I thought, after what I had experienced and gone through, there would be nothing that could make me feel shocked.Just imagine. I had seen my own lover, making love to my father. Isn't that something that should have made a woman like me have a heart attack.They stood leaning against the wall of the dimly lit stable, touching and kissing each other, accompanied by erotic moans and disgusting vulgar words, on the night I was supposed to exchange rings with a man who was moaning in pleasure under the domination of another man who was none other than my own father.Then, even though meeting David and surrendering myself to him was my own desire, but then when I found out that my carelessness and impulsive attitude at that time resulted in two fetuses living and developing in my womb, that was another shock that made me shocked.However, what David had just said was on another level. I stared at him in confusion, wondering if someone could have hearing problems or become stupid suddenly.
Shane and Shery stared at each other, then, before I realized anything, Shery ran straight to David and hugged his legs.David was very tall, and Shery could only hug his thighs. She looked up and I saw the twinkle in her eyes that were similar to David's, sharp and deep, with dark blue pupils."Daddy, are you coming to accompany us to the festival for Dad's day at school?"Shery's question made me gasp. I turned my head slowly to David, worried about David's reaction to Shery.David glanced at me with a faint smile on his lips, then he crouched down and took Shery into his arms."Of course, little lady. I've been waiting for the right time to visit you guys and it seems like this is the time, right?"Shane walked closer with hesitant steps, but when he was only about three steps away from David who was hugging Shery, David reached out to him."Don't you want to hug me too, little champ?"Shane smiled shyly, then joined the group hug.David kissed them, then looked up at me. "Mommy, d
David PoVThe moment I saw Loreine again, a flood of nostalgia hit me and made me feel like I was choking on my own saliva.There was no day or night where I didn't miss Loreine, not only when she left six years ago, but long before that when I was still with her, even though it was only like a sister and brother.I was fascinated. She had become much more beautiful now, with an aura of maturity and independence dominating her appearance. Her body looked fuller when she stood, behind the blouse and cargo pants she was wearing.Her face turned red when I spontaneously called her baby. I wanted to hug and kiss her right then and there, so she knew how much I missed her.However, the situation really didn't allow it and unexpectedly she invited me to her house to talk, because the twins were not at home so we could talk more freely.I asked her to go first because I knew she brought her own car. Meanwhile, I immediately went to the mall and entered the largest department store in the ma
I gripped David's shirt and slumped against his shoulder, crying silently. David's hands spread warmth on my back as he stroked it."I knew it, they would ruin all good things," I stammered.I felt my throat hurt so much. I had been crying for over half an hour, but it felt like my tears would never end and it was starting to make me feel tight.Earlier, David had told me something completely unexpected, when he said that I had to go home for my mother."She's... Sick," David said in a hesitant tone. "Your grandfather finally decided to put her in the hospital because she seemed to be getting worse and worse.""W-what happened?" I asked in a trembling voice. A sense of fear crept into my heart and made me feel uneasy. "What's wrong with my mother? Is her condition serious?"David stood up from his kneeling position and sat beside me, holding my hand tightly."Baby, listen to me," David said seriously. "You have to stay calm and think clearly after I say this. From now on, you and the
The twins woke up excitedly. Usually I have to wake them up several times before they actually open their eyes and are ready to take a shower.This morning, before I even opened the door to their room, they had already opened it for me and when I entered, they were busy opening all the paper bags that David had given them last night.Wrapping papers, boxes of various sizes, tags, plastic, and ribbons were scattered from the door to the top of the bed and study table."OH MY GOD! DO YOU INTEND TO SINK THIS ROOM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH WITH ALL THIS GARBAGE?"They looked up and grinned at me, but their hands were still moving nimbly unpacking the stuff.I think I need to warn David not to buy anything else for them, or as Alana said, I'll have to buy another bigger house to accommodate all his gifts."Come on, Mom," Shery said with a serious expression. "Daddy said this is nothing compared to the time he missed out when we were little.""You're still little till now!" I said with a
I swallowed.This must be the effect of not meeting face to face like this for six years and it was obvious, because it was daytime, where the sun was shining brightly and the air was warm.How could he look so handsome in just knee-length black cargo pants, a light blue short-sleeved V-neck T-shirt and sneakers?David was a businessman, but why did his handsomeness and manly aura that radiated from him exceed the adult men's magazine models that Livy sometimes brought to the office?Alana nudged my arm. "Lou, you're drooling," she whispered.I glared at her, embarrassed because honestly I felt like I was going to drool if I kept staring at him.Shery and Shane came out of the room, wearing matching clothes, a green shorts and black T-shirt for Shery, and blue for Shane. They both looked enthusiastic and when they saw David, they immediately ran and hugged him."Are you guys ready?" David asked. "Let's go. If it's too late, it will definitely be hotter."Alana grabbed her bag and file
