“I’m going to get going, sweet girl.” Kip says softly and kisses my forehead. “You did so well today. Thank you for including me. It's an experience I'll never forget," he says as he looks lovingly down at the babies in their hospital crib beside my bed.“Thank you so much for being here with me.” I kiss him on the cheek as he leans over me. “I’m so grateful for you, the two of you. You and El.”“I’ll be back after my shift tomorrow.” Kip smiles as he adjusts the baby’s little pink bonnet. “El will be in shortly to see you. Now, you tiny little rug rats behave for your mother tonight. She needs her rest.” He tells them, and with one last smile, he disappears down the corridor.It’s just after midnight, and the maternity ward has fallen silent. The private room El insisted on paying for me is dark, with only a strip of light from the bathroom illuminating the room. I’m left alone with my two babies, a little boy and a little girl. Wrapped tightly in their little blankets and snuggled i
It’s been nine weeks since I gave birth to Ryan and Sawyer, and the sleepless nights are slowly starting to get to me. I landed in New Zealand late last night. Checked into the swanky little motel a block away from Tobias’s office and had the longest soak in the tub until my skin turned wrinkly before I called it a night and hit the hay.Coming here alone has been a little rough, I’ve never traveled on my own, and leaving my children behind has been hard. I woke up a few times during the night as I could swear I heard their soft cries. I guess my new body clock and hyper-sensitive ears followed me here as well. I take one final look in the mirror, fixing the spaghetti straps of my summer dress before I comb my fingers through my hair. I’ve dressed as casual as I possibly can on a hot day that almost has me melting into a puddle before I’ve stepped out of my room that has air-con.I want to look nice when I see Tobias for the first time in a long time. I need him to see me and regret e
TOBIAS:If you could kindly refer to page eighteen of the proposal." I navigate my mouse cursor across the graph, tracing its path on the whiteboard. The twelve individuals gathered around the board table simultaneously turn to page eighteen. “As you can see, the site will be an ideal destination for our…"The intercom buzzes, disrupting the room. “Mr. Landry.” I exhale heavily. “Yes,” I snap, annoyed. Why is she interrupting me? “Good morning, Mr. Landry. This is Tracy from the front desk.”“Yes, Tracy, what is it?” “I have a Keri Appleton here; she says she has an appointment to see you today…”My pulse quickens upon hearing my wife’s name.“Ahhh…” I look around the room as multiple sets of eyes stare back at me. “I see…” I casually tap my fingers next to the mouse on the table. Shit. I can not interrupt this meeting halfway through, as individuals from around the world have traveled to attend. I have a busy schedule ahead, with visits to various locations and meetings with con
TOBIAS:I pull up next to the curb in front of the building, and I toss my keys to Benson to park it in the underground car park. I've had fuck all sleep, and I'm in the shittiest mood of all moods to be had. This is the last place I want to be, but there is a certain someone I need to speak with, and it requires a face-to-face conversation.“Have a great day, Mr. Landry.” Benson casually says as he makes himself comfortable behind the steering wheel. It's probably the highlight of his day parking my sedan. “You, too.” I walk in through the front doors of the building and stride to the bank of elevators. Tony, the attendant, gives me a polite nod as he pushes the button. “Good morning, Mr. Landry.” “Morning.” I stare at the doors as I straighten the knot on my tie. I can feel all eyes on me as I wait. Hurry up.“Beautiful day today,” Tony says, trying to make small talk so it's not awkward between us.But it feels very awkward to me. “It is.” I lean forward and press the button.
