(Anj’s POV)As the small gymnasium was slowly filled with teachers and staff, parents, and their kids, I could feel my heart in my throat. I sat nervously at the first step of the bleacher bench and watched my triplets play and run around, looking adorable in their pigtails.Who would know that last night, Leyanne proudly recited the multiplication table, Lyra Helene, the periodic table, and Selene entertained me with solving a sudoku table? I may have lost my opportunity to hone my abilities and skills because of what happened to me, but I am not letting my kids lose their chance. But today, it was the least of my problem. In a few minutes, the event will start, and the big tarp with the words ‘Family Day’ was like a sharp knife piercing my heart. I could not think and breathe as I saw my girls stop running and watched other kids coming with their mother and father.Leyanne turned her head to me, her eyes hopeful that a man, claiming their father, would enter the large entrance of
(Sky’s POV)“Dad, will you attend the board meeting for me?”He was walking in the garden early in the morning when I ran into him while doing my early jogging. If Dad says no, it is a sign from heaven that I must stop myself from making a crazy decision.“May I know why?” He asked, smelling the roses.“Anj Perry,” I breathed out, placing my hand at the back of my neck. “It’s crazy, but she asked me if I could pretend to be the kids’ daddy and attend the family day with them.”“Asking me if I would like to attend the board meeting so you could go to that event, it must be important to you,” He raised his eyebrows, confusing me when all he has to do is say yes or no. “Dad,” I sighed. “I know it’s crazy, but I just can’t imagine those kids waiting for a dad when no one really knew if they have.”“Okay,” he said and fixed his eyes on the flowers again.“Just okay?” I smirked, raising my eyebrows that he did not oppose my crazy plan.He looked at me again and narrowed his eyes before ans
(Sky’s POV)Anj and I were not the only ones with three kids, but theirs were of different ages, while our children have the same age. She even has to put name tags on the girls so teachers would not get confused in calling them.As the hosts explained, there will be games involving everyone and ones just mommy and daddy. If I did not come, I wondered who would be her partner? Would it be the guy who asked about me a while ago? He seemed to know Anj very well and looked at her like he was ready to fight, and I hate to admit, it made me feel jealous.We sat on the floor after the two tiring relay games we had as a team, which we did not win, but as the host began to tell the next game, the three girls widened their eyes as they listened.“Mommy, Daddy,” Leyanne stood up, pulling Anj, while the two pulled my hands to stand up, leading us to the middle, wanting us to join the game involving only the mom and dad. I could see Frank scanning the area but recording us; again, it was part of
(Anj’s POV)“Explain yourself!”Anya pulled me to their private office, leaving Sky in the visitors’ lounge just outside their office, and closed the door behind her. Dylan was sitting on the swivel chair, giving me a sullen look every time our eyes met.“Shhh!” I hushed her, afraid that the triplets would hear us. “I didn’t have a choice yesterday. I had to ask him, but I didn’t expect he’ll come today.”Anya pulled a face, crossing her arms in her chest. “Are you telling us he’s not the dad?”I turned my back on her before she could see the looks on my face. She knew me very well and knowing whether I was lying or not was one of the things she was an expert at. I made myself busy by making Sky a coffee.“Yet you allowed him to kiss you,” Dylan growled at me.“As if she has a choice,” Anya giggled. “You look ready to pounce at Sky anytime. Let’s just look at the bright side, though. The tough moment of Angela Perry’s life is over, and she could probably just kill the daddy in their l
(Anj’s POV)“Angela? Isn’t Anj some sort of nickname for Angela or something?” He panicked and chuckled nervously as he glanced at me, then focused on the road.There was an edge to my smile, I knew that, but I managed to nod at him, breathing out as I turned my head outside the window.Silence accompanied us in the car until we reached our destination, but as he slowed driving to park the car, he heaved a deep sigh as if taking all the courage he had in his system to say what he really wanted to tell me.I turned my head to face Frank and smiled nervously at him.“Just spill it out,” I said, knowing he must have recognized me. I may have changed a lot, but he had seen me without my allergies on my face, and the chances of realizing it was me were high, not needing clues like a blanket and book.“The triplets?” He asked curiously.“He’s not the father,” I lied, evading his eyes and wondering if he could hear my heartbeat pounding crazily inside me.“Yeah, right. It’s why Sky and the c
(Anj’s POV)I was ready to fly.My beautiful, white, fluffy wings spread widely, and I was beaming with a bright light, only to realize I was on fire. A few more seconds, the hands I was clutching on the strap of my seatbelt would be brushing Sky’s hair, or maybe my fingers would be at the back of his neck, pushing him toward me.As our tongues touched, the tingling sensation crept to my skin, making me imagine I was a bird ready to fly. As his hand trailed the strap of my seat belt, grazing my white blouse, which got wet from the heavy drops of rain, the heat emanating from his hand made me shiver, making me a phoenix on fire. Sky only stopped and smiled when we heard a honk, the black sedan behind us beeped, calling his attention to start the car. He chuckled, fastened his seat belt, and began to drive his BMW forward.My mouth was half-open, still panting from our kiss. If not for the car behind us, who knew what could have happened between us. Probably, I was not just flyi