David PoV"BRING HER HOME NOW, DAVE! AND THE KIDS TOO!"I pulled the phone away from my ear because Liam's voice was so loud. Loreine's eyebrows shot up when she heard her oldest brother's words. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head."No, Liam," I replied after Liam finished yelling. "Loreine will come back when she feels ready. No one can force her or tell her what she should or shouldn't do, not even you!"I think my voice sounded sharp and snappy at this point, but I didn't care. I didn't want to keep protecting Liam's feelings and ignoring Loreine anymore.I had done a very fatal stupidity, by continuing to avoid facing my own feelings for Loreine for dozens of years.Watching her grow up with a hidden hope that I could love her more than just a little sister, admiring her in my heart and instead running away by serving girls that made me get the nickname playboy and made me further away from the woman I wanted.I didn't want to hurt Liam who was too afrai
"What's wrong? What did Liam say to you?" Loreine asked, after she looked into the back seat, making sure the twins were really asleep.They were exhausted. After lunch and ice cream, they played for a few more hours and Loreine decided to go home, when she saw Shane out of breath and a little pale. That kid out of energy."He ordered me to take you home ASAP," I said calmly, emphasizing the word 'ASAP' in my sentence."Liam, he's still bossy," Loreine muttered. There was a hint of annoyance in her voice.I drove with one hand and held Loreine's hand with the other. I could feel her hand was clammy and I knew she was feeling uneasy."Liam made me change my mind," I said. "He didn't even ask how you and the twins were doing. And if your grandfather was able to find you, that means at least the Hart family already knows about it. Why didn't any of them contact you? Your father, Liam, or Lucas?""I think it was Grandpa who forbade them from contacting me," Loreine said. "But it's not a p
"Oh, they're so adorable," Wendy said. Her eyes sparkled and her hands moved, caressing the glass of the frame. "Very much like their father, but the smile is definitely yours, Ms. Loreine.""Umm, Wendy, could you just call me Loreine? You're older than me and I don't really like too much formality," I said, giving her a small smile to reassure her.Wendy's face lit up. "Of course, Loreine, I'd love to.""Sometime, you should bring your daughter to meet and play with the twins. They'll be so happy," I said as I handed her two sheets of paper that I had prepared earlier.Wendy took the paper and read it carefully. I saw her reading it over and over again while memorizing and marking some parts that she might think were important."Okay, Loreine, I understand and I'll try to do my best," Wendy said after a while. "But, please, tell me when I'm wrong or lacking in doing something.""Deal," I said, extending my hand.She took my hand with a big smile and I felt confident that my relations
She kept crying and I was worried that her health would be affected if she did this."Mom, please, don't cry anymore," I begged. The shirt I was wearing was already wet on the shoulders and chest from her tears. "You'll get sick."My mother lifted her face from my shoulder and looked at me with her swollen eyes. She was so thin and pale. My heart ached so much.She bowed to me when I entered her room. She knelt at my feet and held my feet while crying and saying "I'm sorry" over and over again.When I hugged her, she burst into tears, and so did I. We hugged each other while sitting on the hospital floor, until I coaxed her to stand up and we sat hugging on her bed."Will you forgive me, Loreine?" my mother asked in a hoarse voice from crying too much. "Will you forgive your evil mother?"I stroked her tangled hair and wiped away her tears that seemed like they couldn't stop flowing."I've forgiven you, Mom. I hope you forgive me for making you face everything alone," I said softly.M
St. Benedict's Mental Hospital is a large two-story building located in the Agoura Hills area.The building is in the middle of a very large field, which has been transformed into a beautiful and comfortable like city park.I don't really know the history of St. Benedict's, but as far as I can remember, the mental hospital has received awards several times as the best mental health facility in the world."Ten years ago, this hospital was in financial trouble and almost closed," David said when we arrived. "However, my grandfather decided to invest secretly to save this hospital and handed over its management to my mother and her two cousins from my grandmother's side. Since then, this hospital has been operating well until now.""Hm? Why did your grandfather hand over its management to your mother and not your father?" I asked confusedly."That matter is still a mystery to all of us. Even my father was angry and questioned it before my grandfather died, but my grandfather did not gi