Laughter and shrieks echo through my home as I playfully chase after two little ones, their tiny bodies free and unburdened. They find it absolutely hilarious when they escape from the bath, and I playfully chase them with clothes in my hands. I must confess, I enjoy it just as much. My little ones have reached the age of four, bringing immense joy and filling my heart with love beyond measure. Our home is a place of joy and excitement, where love permeates every corner.Ryan, being the oldest, possesses a striking resemblance to his father with his dark, wavy hair. He possesses a fiery and easily provoked temperament, displaying dominance and intelligence while also being incredibly attached to me.And then there's Sawyer. We affectionately refer to her as Awez. Despite her resemblance to her father, with her dark hair and big, round eyes, she possesses a distinctiveness that sets her apart. Compared to Ryan, she is small and has a calm and peaceful demeanor, with a very gentle and
I watch as Tobias and Davis make their way out of the chapel side by side with their heads hanging low. The sensation of grief and loss is painted across their features, revealing the depth of their pain.It was a lovely service. The chapel is overflowing with people who have shown up to pay their respects to the late Mr. Landry for the second time. Light chatter fills the open space as everyone steps out of the pillars to follow the half-brothers outside.“I'm curious to know if Janice buried an empty casket or if there was some other poor soul in there…”“Poor Tobias. He has been through a lot in his life to last him another two life times. He really was dealt a shitty hand, wasn’t he?”“They are half-brothers? Well, no wonder why Janice faked his death. She wanted to get her claws on everything she was entitled to. I would have done the same if my husband cheated on me with my sister…”I glance at Kip from the corner of my eye, shaking my head. It's truly astonishing how individual
He stumbles back when his gaze stares at my screen, his jaw clenches as his brows knit together. “Mummy? Mummy… who is that man? He doesn’t look like our uncle?” My darling children cry out, confused and most likely scared. “Tobias… I…” “You’re a mother?” He spits out with venom as if it’s the most disgusting piece of information he has ever heard of. My shoulders sag with defeat as my chin touches my chest. “I… yes,” I whisper, too afraid to utter another word in case he uses it against me. “Are they…” His voice trails off as he passes me my phone. “When were you going to tell me?” He asks in a deep voice that sends a plague of goosebumps to erupt across my skin. I sink back against the door, overwhelmed by a flood of tears streaming down my face, consumed by sorrow. He is extremely upset, and I fear that he will take them away from me, leaving me powerless to prevent it. I lack the financial resources that he possesses to prolong this legal battle indefinitely, with the intenti
TOBIAS:I gaze out of my office window, holding my phone to my ear as I observe the bustling foot traffic below me. It has been a couple of weeks since I last saw Keri at my father's funeral. I was absolutely stunned to see her there. Seeing her casually socializing with Kip, wearing a smile on her face has left a lasting impression on me. It has stirred up intense emotions, making me feel overwhelmed with a strong desire to put an end to Kip's life. And I couldn't help but ponder, as the images of their children's faces lingered in my mind like an unwelcome memory, that they bore no resemblance to Kip or Keri. They resembled me and Sawyer in our younger days.Coincidence? I think not.It was clear as day that Keri was hiding something from me when I confronted her and Kip outside the bar.“What do you have for me, Link?”“You aren't going to believe this, but, Mrs. Landry is not involved in a romantic relationship with Kip Mason. Nor do they reside in the same household, and the chil
EPILOGUE: TOBIAS:The waves fiercely crash against the shoreline behind us as the sun rays beam upon us.“I do.”Tears of joy brim my eyes as she utters two small words that mean everything and so much more to me. She is officially mine. Again. This time by choice.“You may now kiss the bri-” Before the priest finishes his sentence, I reach for my wife, crushing my lips against hers as I seal the deal between us. Keri smiles against my lips. “How does it feel to be a married woman by choice, baby?”“Perfect. How does it feel to be married and a father of twins?” She has a mischievous glint lining her eyes.“Like the lost pieces to my life have finally pieced themselves back together,” I reply honestly.I turn around and look at my children sitting beside one another with a large grin on their faces as they sit on the white chairs in the sand. Sawyer is holding a small bouquet of flowers, and Ryan, an empty small pillow that not long ago held our wedding rings. My gaze shifts further i
TOBIAS:A persistent knock raps on the timber door, catching me off guard as I flip my steak over on the grill. Turning the BBQ off, I move my steak to the side, taking it off the heat so it won’t overcook. The banging on the door starts again, and my strides become larger until I reach the door and yank it open.“Why the fuck do you continue to bang on my-” The words fall from my lips when my gaze collides with Keris'.What the fuck is she doing here?How did she know I was here?Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…“Keri, I… Uh…”Slap!Before I can finish my sentence, her palm collides with the side of my face. Lifting my hand, I cradle my cheek, dampening the stinging sensation spreading across it. She looks pissed off. Like she could murder me, and I don’t blame her.“So, it’s true. You’ve been here for two months?” She hisses, enraged to find me here. In the same country and not behind bars like I should be.“Yes.” I state firmly, gritting my teeth.“You bastard!” She cries out, shaking her head. “
THREE MONTHS LATER:“We need to reschedule today's’ meeting,” Mel looks up at me from her desk, sounding a little strange. “I’m not feeling well, and I need to go over the new contract Adem sent through for a new deal he wants to cut with us. I aim to be on my A-game before facing him.”“I can get Davis to come in and go over it with you? Two sets of eyes are better than one, and unfortunately, I’m still trying to get up to speed with everything going on as it is.”“Davis is unavailable today. He is at the hospital with Ava.”I know I shouldn’t ask, and I don't understand why I give a rat’s ass about her after all the grief she has caused me in the past, but I can’t help myself. “What’s wrong with my sister?” My voice sounds harsher than I had intended.Gnawing on her inner cheek, Mels’ brows furrow as she raises her gaze to meet mine. “She was standing on a chair, screwing in a light bulb when their oldest girl came running into the living room, accidentally colliding with the chair.
