Katherine POVI stared blankly at him while I gripped my phone in my hand. I don’t know what to say. Greg looked so much like how I looked before when I found out that he was having an affair with Noreen Jacobs. I was looking at the face of betrayal. I shook my head in an attempt to discredit the accusation. All the while, I was acutely aware of the people around us. This is a sidewalk. Passersby would notice us and couldn’t help but have an earshot. Even if they did not mean to snoop, Greg’s voice was loud enough to be carried by the wind. Everyone within earshot could not help but hear what he had to say. “I saw you.” He spits out. A frown formed on my head. “Saw me where?” I was clearly confused and wanted to be enlightened. Greg did not disappoint as he began a monologue that depicted an unsavory image of me. “You came out of his car not just once but all the time since I decided to observe.”Then, he brushed his fingers to his oily hair and gave a self-deprecat
Lucas POVI watched the shock registering on Greg Combs and Katherine’s faces when I issued the declaration. It gave me immense pleasure letting this b*stard know that he made a mistake.I don’t intend to give Katherine up. Not for anything, now or ever. I took advantage of their surprise to slowly walk toward them.When I reached them, I snaked an arm around Katherine’s waist to show Greg that Katherine belonged to me and me alone. I watched in satisfaction when my action elicited a wince from Greg Combs. I wanted him to know that no amount of regret can change the past. It already happened. All we have to do is accept things as they are. If he had changed his mind and regretted the decision to divorce Katherine, then he could live in misery because I was never going to give her up for anything.“Katherine is mine,” I told the shocked Greg Combs.“She has always been mine to begin with.” I reiterated when he recovered from the initial shock. When he did, I saw a trace of regre
Katherine POVThe disbelief in Greg’s eyes changed into something sinister. Cold dread pierced my whole being as I watched the expression on his face change into something unrecognizable. Immediately, my hand tugged on Lucas’s shirt. “You b*stard! I now finally understood everything. You removed me out of the way so you can have my family!” Greg’s face turned ugly when he snarled. Lucas pulled me to stand on his back while he faced Greg’s wrath. “I am just getting what is rightfully mine. Your decisions were all on you. How can you blame me for your actions? Was I the one who did not stick to my vows? Am I the one who cheated and divorced my wife?” Lucas pointed out. I was hyperventilating. The confrontation between these two men was making me nervous.Greg made an evil laugh. “She was not yours, Lucas. She does not love you. She did not even remember you.” Greg spat out. “While I spent the last five years with her. Katherine loved me.” He added. I felt Lucas flinched.
Katherine POVAt first, he was resistant, but I refused to let the lukewarm response discourage me. I closed my eyes and kept pushing, nibbling, and sucking on his lips while my hands caressed his face. While I was a newbie to this, I persisted, knowing I needed to make amends. Lucas needed my assurance, and I intended to give him that. Today, I felt the need to be bolder. To take charge and not just become an unwilling participant. A wave of shyness threatened to overtake me, but the need to prove to him that I was here weighed more.I kept pushing until desperation fueled my action. And then, it happened. Lucas began to respond. He kissed me back, sending a surge of triumph. At last, he reacted positively to my advances. But before I could savor and rejoice the moment, he pulled back.Confusion clouded my senses, and I raised hurtful eyes at him. Am I being rejected?Did he already give up on me?Lucas must have sensed my confusion and rubbed my lips with the pad of his thu
Katherine POVJust like the other previous kisses we shared, it was explosive.I do not know how he does it - arousing my passion.“Lucas!” I gasped when his hands began exploring, touching places he shouldn’t.“You are taking advantage of the situation,” I complained when he pulled his lips away, but not his hands, which were gently stroking my br*sts from under my shirt.“You started it.” He groaned.I looked at him sharply before pulling his hands away from my bre*sts.“You were angry, and I don’t know how to reach you. I felt like I was losing you.”He chuckled. “I may feel disgruntled and dismayed over certain issues, but I will not leave you, alright? I already lost you and our daughter once. I do not want you to slip through my fingers again.”I bit my lip, feeling a tightness in my chest a
Katherine POVWhen we got tired of our game, Sara called us for dinner. Lucas snagged Erin from the bed, and she climbed on her father’s shoulders.He held her hand, crisscrossing like a plane on their way out. I followed them with my eyes, my lips tugging into a smile when I heard Erin’s giggles. Seeing how happy my Erin had been since Lucas came into our lives made me feel contentment in my heart. Looking at her, you wouldn’t see any trace of a sick child. She was recovering and adjusting to our set-up faster than expected. “Thank you,” I whispered to Lucas’ ear after we put Erin to bed. She was now snoring softly when I tucked the covers below her armpits. I placed bolster pillows on her side. We had a hard time convincing her to lie down. Erin insisted on Lucas reading her a story before bedtime, and he indulged her.I sat on her side, listening to their interaction. She cuddled close to Lucas’ chest, listening intently, and from time to time, she would interrupt him to p