They entered a hotel in the suburbs. I got goosebumps and unconsciously squeezed David's hand that was holding mine, while his other hand was holding his phone to record.From getting out of the car to entering the elevator after registering at the reception, they didn't distance themselves at all.Jared's hand was always on the other man's waist. Sometimes the man leaned his head on Jared's shoulder, sniffed his neck, or kissed his cheek affectionately. Likewise, Jared would kiss the side of the man's head, squeeze his butt, or tidy up his hair."They're a couple," I murmured. "Those are things we often do together, right, honey? Because we're a couple, so we show it as a form of expression of affection."David stopped the recording after Jared and the man entered the elevator. He led me out of the hotel lobby and back to the car."So, Jared has another boyfriend besides my father," I said while looking at David with a raised eyebrow. "Love triangle?""Hm. That's for sure," David sai
I walked around the building where I would be working with a sense of satisfaction. Just like what Lea said before I left, that all the facilities were available in this three-story building, even the cafeteria area.However, it turned out that I really had to organize everything from scratch. Starting from staff placement to job description arrangements. This was really a challenge for me.Just imagine, I am a scriptwriter, usually only working on scripts according to client requests, starting from concept scripts for television shows, soap operas, advertisements, or sometimes short films. I do my work simply with a laptop, mostly I do it at home, although sometimes I also come to the office to do some training for new writers, but not like this.This makes me have to deal with many people, staff and writers for sure. I also have to organize them so that office activities can run.Luckily Damian is with me. Even though his real function is a lawyer, for now, he also understands that
"No, no, just call me Petra. I feel awkward, besides I'm not a teacher anymore. No need to be formal."I smiled at the twins' former teacher. The woman in front of me was now blushing and she looked awkward."You guys might be sisters-in-law soon," Lucas said with a laugh. He grabbed Petra's hand and squeezed it gently.Everyone in the room laughed and clapped. Abigail called the waiter and asked them to serve dessert immediately. A cheerful atmosphere filled the lunch room.I looked at everyone present at the dining table. Me, David, the twins, Lucas, Petra and Damian. Erika and Dylan had returned to Italy because Jake didn't like being separated from his wife and children for too long."Mom, do you think it's safe to bring Loreine and the twins to my house?" David asked Abigail while enjoying coffee after lunch.Now everyone was gathered near the swimming pool, enjoying coffee and small cakes, and watching Petra and the twins swim.Abigail's brow furrowed, then she shook her head. "
I don't remember much about it romantically. We may have only been three years apart in age, but our relationship felt like it was ten or even fifteen years apart.We rarely talked, in fact we rarely saw each other, even though we lived in the same house.Lucas, standing in front of me, stiff and clearly shocked. I, standing in front of Lucas, confused and worried.Ms. Petra touched Lucas' arm carefully, as if she was worried about startling the stunned man."Honey, do you... Know Ms. Lauren?" Ms. Petra asked softly.Lucas turned to her slowly. "Ms. Lauren?""Hm," Ms. Petra nodded. "Didn't I say I would take you to meet Ms. Lauren Lou? She helped me out on my way here because Damian still had some things to take care of in Italy. Damian also happens to be Ms. Lauren's work partner and the twins, are her children, who are also my students, and Mr. David, is Ms. Lauren's husband."We locked eyes again and my hands were about to reach out, but Lucas was faster, scooping me into his arms.
"So that's it," I said, after hearing everything Liam and Jared said, which I heard from the recording David took after meeting Liam at the Destiny club."How ridiculous," I said again, feeling sad. "I always felt proud to be born as a Hart. We were very rich and well-known, I had everything that other girls my age dreamed of, easily. I loved by everyone, spoiled, and always obeyed. However, as I grew up, I began to realize that there were many things that were actually inappropriate that my family did."I took David's hand and held it tightly. He smiled and patted the back of my hand gently then kissed the palm of my hand gently."I started to compare. Hart, Reiner, and Arshen, because it just so happened that these were the only three families I knew the most closely. There was a lot of goodness in Hart and Reiner, but only in Arshen I saw hard work and honesty. Regardless of whatever your father did to your mother, the men in the Arshen family were honest and hard workers," I said
David PoVLiam chose my club, Destiny. Jack, the bartender, pointed to the booth at the very back, which is where I usually sit when I invite my friends over for drinks.I haven't been to this club for almost two months, after I found Loreine and left for Italy.Jack is the general manager now, but he still serves as the bartender because everyone who frequents the club loves his drinks and always looks for him when they come over. So, I doubled his salary and he's happy to do his job."It's been a long time since I've seen Mr. Liam come by," Jack said as he handed me a bottle of champagne that I had ordered earlier. "He's been in a few times and asked about you, talking about how hard you are to get a hold of."I laughed. "I've been with him my whole life, he's like my conjoined twin."Jack laughed out loud at my joke. I walked over to the booth and saw Liam sitting with a scantily clad woman who was almost sitting on his lap.My eyebrows furrowed spontaneously."My Davey!" Liam sai