(Blake's POV)
How do you fake a smile? How do you show everyone that you are okay?
The weather was perfect, soft clouds were moving in the blue sky, and the temperature was just right. It was not hot, but not chilly. This was a good time for walking on the shore, snorkeling, or my favorite, scuba diving.
Matthew and Eric didn’t need an explanation of what had happened. They did not need to ask where Tara was. Showing up with Sadie today could spell out what happened to us like you have to analyze and conclude everything by yourself. Or maybe Samantha had already filled them up with what had transpired yesterday.
She was so mad at me, and it was all my fault. She allowed me to go to Australia alone, hoping I would have the guts to break up with Sadie, to break our engagement.
“What kind of woman would ask you not to contact her for three long years just because you will be a distraction?
(Blake's POV)“Are you sure you have no other plan except work?” Sadie asked as we all walked to the parking lot.Matthew takes a look at his wristwatch before nodding. “It’s only four,” He answered as he followed Eric.“Matthew, no car?” Samantha called when she noticed his car was not there.“Can’t you see it, Samantha? It’s invisible,” He joked, laughed at her, and then he shook his head. Samantha sneered at him, then focused on looking for her car key. “I didn’t bring a car because I was hoping to visit Nana Shea, but something came up,”She nodded and then tossed her keys at him. “Drive my car, then.”I raised my eyebrows. “How will you go back home?”She frowned at me. “Key,” When I furrowed my forehead, her lips pouted as she pointed to the key I was hol
(Blake's POV)“What’s this, Blake?” Sadie’s eyes were wide, and they glinted with anger. “First, in the car, and now she’s telling me to sleep in this room and not yours?” She hissed at me. “I know she doesn’t like me, but-”I held the doorknob and twisted it to open. “I’m sorry, Sadie, but Samantha’s just following my orders,” I said, walking inside the room. “Look at the bright side, Sadie. This room is way better than spending the night in the hotel,”She rolled her eyes, then looked at the bedroom. She closed the door. “I can’t understand her... nor you...” She tugged my arm to sit in the bed, and I did, thinking she would sit beside me. Sadie stood in front of me, taking off her clothes.“No work for you today, Blake,” She said, unclasping her bra and tossing it on the floor.
(Blake's POV)As soon as I stepped foot in the airport, I could feel the weight in my heart. It has been six months since I left the country, pretending to everyone, to Sadie, that my business trips were unavoidable. I was well aware that I was unjust to her, but it would be even more unfair if I claimed to be in love when I was no longer sure.The bright morning sun shone happily in the sky. Its sunlight shimmered on the crowd, bathed the surroundings, and its warm light promised excellent weather for any occasions ahead, but my heart seemed to have been overcast with dark clouds, and it had never stopped crying for months. Now that my heart is quiet and calm, I think I could face Sadie without comparing her to Tara. It was like I developed my mantra that my brain had to remind my heart every day that Sadie was my first love, my forever love.Matthew greeted me at the airport, but we were quiet until we reached
(Blake's POV)It has been half an hour, and all I did was stare at the pieces of paper on my table. They usually have guides when you buy puzzles, but these were torn into pieces, crumpled, and two papers mixed. I could imagine her anger when she saw Tara’s things in my bedroom.I took a deep breath, thinking about how I could possibly put them together.My head raised when the glass door opened. “I told you, Sam, I don’t want anyone disturbing me today... and that includes you!” I snarled, almost banging the table with my fist. But Samantha is Samantha. She never listened to me at times, especially in this situation. “We know you’re a puzzle expert, Blake, but this isn’t your ordinary puzzle,” Samantha explained as she wiped her tears. “There’s a nice story behind these drawings.” She said, taking half of the papers and walking to t
(Tara's POV)I was staring at the sky for a long time as if waiting for a miracle to happen. It was like looking at a postcard, the blue sky was perfect, but I guess nothing is constant that even the sky was changing. Big clouds formed above that darkened the sky, hiding the sun. I began to move my wooden easel, and I stood up to switch on the light in the veranda. When I went back to my seat, the rain started sprinkling onto the ground. The rainfall became strong, making me remember that first time that I could not go home because the rain was not stopping as if heaven did it on purpose to imprison me to that office to be with Blake for a long time.The door behind me opened, and even if I did not turn around, I would know the person who came out was Stella, holding cups of hot choco. She gave me the other cup and walked towards the railing to look up at the sky.She took a deep breath, turned to me, and then s
(Blake's POV)“Blake, are you listening?” Samantha called my attention as she stopped the car.“Huh?” I blinked at her, knitted my eyebrows trying to figure out what it was, and glanced at her, not realizing she was saying something. She grinned at me, but I could see the worry behind the smile on her lips.“You’re not listening, then,” She nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt and looking back at our passenger, who was busy playing an online role-playing game. I shook my head, smiling as I remembered we used to hear nursery rhymes, but now it was normally quiet as Sean would use earphones, and we would just hear him utter words reacting to his game. She puckered her eyebrows, extending her hand to him. “Give that to me. Game over, Sean!”“Mom!” He pouted, complaining and not looking at his mother. He continued to play, ignoring his mother’
