(Bella)As I stomp my way back to my car, my heart raced, Dean's question echoes in my head nonstop.He knows!I can't help but wonder, did Judy tell him?My nerves are like short now.I saw the way he looked at Javier and Jasmine, his gaze though tender and gentle, holds a calculated look in them, as if he's quickly figuring things out in his head.And the resemblance is quite uncanny, the timing. He's smart, I'm sure he must've connected the dots.Hence, his nerve-wracking question.I don't know why everything seems to be happening at the same time.First, it was Judy trying her crap on me and now Dean.I really do not know what to expect next. But one thing is certain, no one is taking my babies away from me, I'll keep them away from this chaos even it's the last thing I do.I take a deep breath, trying to soothe my frazzled nerves before getting into the car.As I step in, the tension in the car doesn't go unnoticed, taking a quick glance at Javier and Jasmine, they're unusually q
(Bella)I take a deep breath, steeling my mind before walking up to the bed, sitting just beside them. "Hey, there, sweethearts," I say softly, gently caressing Jas's cheeks. "I'll be making your favorite for dinner, come join Mommy in the kitchen," I try to coax them.They both frown, refusing to talk to me.I look between them. "Are you still mad at Mommy?" I ask them, making a sad face, just to get their attention.Jasmine rolls her eyes, turning to face me but Javier remained silent.I ruffle his hair gently. "Okay, I'm sorry for yelling," I let out, my tone soft, in a bid to get him to talk to me.Finally, Javier turns, sitting up, he looks at me, his expression softens. "Why were you mean to mister stranger?" He asks, his eyes filled with curiosity.Without missing a beat, Jasmine sits up too, crossing her tiny arms. "Is he a bad man?" She asks, her eyes filled with little wonder.Javier frowns a little, switching to his defense mode. "No, he's not. He's kind, he saved me!" He co
(Ashley)"What do you mean it didn't go as planned?" Judy fumes, gripping her teacup tighter. "How could you be so careless?"I furrow my eyebrows, feeling the need to explain what happened. "I'm sure—," I trail off, my words coming out in a stutter. "I did slip the drug into his drink, I watch him empty his glass, I did, it's just all confu—,"Elena's voice cuts me off sharply, her gaze as piercing as ever. "Excuses, that's what this is. You had just one job, and you screwed it the fuck up!" She spat, clearly as livid as Judy. "Now, how are we supposed to fix this?"I hate to be this helpless, to be this putty in Judy's hands, not to mention Elena.They're just incorrigible.Looking at Judy, she's just being ridiculous about this, I didn't mean for any of this to happen and she can't just annoyingly sit there and push blames.I discreetly eye her across the living room. She can pretend to be mad, but I know she needs me just as much.She can't get rid of Bella from Dean's life without
(Dean)While I wait for the DNA test results, I buy my way around Bella's number. I need to reach out, since she wouldn't see me.Last night, I called her and the moment she heard my voice she ended the call on me.I tried calling her again, this time I paced across my office, Ethan's gaze transfixed on me. He stopped by a while ago.First ring, second, up until the sixth one and she still did not pick up, after more attempts the call went to voicemail. Frustrated, I run a hand through my hair, unsure of what to do.Ethan drags in a sharp breath. "Calm down, Dean. I mean, even I will freak out with those insistent calls, give her time," he says in a calm but firm tone.I shrug, turning to face him. "I want to Ethan, but I just can't. Sleep has become a stranger to me this past few days, my mind's not at rest, I want to talk to Bella,"I don't wait, I dial her number again. This time I guess Bella got fed up, because her voice wafted into my ear. "Take a hint, Dean and stop bothering me
(Bella)Dean's just pushing every button in me, he's starting to get on my nerves with his insistent calls. It's baffling.He's a busy CEO, surely he'd have more important things to do than blowing up my phone all day.And how the hell did he get my number? I ask inwardly, mulling over it, but then it's Dean Brennan, I shouldn't ask that.Getting my number is such an easy peasy.He's about to drive me insane at this point.I rub my temples, strangely he didn't call back after I ended the call this time, he's just being annoyingly persistent and I can't deal with this right now.And most importantly, I shouldn't stress over this.And with that resolve, I pull my phone back up, doing what I should have done last night. I block his number, dropping my phone on the desk.Leaning back, I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm down before going through the stack of files on my desk.Just as I'm deep in my work, a gentle knock comes to the door and Calvin walks in, there's
(Dean)I toss and turn on my bed, unable to sleep, ever since I got the results, my confusion has been through the roof.Perhaps I'd better look into the evidence of the cheating a little longer.I step out of the bed, reaching for the drawer where I'd kept those pictures that's haunted me for years.I rummage through the drawer, bringing it out, my eyes scans through them, the pictures I'd received on that fateful day, the one that turned my life upside down.I take a closer look at the picture for the very first time since I received them, it's Bella, lying in bed with these men, in different compromising positions. But something catches my eyes.In all of the pictures, her eyes seemed like they're closed. What does that say?Back then I barely had the time to check details, I was so angry, feeling so betrayed.And that brings me to the pills, is there even a tiniest chance that she'd conceived if she's on birth control pills?Just one big mass of confusion.As I sit there, my mind d
