didn’t think twice about responding to my daughter’s distress call. In three strides, I was in front of her. I cupped her chin.“Did you miss Daddy?” I asked gently. Longing pierced me when I saw her face. It was unfathomable how the two of us had become quite attached when we only knew about each other’s existence a few days ago. The connection was so strong. “You reek of alcohol.” Anna reminded me when I bent down to pick Penelope in my arms. “Just a while, dear. Let me comfort our daughter for a while." Anna stood to the side, watching while I rocked Penelope. I swayed my body from side to side while my little girl clung to me. Then, her eyes ha
Anna/Linda POVFlint stared at me like I had grown another head or something.It was disconcerting.This is why I rarely tell people who I am."Flint," I called him, afraid he would change his mind about me."Sorry." Flint shook his head as if he was still trying to let the information sink in and was trying to absorb it."Any more secrets I should know?" Flint asked.Now it was my turn to look stunned."You didn't think it was
Flint POV“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admitted to Brent while drinking vodka in a private room inside the Blue Canyon, a country club in Redwood where we both enjoyed VIP memberships.“Why don’t you ask her? Instead of overthinking and suspecting your brother, go to your wife and seek the answers to all the questions crowding your head.”“I really love talking to you, Brent. You are like a cold bath - scary but necessary.” I told him bluntly.Brent chuckled.“You needed it.”I clapped Brent on the back.“Thanks.”“Let’s go. It’s two in the morning, and the manager had been giving us deadly looks already. I think this club is closing for the day.”After Brent settled the bill, we rose from our seats and ambled back to his car.I left my c
Briana POVAfter the police officers took my three brothers, I got back on my desk and sat morosely there.“Where are your brothers? I thought you had an emergency meeting?” Noah asked, disrupting my solitude.I looked at him sharply. “They were at the police station.”Noah opened the door wider and walked in.He loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He looked tired, but he was looking at me with love in his eyes.It had been four years since I took a chance on him, and his love never wavered. In truth, it had intensified through the years.
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