The following days were blissful for both Wyoming and Cayden. Every look and every touch has a different meaning for both of them. Everyone around them would hide an amused look seeing their lovesick expressions, doting even, the overcast hanging above their heads notwithstanding. John had been discharged from the hospital. Still, he and Wyoming were not on speaking terms, insisting that Wyoming divorced Cayden outright, which the latter refused. Not when she and Cayden had already reached an understanding. “We are going to start anew, this time as real husband and wife,” Cayden promised when he walked up to her after tearing up the contract they signed for their fake marriage. Tears welled up in her eyes, remembering the tender expression on his face. She was so happy. She did not think that she could be this happy in loving someone. It was liberating to finally be free from trying so hard to hide her feelings. A sigh was released from her lungs. She does not have to hide a
When Alicia left, Wyoming had this sudden urge to run and follow her, but she restrained herself. She did not know why she suddenly felt shy now that she knew that the mother-in-law she looked up to is her mother. “You look unhappy,” Maggie commented when she sat down on the couch to rest her throbbing head on its back. She sighed at the momentary respite, except the throbbing returned when Maggie asked her the question she did not have an answer for. Wyoming bit her lip. Her bloodshot eyes peered at Maggie.She looked uncertain, almost regretful, as she looked at the older woman to whom she had gone quite close these few months. “Was I too harsh on her?” Wyoming said in a little girl’s voice, uncertainty shrouding her voice. There was also something in her tone that Maggie seemed to understand fully, but she did not point it out. Better for Wyoming to discover it for herself. “You were surprised. It was understandable.” Maggie patted her hand, offering comfort. But it
When he turned his head to look at her, Cayden appeared like a one-eyed patch pirate, devilishly handsome with a few strands of his hair falling to his forehead and covering his one eye as he made the announcement.Wyoming locked gazes with Cayden but shifted her gaze elsewhere when the look he gave her became heated. She could not stand the tension that suddenly grew between them at that moment.It was like she was on fire with something she did not understand.She rolled her eyes to the insides of the church where they took their first vow as husband and wife, noticing that the feeling this place evoked in her this time was quite different from the first. Not only did the place look ethereal and solemn. It also lacked the glitter of came
“What’s the rush?” Wyoming commented when her head almost hit the dashboard.Cayden pressed his foot down the accelerator, gaining more than the usual speed limit.He looked at her sideways. The look he gave her was a heated look, full of meaning.“I want to be alone with you.” He said hoarsely.That shut her up.Wyoming could not explain the sudden tensing of her stomach muscle, more intense than the one she felt while they were inside the church. Imaginary butterflies were swirling around her belly, making her unconsciously grab the overhead grip handle, hoping to find her body’s balance.Silence pervaded the car’s interior, except for the engine’s hum and the occasional traffic sounds outside, both the passenger and the driver were silent, absorbed in their own thoughts.They stopped outside the entrance of Ellish Towers, to Wyomin
Wyoming woke up to a full bladder and got out of bed, carefully peeling the arm Cayden wrapped on her waist before she trudged the carpeted floor on the way to the bathroom.She took a leak feeling uncomfortable around her pelvic area and a tenderness in her breast. Before she went back to bed, she thought of something and went to the bedside table where she put her phone last night.Wyoming picked up the phone, powered it, and started swiping until she found what she was looking for - her period tracker. Upon seeing the date, she realized that it was almost that time of the month which explains the cramps around her lower abdomen and her cravings. Before she took the phone down, she also checked the time, noting that it was still too early she got back into bed and snuggled close to Cayden, who in turn instinctively opened his arms to make room for her.She laid her head on his chest, circling an arm to his waist to find a
When his chartered plane landed, Cayden sat rigidly on his seat. His detailed security stood waiting for him to disembark, but he did not seem to find the strength to move.“Sir, we have landed.” He ignored the flight attendant when she told him and continued staring off into space. To be honest he had mixed feelings about this.When he first got the tip, all he thought was to get the answers he needed. Now that he was here, he was hesitating and he knew why as thoughts of Wyoming flitted through his mind.She had been so peaceful earlier - happy and secure in their relationship. But now, he was about to break her happiness and trust. And the feeling was not good.It bothered him a lot.He had never lied to her except now. Technically, this was not lying. He only omitted to tell her things, and this bothered him.“Sir?” The head of h