Katherine POVWhen we left the apartment building, I was surprised to see a bus with an SF conglomerate logo waiting for us.“Whoa! What’s this?” I asked, not fully comprehending what was happening.Dan Burns got out of the bus to assist us.“Hi, Uncle Dan!” Erin greeted, seemingly unaffected by the sight of the bus.In contrast, Erin looked excited. She was clapping her hands, and her legs danced owing to her undisguised eagerness to jump on the bus.I adjusted the strap of her sun visor before allowing her to hop on the bus. Her laughter rang like a peal of bell as Dan held her hand to help her up.The sounds of her laughter were music to my ears. For the past two years, our lives have been filled with sadness due to Erin’s sickness. I used to ask God why he allowed such a misfortune to come to us, but now, seeing the joy on Erin’s fa
Katherine POVI turned around to face Veronica, but she was already walking away. Then, my eyes squinted when Oliver blocked her path. I saw the tension in her body and thought I was not the only one who needed some explanation. Veronica also has to explain the tension with Oliver. From the looks of it, something is brewing between them. “Stare at him longer, and I was an inch from getting jealous, sweetheart.” Lucas' breath fanned my cheeks when he leaned close to murmur in my ears. I stepped to the side to allow distance between us, consciously aware of the people around us. I don’t want to add fuel to our grand entrance. Lucas’ employees already had something to talk about.But my action sent the wrong signal to Lucas. “Why are you avoiding me?” His eyes squinted in suspicion. I rolled my eyes. Here he goes again. “Shh,” I said, trying to hold him back from further incriminating the two of us.“What?” Lucas demanded when he saw me looking from left to right. Then, he sh
Katherine POVLorrie looked stunned. Disbelief was written on her face as her eyes kept going back and forth between Lucas and me. The discovery must have been a shock to her, especially when she knew how much I devoted my life to my ex, Greg Combs. Maybe she did not think I would replace Greg this early. It was just a few months since our divorce, and now she is learning that I married our boss. “I am her daughter’s biological father. Katherine and I had a falling out five years ago, and she married Greg. But that was all in the past.” Lucas butted in. He came to my rescue and explained for my benefit. At least, it was better than being branded a mistress to the boss.“Don’t worry. Everyone will know by Saturday about us.” He added while Lorrie nodded absent-mindedly. She was still probably shocked about what she found out. At least, I can trust Lorrie. She wouldn’t snitch on me. When Lorrie left, I swatted Lucas’s arm in reproach. “You shocked her,” I complained. “I had
Katherine POV“Where have you been?” I was surprised to find Lucas in my office.“What are you doing here?” I countered, walking to my desk. He grabbed me by the waist when I passed by him on the couch and pulled me to his lap. “Lucas!” I cried in reprimand. “Last night was perfect.” He told me, nuzzling my neck, sending tingles all over my body.He wanted us to stay at the beach for two more days, but I refused since I have a stacked workload for today. Besides, I can’t just come and go as I please. I don’t have executive status like him. Lucas’s hands began wandering while he kissed the back of my neck and ear. ‘Stop. Lorrie might see us.” The warning did not seem to faze him because his exploring hand went under my blouse, creating havoc in my system. “Lucas…” I moaned when the tip of his finger touched the underwire of my brassiere, but no further. He kept gliding his hands to my ribcage and stomach, making it taut in anticipation of his next move. “Lucas..” I panted his
Veronica POVIt was some minutes later before I decided to move, horrified to the realization that I stink. I pulled on the neckline of my dress and grimaced, smelling the stench of stale alcohol. I almost puked. I wondered what Oliver might have thought earlier. “I was such a turn-off,” I mumbled while tracing my way to the bathroom to shower. Then, I got ready for work. Before leaving, I went to the kitchen for a much-needed coffee intake. I sat down on the kitchen chair, trying to play in my head what happened last night before I passed out due to drunkenness. At about the same time, I remembered Nanny Miller's notebook and ran to the living room in search of it. In a flurry of emotions yesterday, I had forgotten all about it. It took a full minute before I found it wedged between the armchair and the side table. I wondered what secrets it held. After putting the notebook in a safe place, I came out of the room just as the tea kettle whistled, indicating the water had rea
