Raphael It's been a few weeks since our honeymoon and pregnancy was not what I would imagine. The rest of our honeymoon, Ondina struggled to hold down anything she ate. She slept most of the time and when she was awake, she was at war with every smell and man, was she a ball of emotions. Everything upset her. I'm just now figuring out how to help her. Her OBG assured us that her morning sickness would pass after a few months and today will be her first ultrasound. She told me it wasn't necessary for me to come but I took the day off anyway. I planned on being present for her entire pregnancy and after so she better get used to it. I don't care if our baby looks like a little dot on the monitor, I want to be there and to be her support system. Ondina was rushing around the penthouse looking for something to wear and gave up mid way. She burst into tears about how nothing she had would fit. "I lost too much weight! This can't be good for the baby." She was pouting in the floor
Raphael"Raf! We're having twins!" She looked over at me with a beautiful smile and I allowed my worries to slip away for the time being."We are!" I leaned down and placed a kiss to her forehead.The Sonographer printed out a few pictures and handed them over to us. I couldn't see any babies just two floating objects that looked like tadpoles.Once we were in the car Ondina started talking to me about baby names and how we would need more space but I couldn't really focus on what she was saying. I could only think of the fact that we were gonna have twins."Are you okay?" Ondina asked as we pulled into the parking garage."Yes, why wouldn't I be?" She looked at me suspiciously."It's just that you've been quiet this whole time and you look distracted." She was now looking at me expectantly."I'm just still processing that we are having twins." Fear veiled her face."Do you not want twins?" She asked."No," she looked at me shocked."No, no, I mean, no it's not that.""Well good becau
Ondina"How does Raphael feel about the babies?" Anna asked.This question threw her off a bit. She honestly didn't know. It was almost as if he was purposely distracting himself with work ever since they could out about the twins. When he was home, he didn't say much.She didn't really know how to approach the topic. Well, I do but I don't think I will like what he might say. Ondina sat up straighter when she realized she was in her head for longer than she thought she was."He's been a bit distant since we found out, it's kind of worrying me." Camille looked at Ondina knowingly but quickly looked away when Ondina made eye contact with her."What was that?" Ondina asked, Anna looking back and forth between them too."What's what?" Camille asked, pretending to be confused."You know what!""I don't know what you're talking about.""Yes, you do!""Seriously, I know nothing about anything!""CAMILLE!" Ondina yelled. She knew something and was withholding it from her and Ondina didn't li
OndinaOndina stood in the doorway stunned. She couldn't believe all of the information she had just received. A sudden wave of nausea washed over her and she made a run for the bathroom. Now hunched over the toilet, she released and sobbed in between each wave of nausea. Once she was finally able to stop puking, her phone chimed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she unlocked it and was met with a message from an unknown number.'Evidence for when he tries to deny it later.'Attached to the message was a few pictures. Once was the photo she had just seen moments before, and another was of Celeste laying across a sleeping Raphaels bare chest. An overwhelming wave of sorrow flowed through Ondina's core, causing her to curl up into a ball. Her sobs jerked her body violently. Why? She couldn't think of anything else but of his betrayal; unable to get the images of him and Celeste or the other woman."Little flower?" Raphaels voice filled the room, causing Ondina to jump and sit up."What's
Camille"Mm, that feels amazing!" I moaned."You like that?" Thomas spoke confidently. I loved it when he spoke this way, it was so hot! "Yes, babe. Your hands are magical!" I complimented my man. It helped that I didn't have to lie with him. He actually was good at everything he did, and i mean everything. All the men before him, ugh, I had to fake everything but not with him. He decided that he wanted to surprise me with food and a massage, and do I look like someone to say no to that? I'd have to be crazy."Do my feet next! I've been on them all week!" I wiggled my toes and giggled as he pulled them up to his chest and suckled them into his mouth before he began massaging them."Wait!" Thomas whispered as he turned his head toward my room door."Someone's here?" My heart dropped to my ass. "Stop you're scaring me!" I whined. I was about to say something else when I heard the sound of Ondina's old room door open. "Omg! it's a robber!" I whispered. Planting a kiss to my head, he
RaphaelI could barely sleep last night. I couldn't get the image of Ondina's face out of my head. How heartbroken she was, and I wish she would have listened to me. I would never hurt her that way and it felt like absolute shit that she truly believed that I would. Realistically, I could understand why she did. Those pictures were damaging and if the roles were reversed, I would have doubted her as well but knowing that didn't make it hurt less.This was the second time she had run away from me, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried. In fact, I'm terrified. It was torturing the first go around, but now, she isn't just my girlfriend, she is my wife and is carrying my children. I needed her back with me and the longer she is away from me, the more desperate I'm starting to feel. It was now 7am and I couldn't wait anymore. I pulled out my phone and dialed her.My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach when I was met with her voicemail. this isn't good... she's gonna ignore me