Wyoming was on the way to the photo shoot when she felt nauseated.She rubbed her temples, feeling her stomach lurch unexpectedly. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she tried hard to stifle the vomit. But at the last minute found herself unable to control the bile that rose to her throat and asked Teddy to park on the nearest service road.The moment the car stopped, she alighted from the car, almost running in her haste, and emptied the contents of her stomach. She repeatedly retched until nothing was left but saliva, tasting like acid on her tongue.“Are you alright?” Marie asked, rubbing her back soothingly in an up-and-down motion.She did not realize that Marie followed her out.&n
“Did you know about being pregnant?’ Alicia asked after the doctor bade them goodbye to continue doing his morning round.Wyoming shook her head no, but when she thought about it, the news did not entirely surprise her. A soft smile curled her lips, thinking about how she and Cayden spent their nights after their impromptu second wedding.She felt a thrill course through her body at the knowledge that she and Cayden had created a life. Now, their marriage is complete. While happy thoughts consumed Wyoming, Alicia watched her daughter pityingly - an involuntarily sigh escaping her lips, knowing the circumstance behind her daughter and Cayden’s marriage.“Are you going to tell Cayden?” Her softly spoken words snapped Wyoming out of her daze, bestowing her mother with a dazzling smile that radiates from within. It was a no-brainer for anyone to think that Wyoming was
Cayden backed off, afraid to anger Wyoming in her delicate condition. After Wyoming climbed into the car, Alicia turned around to talk to him. “It’s best if we take her, Cayden.” He nodded. He did not want to argue with the elders or raise Wyoming’s hackles in her sensitive condition. He was right, it seemed, when Alicia added, “Her hormones are acting up making her blood boil every time she sees you. If she’s indeed pregnant I am sure the baby would take after you.” Alicia teased leaving him in a daze. “Mom!” Wyoming called out from inside the van, prompting Alicia to bestow an apologetic smile his way before closing the car door behind her. “Pregnant.” He murmured to himself while he tried to wrap his mind around the possibility. It wouldn’t be impossible since he and Wyoming spend most of their night doing the deed. Cayden watched in a daze as the van moved forward before blending into the morning traffic. It was a long time before he decided to get back to the house a
Wyoming woke up feeling at ease. She had no idea what woke him up, it was just that her nose had become sensitive. She smelled something that she found not to her liking. She sniffed the air, her nostrils scrunched up in distaste. “What is that awful smell?” She asked hoarsely, opening one eye to check if there was something wrong with their room only to see a semi-undress Cayden hovering above her. His hair dripped wet from the shower. She smiled warmly at him. In a daze, she propped herself on the bed, her hands stretching out to put them around Cayden’s neck. With eyes sparkling in delight at her warm reception, Cayden leaned forward to peck her lips. She meets his downward motion with an upward motion, sniffing at the same time. That was when her nostrils started to twitch scrunching up in distaste for she smelled something not suitable to her taste. “You smell disgusting!” She cried, covering her mouth with her palm to avoid smelling that awful smell. However, the stench s
Giggling sounds and laughter filled Wyoming’s ears. Surrounded by her family, her heart felt full. She blushed when she remembered Cayden and her were supposedly hiding from their families. Now, looking back toward the living room, she saw everyone looking at them, smiles wreathing their faces.Overwhelmed with shyness, she buried her face in Cayden’s chest, as if he could hide what they were doing previously from their onlookers. Cayden threw his head back at her natural display of shyness. His laughter started as a low rumble in the pit of his stomach crossing his lungs and finally coming out of his mouth. The sight of him looking so carefree and happy caught her in a daze, affecting her in ways she did not understand but could only feel.“Mommy! Daddy!” Connor’s shout distracted her from her intent perusal of Cayden’s face. She turned her head to the direction of the sound and saw Connor running toward them, his little feet creating a soft thud as his shoe collided with th
Wyoming got out of the bathroom, a large towel draped around her body, and another one wrapped like a turban around her head. She was about to pull the towel from her head to rub her hair with it when she stopped suddenly. She debated within herself whether to go back to the bathroom and wait for him to leave the room or feign nonchalance.Choosing the latter, she walked inside the room she shares with Connor and stopped a few paces before Cayden.Then she remembered if he was here. “Who is taking care of Connor?” The idea that Connor is playing by himself somewhere inside the house or maybe outside on the beach had her hurrying. She moved about the room, opening a closet to get a change of clothes. In her haste, the towel knot loosened, threatening to fall off her body. She clutched the front with her hand while her other hand held her change of clothes.The towel on her head fell off. Cayden saved it. He held the towel and gently pulled it off her head. “Thank you.” She mu
