Diva’s POV.I hadn't been able to go to work since the day Franco called off the engagement. The shame I felt was overwhelming, and the thought of facing the world felt impossible. But most of all, I couldn't bear the thought of facing Ivery. I could imagine the look of victory on her face, and the questions she would ask. I couldn't bear to see the mock in her eyes. I felt like a failure, and the thought of facing her was more than I could bear.As I sat there, the memory of the day I went to visit Franco came flooding back. I had gone there to beg him to reconsider, but the moment I walked in the door, I knew something was wrong. He was wearing a shirt that smelled like Ivery's perfume. I knew she'd been there, and it felt like a knife to my heart. I felt a wave of hurt and betrayal wash over me. Not only had he called off our engagement, but he had done it after spending time with Ivery.As the memories continued to come back, I realized something else. The call he had made that
Ivery’s POV.I watched as Diva sauntered out of my office, a smug look on her face. I could almost hear the click of her heels as she strode away, and I rolled my eyes, exasperated. How dare she warn me to stay away from Franco? Who did she think she was? The nerve of her! I seethed, and I was tempted to follow her out and give her a piece of my mind. But I took a deep breath and forced myself to remain calm. There was no point in letting her get under my skin. I had to focus on what was essential.I was sitting at my desk, absorbed in my work, when I heard a light knock on my door. I looked up and saw Diva standing there, a large stack of files in her hands and a smug smile on her face. My heart sank. I had a feeling I knew what was coming. “Diva,” I said, with a warning tone in my voice. “What do you want?” She walked in and sat down across from me, her smile widening. “I have some critical files that I need you to work on,” she said, laying them out on my desk.I looked through
Ivery’s POV.The sound of my kids' laughter woke me from a deep sleep. I sat up, stretching my body and trying to rub the sleep from my eyes. I stood up and yawned, feeling the grogginess of sleep still clinging to me. I made my way out of my room, drawn by the sound of my kids' voices. I rounded the corner and saw them playing in the living room, laughing and smiling. I couldn't help but smile. Seeing them happy made my heart feel a little lighter.“Good morning, Mom!” my kids exclaimed in unison, beaming at me. “Good morning, my sweethearts,” I replied, kissing each of them on the forehead. “How was your night?” I asked. “It was great, Mom!” they said, their eyes alight with excitement. “We had so much fun!” I smiled, relieved that they had enjoyed themselves. “What did you do?” I asked, curious to know what they had been up to.“Uncle Franco read us midnight stories!” Caden said with a grin. I widened my eyes in surprise. “What?” I asked. “Uncle Franco was here?” The kids
Diva’s POV.The aroma of homemade food had been wafting through the air, but the reality was that I was hungry, and my stomach was growling. I decided that the only way to satisfy my craving was to go out and eat at a restaurant. I looked through my phone for nearby restaurants, and finally decided on a cozy place nearby. I grabbed my coat and headed out the door, ready to get my fill of delicious food.As I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, I caught sight of a familiar car in one of the spaces. It was Franco's car, and a smile spread across my face. Finally, I would get to see him again, and we could spend some time together. The thought of it filled me with a warm feeling, like a ray of sunshine on a cold day. I walked towards the restaurant, my steps light and quick. I couldn't wait to see him.The moment I stepped inside the restaurant, I felt my heart sink. Franco was there, but he was not alone. Ivery was there too, and they were with a group of children, laughing
Ivery’s POV.We were in the middle of a conversation about something mundane, and I was just starting to relax when his phone rang. He excused himself, walking out of the canteen to answer it. I watched him go, feeling a bit of disappointment. I had been enjoying talking to him, and now he was gone. I looked over at the kids, who were playing happily, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Franco returned to the table, looking a bit flustered. “I have something important to take care of at my penthouse,” he said. I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. “It's time to go home, kids,” I said to the little ones. “What? But I thought you were going to stay with us all day,” Celine pouted. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I knew I had to get home.Franco knelt down in front of Celine, looking him straight in the eye. “I have something essential to do at home, and I need to go take care of it,” he said gently. “Okay,” Celine said, his bottom lip quivering. Franco picked him up in
Ivery’s POV.The shrill sound of my alarm clock jolted me awake from my deep sleep, and for the first time in my life, I was grateful that it was morning. I had a lot to accomplish today, and I was eager to get started. I jumped out of bed, hurried to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. I dressed for work, choosing a sharp, professional outfit that would command respect. Then, I headed out the door and got in my car. As I drove to the office, I prayed that Diva would be unavailable today, so I could focus on my mission without any distractions. I needed to succeed. “Good morning,” I said to the receptionist as I signed in.“Good morning,” she replied, smiling. “Is the CEO around?” I asked. “Yes, she's in her office,” the receptionist said.My disappointment must have been obvious because the receptionist's expression turned to concern. “Is everything all right?” she asked, her brow furrowed. I forced a smile, though it felt weak and false. “Everything's fine,” I lied. “I
Ivery’s POV.My head throbbed, the pain pounding through my skull. I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too bright. I squinted, trying to adjust to the brightness. My body ached as I attempted to move, and I realized that I was tied up. My arms were bound behind my back, and my legs were tied together. I struggled against the restraints, but they were too tight. I felt a sense of panic rising within me. What was happening? Where was I? I tried to calm myself down, to think clearly. But all I could do was lie there, helpless.As I tried to look up, someone slapped me across the face. I fell, crashing to the floor along with the chair. I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder as I hit the ground. I looked up, and I noticed that it was Diva. She was standing over me, a cold, calculating look in her eyes. I tried to speak, but my tongue felt thick and heavy. “You are a fool,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “And now, you are going to pay for it.” I felt my heart race, and I kne
Franco’s POV.“Hope you kids had a fun day today,” I said, giving each of them a high five. “Yes, uncle Franco!” they exclaimed, their faces beaming with joy. “Now, let's go home,” I said, and they all groaned. “No, no, no!” Celine said. “Can we go pick up my mom from work?” she asked, her eyes wide and pleading. I hesitated, not sure what to do. “I don't know, Celine,” I said, torn between saying yes and saying no.Celine looked at me with pleading eyes, and I knew I couldn't say no. “Okay, fine,” I relented. They all jumped up and down, cheering in excitement. We got into the car and started driving to Ivery's office. I felt a pit in my stomach, worried that I was making the wrong decision. I knew that Ivery might not want the kids at the office, and I felt like keeping them from Diva. But I also knew that Celine really wanted to see her aunt (mom).The kids had called me earlier that day, asking if we could spend time together. I had been feeling a bit lonely, so I jumped at
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