Ivery's POV. Six years later. As my eyes fluttered open, I was blinded by the bright sunlight that was streaming through the window. I tried to sit up, but I couldn't move, my limbs refusing to cooperate. My head was pounding, and I felt like I had been hit by a truck. As my vision cleared, I saw Cassandra lying beside me, her face pale and drawn. And then I saw Caden, his hand clutching mine. I carefully pushed myself into a sitting position, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to wake the children. As I looked around the room, my eyes landed on Celine, who was sleeping peacefully at the edge of the room. I let out a sigh of relief, glad that he was safe and sound.My kids were always such sound sleepers, but they always seemed to sleep even more soundly on weekends. It was almost as if they knew it was the weekend, and they wanted to make the most of it by catching up on their sleep. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about how blessed I was to have them in my lif
Ivery's POV. The moment Franco's face appeared on the screen, the kids were overjoyed. They squealed with delight and started jumping up and down as if they were meeting their hero in person. “It's Franco!” they exclaimed, clapping their hands and bouncing up and down in their seats. “We love you, Franco!” they called out, their voices full of excitement. I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. They were thrilled to see their favorite mentor on the screen.It was clear that the kids had developed a deep affection for Franco, even though they had no idea that he was their biological father.When the kids were three years old, they started asking questions about their father. They wanted to know who he was, and why they didn't see him. I knew I couldn't tell them the truth, so I told them that their father had passed away. It was a lie, but it was the best I could do at the moment. They accepted the answer unquestionably, and I was relieved that they didn't push the issue fur
Ivery's POV. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever she was about to say. “Of course, honey,” I replied, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. She bit her lip, and I could see that she was nervous. I waited patiently, giving her the time she needed to gather her thoughts.The question came out in a whisper, but it felt like a bomb had gone off in the room. “Do I have a father?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the floor. My heart sank as I realized what she was asking. I had gotten used to answering this kind of question from my kids, but this one felt different. There was a weight to it, a sense of urgency that I couldn't ignore. It was as if they needed a real answer, not just a platitude or a vague response. I knew I had to be honest with them, even if it was difficult. I needed to tell them the truth, even if it wasn't easy. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts, and thinking about what I would say before I spoke.“Your dad is dead, I have told you multiple
Ivery's POV. I found it frustrating that my kids didn't like Kaleb, no matter how hard I tried to get them to warm up to him. He was such a kind and gentle soul, and I knew he would be a good influence on them. But for some reason, they just couldn't see it. I would rather not force them to like him, but I also didn't want them to miss out on having such a wonderful friend. I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew I had to find a way to bridge the gap.Now that Kaleb was offering to take us out, I was anxious about how my kids would react. I wanted them to have a good time, but I would rather not push them into something they weren't comfortable with. I thought about all the things that Kaleb had done for us, and I knew that he only had the best intentions. But I also knew that my kids were stubborn and could be difficult at times. I hoped that they would give him a chance, but I wasn't certain if they would.I called out to them, and they came running into the living room. “Good afte
Ivery's POV. I stepped into the room, but the kids didn't even look up. They were all facing away from me, their backs turned in a clear show of defiance. I knew I had to handle the situation carefully, but I wasn't sure where to start. I cleared my throat, and they all shifted slightly but didn't turn to look at me. The silence in the room was deafening. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.“I'm sorry about what happened earlier,” I said, my voice soft but firm.“Please, can we talk?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. But there was still no response. I tried again, this time with a pleading tone. “Please, just talk to me. We need to talk about what happened.” My heart was pounding, and I felt a sense of panic rising within me. I knew I had to do something to break the tension. I decided to try something different. I bent down and started to tickle all three of them at once. They squealed and giggled, trying to wriggle away from my hands. It was like a
Ivery's POV. “I'm sorry, I didn't hear you,” I said, my voice trembling. “Could you please repeat that?” “You've been transferred back to our headquarters,” he said, the words sounding so final. I felt numb, my head spinning with questions. “But why?” I asked again, still not comprehending what was happening as I struggled to process what he was saying.I couldn't believe that I was being sent back to the very place I had escaped from years ago. The headquarters was where Franco lived, and the thought of seeing him again filled me with dread. I knew that working there would be difficult, to say the least. But I also knew that I had to put on a brave face and make the best of the situation. I couldn't let my personal feelings get in the way of my career.Without thinking, the words tumbled out of my mouth. “I'm sorry, but I can't go,” I blurted out. My boss looked at me, surprise on his face. “I understand that this is a shock,” he said his tone understanding. “But I need you to