(Anj’s POV)What was the last number?I was supposed just to plant a kiss, but as my lips touched his again, he opened his mouth, licking my upper lip.“Hey!” I giggled, but he continued to lick my lips like I was ice cream that should be eaten right away because I might melt. I just lost it; I parted my lips, letting him taste me and allowing myself to enjoy the sweetness of the moment. “One,” Sky whispered, his tongue touching mine, and when I playfully bit his lower lip, he moaned as he grabbed the back of my neck to deepen our kiss, sucking my tongue deliciously. It was crazy, and despite the coldness of the weather, we were burning with desire.“One,” I moaned as I nibbled his lower lip playfully, closing my eyes. I knew a little more of this; I would forget I shouldn’t be here kissing Sky, and I should be running away from him, planning about escaping from his path.He laughed softly, kissing me more.“One,” We both said in unison, sharing searing kisses passionately, forgetti
(Anj’s POV)“Or not!” I said right away.He smiled and glanced at me again. “I’m just kidding, Anj. I know you wanted to get home to the girls.”I breathed in relief and smiled at him. “Sorry, I haven’t had it for a long time.” I regretted saying it because Sky stepped on the brake to stop the car. “Sky!” I growled at him. “I was only-”“Red light, Anj. Relax,” He chuckled, pointing at the traffic light. “But I’ve been thinking.”I looked at him nervously. “Thinking of what?”“Thinking of you and how good you smell,” he whispered, his eyebrows knitting as if remembering something. “How familiar your scent is to me,” he looked at me again, smiling sheepishly.“My children gave you my perfume, that’s why,” I said to him, biting my thumb now as I could not relax.He nodded. “Yeah, right,” he uttered in agreement but narrowed his eyes like there was something more. “Where to?”“Turn right,” I peeked outside the window, making sure I was giving him the right direction.“You lived near Heav
(Anj’s POV) Two years later… I glanced at Anya as she rubbed her baby bump. She hissed as she continued to touch her belly. “Dylan was so ecstatic about having a boy that I wanted him to carry our baby. This little one seemed to practice taekwondo inside my belly,” she complained. “I’m not sure if he’s practicing for the Olympics too early.” I chuckled, looking at my girls as they listened to Olivia playing the violin in the pavilion, and then my eyes went back to the three children playing on the sand. “Dayana!” yelled Anya at her daughter, startling me. “Good lord, don’t eat that!” “Relax, Anya. She was only smelling the shell,” I laughed. “Cloud, Rain,” I called my boys, shaking my head at my twins. They giggled and stood up, walking toward their sisters, leaving Dayana as she continued to play with sand. It has become our tradition to visit the Angela Island every year. Although this year was different without Steve, leaving us all last year just before his birthday. “I onl
(Sky’s POV)“I want to marry the Mighty Sky,” I remembered Angela saying dreamily.I looked at Frank, and as he smiled, I recalled telling him that night, ‘I’ll marry this lovely angel today.’“Are you ready?” Father Jesse asked, his eyes wandering at the small chapel I asked to build for this celebration before looking at me.I turned my gaze to him. “Yes, but Father Jesse, I have a question.” Not giving him a chance to talk, I asked him, “I came to you and asked for Angela, but you said you didn’t know her.”He chuckled softly. “You were looking for an Angela with red spots on her face, and you were describing her to me as if she was ugly. I didn’t know any ugly Angela. I only realized she was the same person you were looking for when I opened the envelope.”“My bad,” I smiled nervously, and Father Jesse patted me on my shoulder before entering the chapel.Olivia sat in front of the piano organ and began playing. The wedding organizer smiled at me, giving us the cue, and I walked on
(Anj’s POV)“Aren’t you scared of being on the plane with me?” Sky asked when his new private plane took off.I shook my head.“Then why do you have that long face?” he asked me again, pulling me to him.I placed one arm on his waist and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him kissing my hair. “I convinced Anya and Dylan to go with us, but I guess she was having difficulty with her pregnancy.”“Have you experienced that with the girls?” he tilted his head to see my face.I craned my neck to look at him. “In my first trimester. It was hell,” I chuckled. “I couldn’t even make my own perfume, but after that, I could study and work again.”He heaved a deep sigh. “I should have been there. You shouldn’t have carried them alone.”I raised my head and reached for his lips, kissing him. “What would you do? Get one baby and put her inside your belly?” I teased him.“I wonder if men will like that,” he laughed at me, then he pouted, looking so cute. “I’m still mad at you. Why didn’t you want