“You need to stop being so hard on yourself, Keri,” El speaks softly, resting a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Under the circumstances, you have done a remarkable job with the twins, and one day, they will eventually realise that you have always had their best interest at heart. If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that being a parent is a learning process, too. After you have given birth, you are not handed a parenting manual. You learn as you grow together as a family; sometimes, the road we pave isn’t easy. But it sure as hell is fulfilling when you reach the end of that bumpy road.”I take a moment to let her words sink in and wipe my eyes dry as I nod my head; agreeing with her. “You’re right,” I whisper, patting her hand that remains on my shoulder. “It’s been four years now, and I am still as clueless as I was yesterday on how to parent my children correctly.”“Everything that has transpired into this mess with Tobias and Coach Matty, isn’t your fault. I need you to hea
As the front door to Kip and Elz home opens, I glance at Officer Marcus and give him a small smile that falls short of reaching my eyes – a silent expression of gratitude for his safe escort here. He offers me a brief nod, pivots on his heel, and walks away without uttering a single word.“Oh, my gawds, Keri!” El screeches as she yanks the door wide open and pulls me into her loving embrace.I lean into her, tears streaming down my face as my heart shatters further. I feel an overwhelming urge to express my emotions loudly. To express my frustration and lament that the universe and Gods have conspired against my happiness. Yet, I find myself without that feeling. I search within my soul to find my strength and muster the bravery to stand before the twins as they come rushing towards me.“Mummy, mummy… we missed you last night.” They say in unison as they fling their arms around me.El rubs my back as she gently pulls away from our embrace. Our eyes collide, and she utters the words, ‘
I shut my eyes, attuned to the strong and rhythmic pulse of Tobias’ heart, my body half entwined with his. His fingers glide softly up and down my spine as he lies on his back while his gaze remains fixed on the ceiling. We haven't slept; we've only been exploring each other's bodies on an intimate level, compensating for lost moments and creating memories that will linger for years ahead. I press my face against his chest, a deep sigh escaping my swollen lips as I cling to him with all my strength. I long for a chance where time could freeze, allowing us to savor the precious last moments that Kip has generously given us. The sun has risen, birds are chirping, and early morning traffic for churchgoers echoes through the room. There is so much I wish to say to Tobias, but I don’t want to ruin this moment. Though we showed each other how we felt about one another on a deeper level, using our bodies to express ourselves, I still feel like there is so much unsaid between us.“I want you
TOBIAS:The soft caress of her lips is like a lifeline I desperately try to cling to. Warm. Soft. Sensual.I hate to think that this could be the last time I get to feel her like this as she passionately tries to kiss away my deepest and darkest fears. I’ll love her until my dying breath. It’s always been her, and it always will be. I am undeserving of her love, her warmth, and time.“Don’t speak… Just feel, Tobias. Use me for pleasure.”“Don’t say that,” I murmur, pulling away from our kiss. My gaze travels down her body, and she has no idea what the vision of seeing her in my clothes does to me.“I’m serious, Tobias. If now is all we have together. I want you to take what you need from me.”Lowering my pants down my hips, my cock springs free, and I watch through half-lidded eyes as she licks her lips like a starved little kitten looking for its next meal. She lowers herself onto her knees, gazing up at me, with the moonlight accentuating her natural beauty. I lean against the glass
I slowly feel myself surfacing from the deep slumber that embraced me. Reaching across the bed, I search for the twins, and when I am met with air, I jolt awake in a frenzy as last night’s terror claws at my chest. I open my eyes, and my vision slowly adjusts in the darkness.“Tobias, is that you?” I whisper, squinting towards the far corner of a room that isn’t mine.Sitting in an armchair with the moonlight illuminating the room, Tobias is leaning forward with a bottle of Whiskey dangling between his wide-spread legs. He stares down at the bottle, tilting his head to the side as he swirls the amber-coloured liquid at the bottom.“Go back to sleep, baby.” He mutters in a soft tone, raising his head to meet my gaze. “It’s still early, and you need your rest.”I notice that he’s wearing nothing but a black pair of satin pajama pants. His hair looks damp as if he’s just stepped out of a shower, and the woody scent of his body wash faintly lingers in the air.“Have you been sitting in th
TOBIAS:My sedan comes to a screeching halt as I pull into Mattys’ driveway. Pulling the handbrake up, I don’t bother killing the engine and push the door open. Exiting the vehicle without slamming the door shut behind me, I race up the stairs, giving Link the death stare of a lifetime.“Where the fuck is she?” I growl, curling my hands into tight balls at my sides. Rage licks my flesh, setting every inch of it on fire. Without uttering a single word, he points to the door, indicating that she is inside. I bite down on my molars and shove my finger in his face. “You are fucking fired!” I bark in a breathy and murderous tone.So fucking fired!I vividly hear movement inside the house, like there is a struggle, followed by a muffled whimper and I spring into action, realising that my Keri could be in grave danger. I take one step back from the door and I kick it in. Link rushes inside, and my blood turns to ice when I see Keri pressed up against the wall with Matty trying to rip her pan