All Chapters of It Should Have Been Like This: Chapter 51 - Chapter 58

I stood at the stove, quietly stirring the stew, my fingers drumming against my thigh as I hummed in an effort to tune out the man behind me. His apologies were relentless, but I refused to respond, determined to maintain my silence.My body ached, a testament to the intensity of the previous night's activity. Weak knees, a sore back, a throbbing face, and a raw throat — the discomfort was palpable. Even my most intimate area felt tender. I couldn't be certain if the sex itself was the sole cause, but one thing was clear: Rominic was utterly remorseful.He apologized profusely for forcing himself on me, for being too rough and inconsiderate. Yet, he did not express regret for the pleasure he had derived from it. The truth was, we had both thoroughly enjoyed it, but Rominic was convinced that I had hated every moment. I dared not reveal the reality, for fear that he would seize upon it as an invitation to continue his advances."I don't think it's a good idea to keep sharing a bed," Ro

Feeling dejected, I begrudgingly went to my room and threw myself down on the bed. I reached for Rominic's pillow and pulled it close, burying my face in the familiar scent before returning to my typing. I tried to convince myself that Rominic was not important, but the longing was palpable.Needing a distraction, I initiated a group call with the guys and we talked for a long time about the reunion I was planning to host. Gael, as always, regaled us with a series of ridiculous incidents from his life, and I found myself reeling with laughter at his tales of misadventure. Gael truly is a walking disaster and a trouble magnet.Just as I was catching my breath from the latest hilarious story, I heard Rominic's gruff voice from the doorway. Wishing the guys a wonderful day, I quickly signed out of the call and dropped my phone, turning my attention to the baby standing at the door. I folded my arms under my breasts and tilted my head, giving Rominic a sweet, playful smile.However, Romin

I felt a gentle tugging at my dress and looked down to see my daughters, Savia and Serenity. Serenity's eyes were brimming with tears, while Savia wore a deeply concerned expression."Mom, why are those women killing our father?" Savia asked, her voice tinged with distress."Mommy, who are they?" Serene inquired, her gaze fixed on the women."Those are your aunties, and they are beating your father up because he did something mean to them. Don't worry, he'll be…" I paused mid-sentence as I heard Rominic's agonized scream, followed by a loud splash. They had thrown him into the pool. "Fine," I added, clicking my tongue. They would never simply throw him in without breaking something first. "He'll survive," I reassured the girls.Rylee let out a mocking laugh as she stood over the pool, watching Rominic sink beneath the surface without any apparent struggle. There was no way he would actually drown — Rominic was an exceptional swimmer, a skill Serenity had inherited. Unless…"Rylee, did

The tiny girl in question was undeniably cute. "Wow, so many pups," I said, eliciting a chorus of delighted laughter from the children. I walked over to her and bent down slightly, smiling as she blushed shyly."Hello, I'm Lavender. What's your name?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle."Laverne," she replied, hiding her face behind her small palms. I looked over my shoulder at Elias, who simply shrugged, while Ginger winked knowingly. Ah, so they had named her after me — or at least a close variation."It's so nice to meet you, Aunty Lavender," Laverne said, peeking out from behind her hands. I couldn't resist scooping her up into my arms, cooing over how adorable she was. She had inherited Elias' dark blond hair and skin tone, but Ginger's captivating reddish-brown eyes."What about me?" another voice cried, and I felt a small tug on the skirt of my dress. Glancing down, I squealed in delight at the sight of the puffy little muffin of a child. "Hello, I'm Wren, and Mommy said you alwa