(Blake's POV)“You have your own children, Mr. Williamson?” Ben asked, lowering his gaze at the ring on my finger.My right eyebrows lifted, thinking what he meant by his question. “If I had, one thing for sure, I won’t allow my child to be playing or wandering alone by the beach. We never know when an accident happens,” I explained with a hint of anger in my voice.“Yeah, you’re right,” He agreed, gazing at his secretary.She looked down again, nibbling her lower lip as she tried to stop her tears.“Was she your daughter?” I asked, curious and hoping that his answer was no, although he seemed to know the child very well.“If we’re still talking about Bree, then she is.” He said. “And I’m fortunate to have gifted and beautiful daughters, Mr. Williamson,” He proudly shared with us. “I was hoping to have another
(Tara's POV)The main door creaked when Bree pushed the ajar door. I put down the palette and brush to the table beside me and glanced at her. I pressed my lips, suppressing a smile as I peeked at her. Annika, Ben’s sister, looking after Bree today while I worked, wailed when she came home, realizing my daughter was not with her. I told her she might be on the beach looking for a hundred-eyed cowrie shell, one of the rarest seashells in the world. When I first learned to dive underwater, Ben told me I was lucky to spot this sea jewel.When Bree started asking about her father, I told her I would bring her to him if she could collect four of them, and I knew it was impossible for her age, but she was so persistent like Blake. Every morning, in our morning walk to the shore, she would pick one, study it carefully, and I would hear her heave a sigh whenever she got the wrong one.I wondered who chose her T-sh
(Tara's POV)It was a bizarre dream, but I could not remember where I was, except I was walking endlessly on the bridge with Clarice when I heard Bree calling me. When I stopped walking, Clarice seemed to understand. She smiled at me and nodded. I must have walked far because it took me time to reach the end, but I heard them talking about me every day. I listened to Bree as she read stories and sang to me. Whenever I heard Blake’s voice calling me to wake up, telling me how much he loves me, I would run.This morning, Bree woke me up with her song, but I couldn’t open my eyes. When I could finally open my eyelids, it was the god-like face of my fiance that my eyes first laid on. I feasted my eyes on him and thought of the day I saw him at the office with Sadie. It hurt me, but my heart was telling me how much he loved me, and that was enough for me to give us another chance. I closed my eyes again and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of Blake and Bree on the island. Their loud chats
(Blake's POV)It has been a week, but Tara remained unconscious. Jerome would use the term sleeping whenever Bree is around. He is always careful of his words, especially when my daughter’s almond-shaped eyes turn round at words she hardly understands.Fear still crept into my heart of losing her, and the only consolation I have that she would wake up one of these days is that her ventilator support was already taken away. She could breathe without the support of the machine, but when I asked him why she was not waking up, he explained many medical reasons. My heart has one explanation, though. Tara was giving up on me, and what scares me is hearing the words coming from her that she didn’t want me in her life.I watched Bree as she reads her book to her Mom. Her voice has become my alarm sound in the morning. She would sing to her and read her a story. After Stella or Gianna fed her breakfast,
(Blake's POV)For how long I was staring blankly at nowhere, I did not know. My heart was aching much that all I wanted was to be with Tara, but I went out of her room because I felt dying, seeing Tara in her bed, still unconscious, and the beeping of the heart monitoring machine was driving me nuts.I lost the entire day with Tara when I woke up in one of the hospital rooms. I yelled at every nurse who came, hating they put me to sleep. What if Tara woke up and asked for me? No doctor, not even Jerome, could calm me down. Then Nana Shea came into my room, surprising me.“Blake,” She called my name, and I saw myself like I was a little child again. I cried and held onto her when she came to me.“Get a grip, Blake! Tara and Bree need you right now,” Nana Shea said, wiping my tears. “Unless you calm down, they won’t allow you to see Tara. You don’t want to scare Bre
(Blake's POV)Before my eyes could open, the corners of my mouth lifted already. As she snuggled closer to me and held on to me tighter, I felt to be the luckiest man in the world. I kissed her forehead before getting up from the bed slowly. I watched Tara, and with her uneven breathing, I now felt guilty for tiring her out last night. I kissed her shoulder and moved out from the bed slowly, letting her rest.Humming La Vie En Rose, I went down and started picking up our clothes I tossed anywhere last night. Bree will be coming home soon, and I didn’t want to explain why our dresses, especially the underwear were everywhere around the house.When I heard Bree and Jem entering the house, I still had our clothes in my hands, and I had to put the clothes on the couch because Bree ran to me excitedly. I crouched down and opened my arms to her.“Daddy!” She beamed and kissed my cheeks.