(Dean)So this morning, I received a text from my mom inviting me to dinner at her house, mentioning that Rihanna, Aunt Elena's daughter had returned from London and will be joining us.That caught my attention, mainly because it's been long I saw Rihanna, we barely even text, though she reached out at the time of my divorce and I understand we're grown now, with huge responsibilities to shoulder.She's busy with her modeling career and I'm pretty much occupied with Brenco.But Rihanna and I used to get along very well before she traveled, she was like the sibling I never had.I guess we have a lot of catching up to do.And mom sure knows it'd be hard to decline this one. WeIl, it's been like this for a while now, I avoid meetups and dinners with mom and Aunt Elena, because it stresses me the fuck out, they seemed to always make it about me, probing me about my marital status and giving me unsolicited reasons why Ashley's perfect for me.I know they mean well, but it's exhausting, and
(Dean)With Mom subtly bringing up Ashley at every slightest opportunity she gets, and Aunt Elena gushing about how perfect we'd have been together. Honestly, I'm at loss at what to do with her and her overbearing attitude, both of them.Fed up, I excused myself to take a call.Outside the house, I walk over to where I'd parked my car, a quiet spot for a bit of peace.The cool night breeze brushes against my skin as I lean on my car, pulling my phone out.I look at it and I see a text from Humphrey, informing me that a meeting with Clein's has been scheduled.I stare at the message a little longer, all the while my mind racing with different ways to approach Bella and get her to talk to me.Meeting her at Clein's seems to be the best way and I can't afford to blow that up."Doesn't look like you wanted to take a call, more like you wanted out of that..?" Rih observes as she approaches, giving me a knowing look.I drag in a sharp breath, pocketing my phone I nod. "They're…. a little to
(Bella)I spent the rest of the day in Ivy's new home, while looking after the kids together.I must say they've been a handful but we wouldn't have it any other way, watching them play, giggle, and talk makes it all worth it.Dean said he has something really urgent to take care of, he did call on his way to work, asking for Ivy's home address.I figured he'd want to come see the kids so I sent those in a jiffy.I'm on the couch going through a book I had picked from Ivy's room, while she goes to check on the kids as they nap.I hear Ivy's footsteps as she walks back to the couch and when I peer up to look at her, I see a smug smile. "You need to see this," she says shrugging down next to me and extending her phone.I take it and it's a clip, I give her a look before tapping on it. My heart did a little flip as I see Dean in a press conference.I straightened up, my interest piqued. Dean stood by the lectern, dressed in his three-piece suit, ready to address the audience.A small smi
(Bella)I wake up and Dean isn't beside me but I when I hear a little sound in the bathroom I knew he was in there.Last night was mind blowing, Dean did things to me that had me nearly passing out from pleasure.We both didn't leave this room, the only time I had to say anything to anyone was to Anne, she had knocked to ask if we'd have dinner and of course I dismissed her, we've both had our fill and by the time I had my sixth orgasm, we were both tired out and could barely stomach anything.Stretching, I'm about to get up when he saunters out of the bathroom, fully dressed."You're awake," he says, a smile finding it's way to his face. "I didn't want to disrupt your sleep, seeing you needed rest after….," he winks, pausing halfway.My face feels like volcano and I could barely hide it from him. "You're ready to go?" I manage to ask through a shy smile and he nods."Yup, but I asked Anne to whip up something for you," he says and almost immediately a knock comes to the door. "I gues
(Dean)The smile on her face makes my stomach clench with happiness and every ounce of jealousy I had felt suddenly ebbs away.I don't reply, my words failed me, all I did was stare at her, my desire laid bare.My eyes darken and the next thing I knew, I leaned over and claimed her lips, kissing her so hard. I need to get lost in her so bad, I want to eat her out for hours.She moans into my mouth and my dick throbs in my pants. I whirled her around, resting her back on the couch, towering over her, and claiming her lips once more."What are you doing?" She asks, out of breath, while I gently nibble on the nape of her neck. "Dean…Anne could…,""She's out to get groceries. It's just the two of us, baby." I murmur against her skin, running my hand over her hard, sensitive nipples through her silky top."She'll be back— in no time," she croaked out, causing me to pause and look at her.Fine, I picked her up and maneuvered us to her room, I gently put her down and pulled off her silky top