“Argh!” Wyoming’s fingers clenched, her teeth gritting in frustration while Connor and Cayden, the duo from h*ll did another trick that left her breathless, her body humming in unreleased tension. “Mommy, put some sunblock on my back and daddy’s,” Connor demanded, handing her a bottle of sunblock lotion and turning around, so his back was facing her.She opened the cap, applied some to her palms, and lathered her son’s small back with the lotion.“There, all done. You can now go swim in the water with your dad.” She told him while she placed the bottle of sunblock aside, careful that her eyes led her astray. She had been trying so hard to ignore the rippling muscles on Cayden’s exposed back which he also displayed alongside her son’s. Cayden previously followed Connor’s lead and presented her back to her as well. She smoothed sunblock on Connor but not on Cayden. However, her eyes betrayed her every time. She could not help but look at Cayden’s back, filled with ridges and cur
Contrary to what she initially thought, Cayden did not bring them back to New York, back to their old house surrounded by their family. When their plane landed and she got out, she was surprised to find out they were nowhere near JFK International Airport. In truth, she missed her father and would have wanted to bond with her mother. She braved the longing to be with her parents to protect herself and her son from Cayden. She had mistakenly thought that putting distance between them was enough for her and her son to get away from Cayden’s peripheral. Only to be corrected when he came barging in on her despite the distance. “Where is this place?” She asked, looking at the expanse of trees and dirt around them, totally opposite of the City that never sleeps. She was still miffed with him for trying to blackmail her into submission, but she could not totally ignore him. The man is huge and his presence was not one to be ignored. All through their flight, she was fully aware of t
Chest heaving from anger at the audacity of this man to lie to her through his teeth, Wyoming all but cried, “Liar!” The bitterness of five years ago came to her in full force, flaming the rage inside her. Gaining her memory has intensified the pain like it just happened a while back. She clenched her fist, struggling from her confinement. It was futile, though. With Cayden’s buffed body, he had her trapped very neatly. She did not know how he was able to become this muscled man and still evoke the same feelings from her. His body and her body might change. He became bigger and muscular, and she became softer and fuller due to childbirth, but when their skin connected, it was as if fire sizzled between them.Wyoming could feel the hardness of the wall digging into her back, yet she did not even flinch. The anger gnawing inside her was more powerful than the physical pain. “You can not win me over with all your lies. My son belongs to me. He is mine and you can not take h
“Where are we going, Collins?” “It’s a secret.” Wyoming fidgeted in her seat but did not press Collins for more information. She was surprised when he asked her tonight. They do not usually go out because their finances are tight. And the few times they did, it was always with Connor. “Relax. We’re not going far,” he told her, seeing her getting all worked up. “I’m just not used to leaving Connor at night with a sitter. You know how he wanted me to lull him to sleep. I’m worried that he’ll raise h*ll when we don’t come back at his bedtime hour. “Don’t worry about Connor. He knows Lizzie and he won’t make a fuss.” He assured her. Lizzie lives next door - a single mother of a four-year-old daughter, Samantha. “To ease your mind, why don’t you call them?” Collins suggested.Thinking it was a great idea, she took her phone from her purse and called Lizzie. “Wyoming? Did you forget something?” Lizzie’s soft voice permeated her ears causing her to feel a little self-con
“I am fine, mom.” Wyoming insisted and rolled her eyes for the second time during that phone call. Her mother has been deluging her with phone calls these days and it has become quite annoying. “Will call you back, mom. I have to fetch Connor from the kindergarten. The school notified me they will be released early today.” Wyoming paused, listening to what her mom said on the other line before responding to cut the overseas call. “Yes, mom, of course. Will call you some other time, bye.” She expelled air after she hung up. “Your mom’s pretty difficult today,” Collins commented after she dropped her phone. Wyoming did not like how it sounded coming off from him. He did not even know her. The only interaction they had was when she was at the hospital back in New York and there has been nothing significant about their conversations, mostly getting to know each other, etc. In an offhand manner, she shrugged her shoulders to make light of it. Her mom, she knew, could be a bit