(Tara's POV)Slowly, my eyelids opened, and the morning sunshine greeted me. I rolled to my bed and realized I was alone, but my lips curved a sensual smile as I remembered what happened last night.“Show me that good sex you’re saying a while ago, Kitten,” He whispered in a raspy voice as we entered the elevator. His lips curved a playful smile as he pinned me to the wall and kissed me passionately.I never thought that those simple words would turn him on.I grabbed the sheets of my bedcovers, biting my bottom lip now as I recalled how I kissed him with lust and love. I was too angry with Sadie that another side of me came out of my body and soul.“You’re mine, Blake!” I uttered, kissing him and biting his earlobe as I whispered those words. “Every part of you is mine!” I said as I took off his tuxedo and opened the buttons of his dress suit.
(Tara's POV)Being rich must be tiring, I said to myself as I looked around. The beautiful gown I was wearing today, including the shoes and accessories, could feed a family, or maybe an entire community for a week already.The pledges of the guests tonight were overwhelming, and surely the institution benefitting it would be thrilled. They have already exceeded the needed fund of the group for the charity they were supporting. Before I met Blake, all these were only part of my imagination existing only in movies and novels we used to read. Being here made me realize that two worlds were created—one for the rich and one for the poor. Yet one thing is needed to survive in both worlds. You have to be strong.“Shall we dance?” Blake asked, extending his hand to me.I smiled, feeling the relief of finally having Blake with me. He had been busy talking with many people tonight.
(Tara's POV)I stopped by the door, admiring Blake in his black tuxedo. He was too gorgeous that I wished to be selfish tonight, not wanting other women to look at him. “Just to remind you, Blake, this is a charity event, not your wedding yet,” Samantha grinned as she reminded him while fixing his bow tie. Samantha looked beautiful in her red gown with elaborative lace embroidery from top to bottom. Men would surely ogle at her as her long gown was designed with a high-cut halter neck and sheer side panels, but she kept on telling me I must be ready because cameras would be on me today, eyes of every guest would be fixed on me because of curiosity.She tapped his chest and turned him around to see me. She giggled when Blake opened his mouth, but no words came out.I shrugged, smiling sheepishly as I walked to him. “Samantha made me wear this,” I said, blushing.
(Tara's POV)Blake kissed me with a mix of anger and love, but he stopped when I started touching him. It was as if he was burned with my touch, and when he saw me panting after that breathless kiss, his face went pale. His eyes suddenly were in a panic that he got up immediately and helped me sit.“Are you okay?” His eyes were round, and I could recognize the panic and fear overwhelming him.My eyes narrowed, and I looked at him. “I’m okay,” I said, still panting from the kiss.“Can you breathe?” He asked, now pacing in front of me, which he didn’t know stresses me now.“You’re overreacting, Blake,” I uttered as I took my clothes and started getting dressed.He shook his head. “I told you, we won’t do anything until I talked to your doctor until we have you thoroughly check and-”I stood up, now feeli
(Tara's POV)Samantha had brought me a long list of wedding planners she knew, and all I had to do was select the best one. We were about to go back to the office to talk about the charity event we would be attending when Blake startled us as he stormed inside and went straight to the bedroom.“What happened?” Samantha asked, standing up.I shook my head, leaving the magazines and papers on the center table, and we went upstairs.The door was opened wide, and as we stepped inside the bedroom, I could hear movements in the bathroom. My heartbeat was getting crazy at first, but I felt it stopping when we heard Blake screaming in anger.When he came out of the bathroom, his face was red, his eyes were flaring in anger, and he was breathing heavily as he threw everything in his hand. My eyes widened, and my body quivered as I recognized the things he threw in front of me. I gasped when I sa