(Dean)I have called Arthur and asked him to urgently look into how those pictures got to the press and I know I'll have my answer in less than a day.I stood in front of Bella's front door and exhaled deeply, ready to face this strange lady but this time I won't be leaving if I don't see my woman.I press the doorbell and waited and after a while the door creaks open and this lady stood before me yet again, bearing an unreadable expression.But instead of telling me off, she shifts to let me in, and I see a smirk creeping up her face.Is she messing with me?"Come in," she says, giving me quite the look.I step in, still as confused as hell."Didn't you say you just —," I tried to voice out but the approaching footsteps cuts me off.I turn to see Bella, and she paused as soon as she sees me, staring into my eyes.The warmth in her eyes somehow takes all my worries and fears away."Babe," I call out softly and rushed to her, pulling her close and wrapping my arms around her, I hold he
(Bella)"Why didn't you say so sooner?" I smack her arms and she giggles slightly."Well, that's part of the surprise, telling you would have ruined the fun, don't you think?" she says, lifting her eyebrows.I shake my head, and walk over to her car to meet a beaming Aria, I pause.She's gorgeous, pretty eyes and a cute smile like her momma."Hi," I say, flashing her a smile.Her grin grows bigger and she throws herself into my arms. "Aunt Bella!" She squealed.I ruffle her hair and when I look back to where Ivy was standing, she isn't there anymore, she has opened the door of my car, leaning over and talking with the twins, I could literally hear their soft giggles.I snap my eyes back to Aria and kiss her forehead. "What's her name?" I pointed to her big doll behind her."Star," she says, her smile growing even wider."Such a cute name," I retort, ruffling her hair gently, my smile still in place. I just love her, I've loved her long before now.After we had our moment, I step aside
(Bella)Whoever was behind this aimed to ruin me, hence the reason my social handles were all over the media, notifications were pouring in, tons of hateful words, dirty comments and some even tagged me a whore and a golddigger.The blogs didn't relent, they're clearly milking this for all it's worth.Tired of reading through all the nonsense about me, I drop my phone and exhaled deeply.I'm handling this a lot better than my emotional self would, it baffles me but well, I'll have to do me, the world will be just fine.But then….. I pause, a thought comes to mind. If this lingers on, it won't be long before they drag my kids into this drama.I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Soon enough, it'll be the gold-digging wife and her secret babies.My kid's faces will be all over the media, I wouldn't put that past the person behind this chaos.God, I don't want them to drag my innocent kids into this and I definitely do not want this kind of ridiculous attention for them.I sucked in
(Dean)Unease, worry, a surge of helplessness, all of it scratch it's way through my skin, seeping through every pore.It's been over five seconds since this strange lady shut the door in my face, and here I am, glued to a spot.That isn't even the disturbing part, but wheels are already turning in my head at her response. She moved in?If that's not strange, then I don't know what is. A pang of uneasiness, fear, and a little bit of anger settles over me.Maybe if I hadn't freaking silenced my phones, I would have been here in time.But moving out? Did Bella really do that?I'm not believing any damn thing till I hear from her, and there's only one way to find out, actually two ways.Shit… I pause.I can't contact Derrick, I had angrily deleted his number when I thought Bella left me and I still don't have it now.Ugh. I run my hand through my hair, and then I lift my eyes and slowly walk over to meet the building's concierge.He bowed down to greet on seeing me.I give him a curt n
(Dean)Full tilt into my meetings and I've barely come up for air. It's been a busy day, even so more than usual.And I can't wait to get done with it and head back home to my woman and kids. I couldn't wait until I could hold Bella in my arms again.But then, I had an odd feeling when I called Bella before getting on with these meetings and she didn't answer, I texted her and waited for a while but got no response.Humphrey came to inform me that it was time for the meeting, my eyes had flickered on the phone before I put it on silence and handed it over to Humphrey, alongside my other phone.I do that whenever I have important meetings to avoid distractions, and this one is with international investors, so yeah."We're looking forward to working with you, Mr. Brennan." One of the men says with a grin as he extends his hand toward me.A smile sits on my lips as I take the hand he's offering. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Duke."Once done, I head out to where Humphrey is seated, waiting.He g
(Bella)I got home in time before Javier and Jasmine woke up, I had to, Anne isn't too strong to get them ready for school on her own, and I needed her to get all the rest she can.I didn't get Ivy's call nor text, she usually calls every morning or leaves a text. I had called but she didn't answer and hasn't returned the calls.I pocket my phone and help get the twins ready for school before heading to make us breakfast.As I move around the kitchen, plating the food, I couldn't help but reminisce about last night, it was beyond what I could put into coherent words, it was beautiful, it was passionate and it felt right, more right than anything has in a long time.I had a corking good time.We made love till we were both tired out, we talked about a lot, from how I felt when I realized Ashley and his mother had set me up down to how challenging being pregnant and alone was, how helpful Calvin has been.My stomach twisted when I mentioned Calvin, a subtle reminder of our unresolved is