RaphaelLeaving out, I let Christine know that I would only be in next week for meeting and to not schedule any pop-ups either. After I parked the car in the parking garage, I begrudgingly made my way up to our penthouse. I dreaded not seeing her there. Opening the door, I stopped in my tracks. laying on the couch, curled up in a throw blanket was the love of my life. I walked in quietly and put my things away. She was sleeping peacefully, and my heart was so full, I could feel the tears building in my throat. Stepping in the kitchen, I made her a light meal, recommended by her nutritionist and dietitian. Bringing it over to her, I gently woke her up, offering her the plate of food. With sleepy eyes she looked up at me with her beautiful light brown eyes and quickly looked away. My heart sank.She took the plate from my hands and mumbled a thank you. I sat next to her and tried to think of the right words to say. This moment felt so fragile and the last thing I needed was her leaving
Camille "Yes, mom! Now you and dad better be here or I'll cause a big scene!” "We wouldn't miss it for the world, bug. In fact, we're leaving our room now!" "Perfect! Thomas said he will meet you at the front when you get here!" "Okay, bug. Now hurry along. It's your big day!" "I love you bunches!" "I love you more!" Once I was off the phone with ,my mom, I went in search for Onny and her third arm. I found them at the food bar. It wasn't much of a surprise. Onny watch like crazy with the babies. Her belly was starting to poke out, so she had to wear loose fitting clothes just to keep it hidden from the world. They had finally told their moms, but we all agreed with them when they made the decision to keep it hidden from the public. They were the hottest couple in the media right now and that made them a target. Onny already deals with enough hate online for bagging Americas most eligible bachelor. The latest scandal online right now is that she used him to get her book pu
Five years later...I woke up to the ringing of an alarm clock. Like always, it was Ondina's. She had a million of them set for every ten minutes. What for? I had no idea, but today, it wasn't just an annoyance. It was a painful reminder of the chaos that was about to erupt. Fire year old twins were a force of nature. The ringing of the alarm grew louder. I groaned, reaching for the snooze button, but a gentle hand stopped me. "Don't even think about it," Ondina murmured, her voice laced with a sleepy smile. "The monsters will be here any minute."I still couldn't believe I was married to a woman so beautiful. Her dark hair was a tangled mess against the silk pillow and her eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the warmth radiating from her was undeniable. She was, indeed, my everything, and now, carrying our third child, she possessed a radiant glow that made my heart ache with a love so strong it sometimes felt like a physical weight."Monsters?" I teased, pulling her closer. "I
RaphaelI was just finishing up paperwork she my office door opened and in walked Celeste. She swung her hips a little too hard and she smelled of expensive perfume."Raphy, darling," she purred, the word sounding like a hiss on her tongue. "So good of you to see me.""Celeste," I replied.I was already annoyed and just wanted together this over with. "I wasn't aware I had a choice. Your unannounced visit last night hardly left me one."She ignored the chairs and sat her ass on the edge of my desk. Her crimson lips curved into a practiced pout. "Oh, don't be like that, Raphy. I just wanted to see you. To catch up."My jaw tightened. "Catch up? By crashing into my home, heavily intoxicated, and physically assaulting my wife?"Her perfectly practiced pout faltered and was replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Ondina was being dramatic. It was merely a little… disagreement with her.""A disagreement that involved you grabbing her hair and screaming about how she stole your life?" "He
RaphaelThis could not be happening. Not tonight. Not when Ondina was finally happy. She lunged herself forward, trying to wrap her arms around my waist but I stiff armed her in the forehead."Celeste," I whispered."How did you find our- that doesn't matter." Trying to keep my voice calm I stated."You need to leave.""Leave?" she shrieked, Loud enough for the entire house to hear her. "Leave? After everything? After you promised me forever? You were supposed to be mine, Raphy!"Ondina appeared behind me, her face a mask of confusion and then, registration."How the fuck did you get here?" Ondina positioned herself between me and Celeste."Ondina!" Celeste shrieked again, pointing a wobbly finger in her face. "You! How does it feel living MY life?! I was supposed to be Mrs. Lahsen! I was supposed to live in this house! I was supposed to-" before she could continue, Ondina pushed her in the chest."Back up or I'll call the police!" Before Celeste could launch into another tirade, An
