Pepper POVI heard the fading sounds of the children’s voices. Thea’s voice was the loudest.There was a hint of excitement and contentment in her voice that was not there before.It does not take a genius to figure out that it had something to do with the regular presence of their father.Yet, the echo it created around us, despite their absence, caused me to freeze. I can’t seem to move from leaning on the counter. My back to the kitchen entrance.The triplets’ quick appearance and disappearance at an inopportune time made me recoil in my standing position.What if they saw us hugging?Or they saw us hugging,
Victor POV"I am sorry." I snuck toward Pepper while she was busy scraping leftover food from the used plates and depositing them in the nearby trash.Her sharp movements spoke of anger.She was still furious.At the dining table, when the kids weren’t looking, she kept stabbing me with her annoyed glare.I wasn’t insensitive. I could feel her fury a mile back and resolved to endure it.
Pepper POVUpon hearing Victor’s announcement, I had forgotten to comment on how Aaron addressed him. Not Mr. Victor, but Daddy.It would have been a momentous moment for us, but it paled in comparison to Victor’s shocking revelation.If Victor did not announce what he did, Aaron calling him Daddy for the first time would have been a happy event.I would have been elated by this latest development.But my happiness was punctured by Victor’s statement earlier about moving in with us.Victor was not asking.Neither was he requesting.He was imposing.I wanted to scream and stamp on his foot in frustration.Just when he told me that he wouldn't bulldoze his way in, he was doing it again.He was forcing my hand again.Where was our talk about taking it nice and slow?My face contorted in annoyance, and I was so ready to blow my top, but the protest was stuck in my throat when I heard Althea speak, telling me her thoughts about this current development in our lives.She was so happy.“Yey!
Pepper POV“You patched things up?” Shan asked eagerly when Victor left for the night.After dining at home, with Victor becoming our regular cook and Althea working as his little assistant, Shan came to my room to fish for information.I was surprised. She had been silent the whole afternoon and evening, and I thought she wouldn’t be eager to inquire about my talk with Victor.I stopped applying neat cream on my face to face her.“We have an understanding,” I told her, but then I pierced her with a sharp look.“You still owe me,” I warned.Shan giggled. “I am sorry, but if I did not do that, you won’t kiss and make up. You did, didn’t you?” There was excitement in Shan’s voice that was both alarming and satisfying.It did not deter the blush staining my neck and face at the mention of the kiss.Surprisingly, my talk with Victor, though a little unnerving at first, managed to break the ice between us. This softened my stance, allowing me to finally let myself listen to what Victor ha
Pepper POVI nodded as I digested his words and let the idea roll in my head.It is imperative that, as the triplets’ parents, Victor and I should start working as a team instead of two adults trying to steer clear of each other.Well, the latter part was my fault.And because the children grew up with me, they tend to pick up things like tension and strange vibes around us.They knew, from our first meeting, that Victor and I were not on good terms.“We are partners, Pepper. Our children depend on us to provide them with a secure and loving environment. Love should start from us.”Goosebumps formed on my skin when he mentioned the word “love.”Since our marriage had gone awry, which has led to our divorce, thoughts of romantic love ticked me off.I had been burned by love, and it made me wary of committing to another man.“I wanted to re-earn your trust, Pepper. And maybe someday, your love.” Hearing the gentleness in his voice made me remember the Victor I used to know back when I w
Pepper POVThe closed door serves as his backdrop as he eyes me with that enigmatic gaze of his I was too familiar with.In one hand, he was holding a bouquet, looking picture perfect.My response was instantaneous, a jolt of indignation flashing through my surprise.Eyes wide with shock, I shot up from the couch, slamming Victor with an accusing glare. In a heartbeat, my fear twisted into irritation, my narrowed gaze broadcasting just how unwelcome he was.“I specifically gave orders. You are not allowed here. You are trespassing.” I said in a high-pitched voice, feeling flustered that he found me in one of my weak moments.I was slumped on the couch, for goodness&rsq