Ivery’s POV. “I love you,” he said, looking me straight in the eyes. “I've loved you since the first moment I met you. I tried to forget about it, but I couldn't. No matter how hard I try, I just can't stop loving you.” I was stunned, and my mouth went dry. I had no idea how to respond. I had never expected to hear those words from him.And then, he did something that caught me completely off guard. He leaned in and kissed me, gently at first, and then with more passion. I was too shocked to do anything but stand there, my mind racing. What was happening? Why was he doing this? I felt a mixture of emotions – confusion, fear, anger, and a little bit of disappointment. I pushed him away, my hands on his chest. “What are you doing?” I cried out, my voice shaking. He looked at me, his eyes wide with surprise. “I… I'm sorry,” he stammered, reaching for me. But I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted to get away, to escape the situation. So I ran, my heart racing, my mind in a whir
Ivery's POV. My kids came into the living room, looking a little sleepy. Their hair was tousled, and their eyes were still half-closed. They looked a bit confused like they weren't quite sure what was going on. I smiled at them, hoping to put them at ease. “Good morning, guys!” I said, my voice bright and cheerful. They mumbled a response, still trying to shake off the sleepiness. I could tell they were a bit out of sorts.“Come over here and sit next to me,” I said, patting the seat next to me. They shuffled over and sat down, leaning against me. Cassandra laid her head on my lap, looking up at me with her big, emerald eyes. Caden rested his head on my left shoulder, his brown eyes staring off into space, while Celine rested his head on my right shoulder. I wrapped my arms around them, holding them close. I took a deep breath and started to speak. “Kids, I have some news to tell you,” I said, my voice a little shaky. “It's a mix of good news and bad news. Do you want to hear t
Franco’s POV.I could feel the warmth of the morning sun on my face, and I groaned in protest, not wanting to get out of bed. But then I heard a soft chuckle, and I opened my eyes to find Ivery's face inches from mine, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Looks like someone would rather not wake up,” she teased, snuggling closer to me. I couldn't help but smile, feeling the closeness of her body against mine.“Good morning, sunshine,” I said to her, my voice still thick with sleep. She smiled at me, and I felt my heart flutter. “Good morning, my love,” she replied, and I felt a surge of joy at hearing those words. I leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss, savoring the moment.Waking up next to Ivery every morning for the past year has been a blissful experience. I never thought I could feel so much happiness, so much joy, just from being in her presence. Every day, I count my blessings for having her in my life. And every morning, I woke up grateful that she was by my side. It was like
Ivery’s POV.As I walked inside the room, I could hear voices and laughter coming from the living room. Franco was still attending to the guests, making sure everyone was comfortable and happy. I headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The sound of the running water was soothing, and I took a moment to relax, enjoying the sensation of the warm water on my skin.I looked down at the ring on my finger, still in a bit of disbelief. I was married to Franco, the man of my dreams. It still seemed too good to be true. But the ring on my finger was a constant reminder of the love we shared, a symbol of our commitment to each other. I finished my shower, feeling refreshed and ready for the night.I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair still damp and tousled. I sat down at the dressing table, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I put on a silky black nightgown that clung to my curves. I ran my hands over the smooth fabric, feeling the coolness against my skin. It was simple, yet
Ivery’s POV.One month later.I had heard so many stories about the bells ringing in the church on a wedding day, but I never thought I would get to experience it myself. I stood there, my heart racing, as the sound of the bells filled the air. It was a sound I would never forget, and it marked the beginning of a new life for me and my family. I stared at myself in the mirror, taking in the sight of the white wedding gown I was wearing. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and I felt like I was in a dream. My hair was perfectly styled, and my makeup was flawless. I took a deep breath, trying to take it all in. Was this really happening? Was I really getting married? I looked at the door, waiting for the moment I would walk down the aisle.My mother, Cassy, and Owen, entered the room. "You look beautiful, my dear," my mother said, smiling at me. I blushed, grateful for her words. "It's time," Owen said, and I nodded, knowing that it was time to go. I took one last look