Veronica POV"Just kidding, I already signed everything to John so I am back to my old poor self," I told him before letting go of my glass. It rolled on the table and was about to fall off the floor when Oliver caught it in time. “That’s a neat trick!” I slurred because his eyes never left mine. Oliver looked like he was between believing and dismissing my claim.Who cares what he thinks? Certainly not me. I patted the smooth wooden finish of the kitchen table before placing my crossed arms atop it for my pillow. I felt sleepy all of a sudden. I kicked my shoes off to get more comfortable and rested my face on my arms with my eyes closed. Then, I remembered to leave instructions to Oliver Manns. "Don't forget to lock my door when you leave." I reminded Oliver, angling my head slightly to focus one glassy eye on him while the other was shut. It was a quick look because I could not stand the overhead light. I closed my eyes once more. I did not know anything after that.So
Veronica POVI went inside my unit morosely, thinking about what happened at the monastery today.Without bothering to turn on the light, I slumped on my sofa, feeling drained. The events of the day washed down on me. Never in my wildest dreams did I realize that this reunion would turn out to be a permanent goodbye? I remembered what Nanny Miller told me earlier. “Forgive, and let go.” Who should I forgive? My father? His wife? And their son who did not consider me family and instead treated me like a servant in their house?If I did not learn how to hustle, I wouldn’t be able to finish high school because his wife did not want me to learn. They said that servitude is my calling and that nothing good will ever come out of me. That’s why I strove to be better and live well. I learned how to fight to live because who else would do it for me?The only consolation I had was Nanny Miller. She was the only reason I lasted eighteen years in that house. I shook my head and sighed
Oliver POVI was leaning on a wall, a few feet away from Veronica and the woman she called Nanny Miller. She was crying, and her tears inexplicably tugged at my heartstrings. But every time I thought about seeing her meeting secretly with John Quinn, I could not help suspicion gnaw at me. I can’t figure her out, and it’s making me crazy. Is she a friend or a foe?Nanny Miller gently wiped Veronica’s tears away before loving tucking the loose strands that escaped her ponytail to the back of her ear. It was a gentle gesture borne out of love. “How have you been? I returned to that house, but they told me you were gone.” Veronica sniffed and wiped her face with the palm of her hand. Nanny Miller had this gentle look while she stared at Veronica’s face.“There was no point in staying when you left.” Nanny Miller said, smiling. She was a beautiful woman. Her eyes were wise and warm. She looked like she weathered a few storms in her life and came out stronger. Veronica held Nanny M
Veronica POVBefore I put the paper I got from John, I tucked it in my memory, safe and secure. “Nanny Miller,” I said her name in my head countless times. I walked from the coffee shop to a nearby cab terminal when I heard a honk behind me. I sidestepped closer to the curb to resume walking when the car honked again. This time, I made sure to stop and let the car drive past me when I noticed that it was the same car Oliver used. The window opened, and Oliver’s face appeared. “Where are you going? Let me take you there.” He offered.I was surprised. I thought he had already left after dropping me off. Did he wait for me to conclude my meeting?I shook my head to thank him for the offer. I would rather go alone. This is a personal business and has nothing to do with our friends. “Thanks, but no,” I replied and resumed walking.I was already a few feet away from the terminal when I noticed the absence of cabs waiting for passengers. Oliver persisted. And the next thing I knew,
Veronica POV“I am okay here. Leave.” I told Oliver Manns after he parked his car outside a popular coffee shop in Berkeley.My eyes became alert as I surveyed the shop from our distance.“Stop being rude. I am not your driver, miss.” His tone brimmed with sarcasm.I decided to disregard it while I got busy unclasping my seatbelt.Despite getting into a frenzy, I hadn’t forgotten my manners. “Thank you,” I said, opening the door to my side to get out.Unfortunately, Oliver Manns opened his side of the door and was about to get out, too.&nb
Oliver POVI followed Veronica toward the makeshift altar. We did not talk, and it worked just fine for me. Pachelbel’s Canon in D wafted in the air, and the processional began. After Lucas walked the beige-colored carpet, the coordinator nodded in my direction to indicate my turn. I squared my shoulders and began walking until I reached Lucas, and I stood beside him. We both face the end of the aisle to watch the rest of the entourage walk toward their seats. Then, it was Erin’s turn. Lucas smiled, watching Erin walk the aisle holding a cute flower basket made from dried rattan. From time to time, she stops to toss flower petals in the air before resuming her walk. When she reached Lucas, she smiled and made an okay sign. Lucas responded by giving her two thumbs up. Then, she lifted her arms to Lucas, wanting to be carried. Lucas indulged her. He grunted when he bent to pick her up, amusing the guests. Erin's arms surrounded Lucas's neck. Now, it was Veronica’s turn.