(Sky’s POV)The luminance of the glow-in-dark stickers in the bedroom still shone vividly when Angela and I collapsed on the bed, panting and catching our breath as I pulled her closer to my body. The thought of dying in the plane crash still made me shiver, and I couldn’t imagine leaving Angela alone, raising our kids, and hating me for the rest of her life for not coming back to her. I kissed her again, not wanting to stop, but I knew she wanted to know what had happened.“I hate you, Sky,” she whispered as her fingers traced my cheeks down to the hollow of my throat. Her hand slid down, stopping her palm on my heart and closing her eyes as if to make sure my heart was still beating. “What happened to you?”“Frank and I didn’t expect it to happen. I was about to enter the cockpit when Leo called and reported someone saw Leonard escaping to Macau. I didn’t need a plane to catch him, so Frank and I got out of the plane but gave my pilot and his co-pilot a go when he asked me if he c
(Anj’s POV)Don’t blink!Don’t disappear!Sky claimed my mouth before I could say his name again. If this were a dream, I would probably hurt anymore who would dare wake me up. It was an intense kiss and hungry as if there was no tomorrow.I could feel the tears rolling on my cheeks, and I cried when Sky stopped kissing me and moved slightly away from me, pressing our foreheads together. It was one long second that I thought my heart had stopped beating again.“I love you, Angela!” He whispered, his lips reaching mine and planting a quick kiss.My mouth opened, hoping to utter words, but no sound came out except my sobs. The mixed emotions stirring in my heart and mind made me dizzy, and all I wanted was to be in his arms. Slowly, I raised my hand, placing my palm on his chest, feeling his beating heart.“Say something, pumpkin,” he sounded begging, but I was more afraid to speak.If only Sky knew the news almost killed me and broke my heart. If he only knew that the days without info
(Anj’s POV)“Angela!”My hand stopped from opening the door, and I turned to the female voice I rarely hear in this place. I saw Jocelyn smiling shyly at me, and behind that curve in her lips, there was tenderness in how she looked at me.“Yes, Jocelyn?” I asked, wondering what she wanted from me.“I wondered if our granddaughters could sleep in our room tonight,” she asked.Our room? My eyebrows raised. With Olivia? With Finn? With Steve?“Steve -” She heaved a deep sigh, blushing like a teenager. “Umm… He wanted to ask if the kids could sleep with us tonight.”“Ah!” I exclaimed, opening the door and finding my children, now in their pajamas, jumping on the bed as Anya read them a book.“Mommy! Mommy!” Lyra Helene called me.“Please, girls, stop jumping. You’re making me dizzy,” I smiled softly at them, stopping at the edge of the bed.The girls stopped jumping and ran to me.“Yes, baby?” I asked, brushing their hair with my fingers, starting with Leyanne, then Selene.“Mommy, Aunt A
(Anj’s POV)The large clusters of clouds had been hiding the beautiful and perfect blue sky for two days now. As I leaned my back facing the garden, I noticed that even the flowers were gloomy about the weather, and sadness loomed in the mansion.Elenita shared with me that it has never been this busy in Mars’ residence except when Freya died. In the kitchen, as she claimed her kingdom, the maids seemed to have never stopped cooking. It was only yesterday when Jocelyn came, hysterical with the news about his son was missing and could be dead somewhere. Steve, though looking tired, remained the strong head here at home, but when he saw his ex-wife, I saw him break into tears for the first time.After seeing Steve cry, I understood what he meant when he told me not to break down because when everyone saw him and Jocelyn crying, it was like looking at the top of the tower falling to the ground. All I wanted was to sit in the corner and wept, wanting to scream for Sky.Finn and Leo have n
(Anj’s POV)“Sky is alive!”It was what I wanted my heart to believe.After Sister Grace left, Aunt Rose came, giving me her warmest hug, and for a while, she cried with me. She sniffed as she moved away from me, her palms on my face as her thumb softly touched my cheeks, wiping the tears.“Have you eaten already?” She asked, and when I shook my head, she forced a chuckle. “I’m not asking you, Angela. I’m asking that little Sky in there,” she took my hand and placed my palm on my belly. “He might be hungry and tired. Or should I say, they might be hungry?”“They?” I released a brief laugh, tears rolling again. “Aunt Rose!”She smirked. “What? You’re a Mars now. You should have known the rumors about them.”“Rumors?” My eyebrows raised at her.Aunt Rose grinned at me. “They were wealthy because someone in the family always produced double. Steve has twin brothers, and you knew he has twins, too, right?” She pursed her lips. “I guess you broke the tradition of producing only two. They s
(Anj’s POV)After giving birth to two babies, the doctor asked me to push again. I remembered glancing at my sun and bright star before nodding to her. She was expecting another girl to come out, but she said it was as if my moon goddess helped me push her brother, but despite that, he still didn’t survive, and Selene almost didn’t make it.When I heard Selene’s first cry, I sobbed, wishing Sky was here. With three babies on top of my chest, I told my children that the sky was almost complete. My heart ached for Cloud, but with three babies, I had to live and wake up. They needed me, and with the thought of me being an orphan, I swore to my children that they would not lose a mother.“Mooommmmyyyyy!” My children wailed, crying as they tried to get into the bedroom. Nina has been stopping them because she thought I needed the time alone.I blinked, and my head turned, following the cry of my girls. My lips curved a sad smile as I opened my arms to them. I saw Nina wiping her tears, ste