Raphael"Are you sure we can pull this off, Raf?" she asked, her voice tight as she surveyed the mountain of unopened boxes in the living room."The movers have it all covered, my love. Don't stress. " I kissed her forehead."It's just, with it being the twins' birthday, and the family dinner... it's all happening so fast." I could understand why she would be overwhelmed.not only was the twins birthday, it was also moving day. I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her beautiful curls. "Hey, breathe. We've got this, little flower. I'm here, aren't I? And besides, you're forgetting the cater we hired." She chuckled, some of the tension left her shoulders. "you're right. I'm over reacting. I need to calm down.""Exactly! Now, tell me, what's priority number one?""Getting Cam and Camie's play area set up. If they're happy, we're all happy." We exchanged smiles.She was right. Those two could bring the the sky down on us if they weren't happy, but they were the best kind of
MasonBreathing was becoming a task for me. Every breath hitched a ragged protest against the pain that I was feeling every day, but today... today was different. The air hung heavier. It was like I could feel my time running out. I knew. Today was the end, and Ondina words clung to my heart. "You're gonna die here, and no one will miss you." A sigh escaped my lips. I could tase the blood in my lungs. My vision was patchy and it burned to keep my eyes open. They had gotten used to the dark after months of being in it, but now, they were struggling against the glow of that one single bulb I hadn't know was there. Ondina forgot to turn it off and this was a new kind of torture.I was left here, visibly able to see just how far gone I was. In the dark, I couldn't see much detail of myself, but now, I could see everything. I was far from the man I used to be, and I had no one to blame but myself. Regret was a useless emotion now. A luxury I could no longer afford, but it was there and
OndinaHis face was gaunt, his eyes sunken and hollow. His hair was longer and his facial hair was unkept, like he hadn't shaves in months. His clothes were worn and filthy, clinging to his sickly frame. He looked like he hadn't eaten in months. He was looking up at her, his eyes wide with a flicker of... 'was it hope?'Ondina took a step back when the memories crashed down on her like a tidal wave of horror and pain.She could remember the fear, the sting of the restraints cutting into her skin, and the relentless torment. She could remember his cruel laughters as he had enjoyed her suffering and how he mocked her as she cried. The memory that paralyzed her the most was his haunting groans of Camilles name as he repeated it over and over again while he used her body for his own gratification. She remembered the agonizing pain of premature labor and the fear for her unborn children as the darkness swallowed her whole. She remembered every single detail.He had taken everything from he
OndinaThree days earlierAfter a sleepless night, Ondina watched as Anna cooed over the twins. "You're a lifesaver," Ondina said, forcing a smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can.""Take your time," Anna said, already distracted with a game of peek-a-boo. "They're in good hands."Ondina kissed each of her twins on the top of their heads she said her goodbyes. "Be good for Anna," she murmured, her voice thick with a mother's anxiousness."They'll be perfect angels, Onny, now shoo." Anna fanned Ondina towards the door.Ondina slipped out the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She drove carefully. Once she was on the highway, she pressed down on the accelerator. She was feeling every bit of anxious, but she needed answers. The drive was agonizing. Doubts gnawed at her. What if she was wrong? What if she was overreacting? But then she was flooded with the memory of the look on Raphael's face every time he told her he had a business trip, and her resolve hardened.Finally, she rea
RaphaelAs I stepped onto the balcony, the crisp morning air caressed my face. Sunrise bled across the horizon, painting the building tops in hues of rose and gold. It was a beautiful day. A perfect day, almost.Inside, Ondina was stirring, the soft laughter of our twins, was already filling the air, letting us know they were awake. The thought of them tugged a smile onto my face. Two perfect, healthy babies. I was truly blessed. After everything, we were finally moving forward in a positive direction.I leaned against the metal railing, the cold was slowly creeping into my hoodie, but I barely noticed. My gaze began to drift towards the light traffic beneath me as my thought began to consume me. It's bee six months. Six months that we've had him. Six months of torture, and I still didn't feel the satisfaction I though I would.Thomas stepped beside me, his face looked strained. "Coffee's on," he muttered he lit a cigarette with a shaky hand."When did you get her?" I asked, pushing
OndinaOndina stirred her tea as she stared aimlessly. Raphael's conversation with Thomas kept playing on repeat in Ondina's head. 'What is he hiding from me?' She felt desperate to know who was in that cabin, and why Raphael was so desperate to keep it secret that he would lie to her.Ondina knew Raphael wasn't always forthcoming, but this felt different. It felt deliberate, and it made her feel uncomfortable. Her gaze drifted to the two sleeping infants in their bassinets. Cameron looked so much like his father, and Camille was a miniature version of herself. They were the reason she needed to know. Their fragile, innocent lives deserved a foundation built on truth, not secrets.Taking a deep breath, Ondina reached for her phone. She scrolled through her contacts until she found Raphael's mother's number. She played out in her head what she wanted to ask, but had no idea how she should go about it. After a few minutes, she took a deep breath and dialed. after a few rings, his mother