Ivery’s POV.There, in my hands, was the DNA test, the results undeniable. Franco was the father of my children. How had he found out? Why had he been so silent all this time? A million questions raced through my mind, but I knew I wouldn't get any answers until I confronted him. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I had to be strong.As I tried to calm myself, I felt a bead of sweat roll down my forehead. My hands trembled, and the room suddenly felt stiflingly hot. I looked up and my eyes met Franco's. I quickly looked away, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. I had so many questions, and I knew he had answers. But I didn't know if I could face him right now, with everything I had just discovered.The silence was broken by a question from Franco. "How long did you plan on keeping this from me?" he asked, his voice low and calm. I didn't know what to say, so I remained silent. I looked at everything in the room but him
Ivery’s POV.“Ladies first,” he said with a sly smile. I nodded, taking a deep breath. I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone, my hands shaking slightly. I fumbled with the screen, unlocking it and opening the video gallery. There it was, the video of Diva in his penthouse trying to force him to sign the check. I held out the phone, my heart pounding in my chest.“Take a look,” I said, my voice trembling. He took the phone from me, a look of confusion on his face. He held it up to his eyes, staring at the screen. At first, he didn't seem to understand what he was looking at. Then, his eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. He looked up at me, his face pale. “What is this?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. I took a deep breath, preparing to tell him everything. As I told him everything, I watched as his face twitched with anger. His brow furrowed, his jaw clenched. “How dare she try to do this,” he said, his voice filled with rage? “I need to deal with her.” His ha
Ivery’s POV.Franco's behavior had been puzzling me for a while. He seemed to be acting differently, but I couldn't tell if I was just imagining things or if there was something actually going on. He had been spending more time with the kids, and sporadically they even slept over. Was I reading too much into it, or was there something more going on? I couldn't help but wonder if there was something I was missing, some hidden meaning that I just couldn't see.At first, I was afraid to let them sleep over. I didn't want them to accidentally spill the truth about me being their mother. But they had promised me that they wouldn't say anything, and I believed them. After all, they were mature for their age and I trusted them. Still, I couldn't help but worry about what would happen if they did accidentally reveal the truth. Would it ruin our relationship? Would everything fall apart?The truth felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. I knew that the longer I kept it
Franco’s POV.“You are the father,” the doctor said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. I felt like the ground was falling out from under me. I quickly closed the door behind me, not wanting Ivery to overhear. “Let's go to your office,” I said, my voice trembling as I tried to keep my composure. We walked to the office, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew I was about to receive the biggest news of my life.The doctor closed the door, and I blurted out the question that had been burning in my mind. “Can you run a DNA test on Ivery?” I asked, my voice trembling. I knew it sounded foolish, but I needed to be certain. I needed to know the truth, regardless of what it was.“It's obvious that Ivery is the mother,” the doctor said. I nodded, my mind whirling with thoughts and questions. “When do you think the transplant was?” I asked, trying to put the pieces together. I wanted to understand what had happened, how I could be a father without even knowing it. I had to make sense of
Franco’s POV.I stared at the report, my eyes scanning the words, but unable to make sense of it. The medical jargon was confusing and unfamiliar. I felt a sense of panic rising in my chest. “What's this?” I asked the doctor. “Your bone marrow matches with his,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. But his words did nothing to ease my anxiety. I felt overwhelmed and confused.“How’s this possible?” I asked confused.“ Because you are the father of the child,” he said.I let out a sarcastic laugh. “How can I be the father of the child?” I asked incredulously. “Does this doctor understand how biology works?” My voice was tinged with anger and disbelief. It was impossible, I was sure of it. But the doctor looked at me calmly, and said, “I understand your skepticism, but there is no doubt that you are the father of this child. Your DNA matches perfectly.” I felt my world spinning, my mind reeling. How could this be?“Ivery told me that she wasn't the mother of the kids,” I said, my
Franco’s POV.I scooped Caden up in my arms, his body limp and heavy. Ivey's mom followed me outside, her face pale and her eyes red with tears. I laid Caden gently in the back seat, careful not to jostle him too much. His grandma climbed in after him, cradling him in her arms and whispering comforting words in his ear. I got into the driver's seat, my hands shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. I turned the key in the ignition, and we sped off, the sound of sirens echoing in the distance.The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever, even though we made it there in record time. When we arrived, the nurses rushed out to meet us, taking Caden from our arms and whisking him away to the emergency room. We were left standing there, the silence deafening. Ivey's mom and I paced back and forth, our hearts pounding in our chests, our minds racing with worry. We waited and waited, but it felt like time was standing still.As I paced the hospital floor, I couldn't help but think of Iv