LOGINOlivia Barnett POV“They’re here! They’re here!”Zoe jumped from her seat when she saw our visitors. The suite that Josh rented for us became livelier with the sounds of the children’s laughter as they greeted our guests.“Aunt Amee! You came!” Zoe cried. She took Amee’s hands and pranced around her, giggling.“Now there is someone here who can make my hair look like a crown!”The sound of her voice, full of gaily happiness, filled my heart with so much love for her.“Aunt Lucy! You are here, too! Did you bring us ice cream?” Ivy ran toward Lucy. Her little body bumped into her and had her almost thrown back.Lucas was there to save her. He grabbed her by the waist to steady her.The contact left her flustered. She immediately pulled back, thanked Lucas, and stood as far away from him as possible.My eyes narrowed as I noticed the tension in my best friend’s body. Our gazes locked, and I raised an eyebrow, but she quickly averted her gaze as if she did not want me to see the secrets
Olivia Barnett POVI wanted to leave. I wanted to get away from this messy life. This was my decision five years ago. I chose peace rather than to fight for my rights. Grandpa Jonathan kept urging me to protect my place as Josh’s partner, but I was a coward back then.I chose the easy way rather than stick it out, confront Josh, and fight for my place as his woman.Not anymore.Three little people needed me to defend them from this life’s vultures.Besides, I saw it in Josh’s eyes. Our leaving would break him. He loves the children. I was sure about that. He did not want them to go.And so, I chose between staying and leaving.“Promise me you will always choose us. That you will protect the children no matter what.” I told him sternly.My eyes narrowed, wanting to impress upon him that I was serious right now. I never demanded anything as his wife, just that he would never abandon us in the fight.“They are my children, Olivia. I will never sell them out.” He looked hurt, but his fee
Olivia Barnett POVI rose from my seat in alarm.“Grandpa!” I cried when Grandpa Jonathan banged his hand on the table. He was so p*ssed. His teeth gritted, and his hand clenched into a fist.Right after, his face contorted as if he were in great pain.The cellphone dropped to the ground, and he almost collapsed.Josh rushed toward us. The next thing I knew, he was already beside Grandpa Jonathan, making sure he was okay.He must have gotten out of the pool so fast that he was beside Grandpa in a flash. His hair dripped with water, cascading over his naked torso.“Grandpa. What happened?” He assisted Grandpa in his wheelchair.At the same time, he ordered Grandpa’s nurse to call 911.When Grandpa heard this, he immediately held his palm up to wave him off.“No need. I am fine.”By this time, the children had already gotten out of the pool and were at Grandpa’s side.“Grandpa, are you okay?”Grandpa patted Leo’s head and smiled.“Yes. Don’t worry. Grandpa was annoyed because of some pe
Olivia Barnett POV“Hurry up! Let’s go!” Ivy excitedly dragged Josh out onto the slow river trail.He was laughing, but he let her push him around. He looked relaxed and carefree, much like the young Josh Morgan Sterling I knew. The one who coaxed me out of my shell and made me feel welcome when I first came to the Sterling mansion.“Daddy! Catch me!” Ivy called out. Then, she dived into the water, confident that her father would catch her.My heart in my throat, I quickly ran to chase her, but she was faster than me. Her little legs carried her toward her father.She did not even hesitate.My breath caught in my throat when she was suspended in the a
Josh Morgan Sterling POV“I wanted it done with strict confidentiality,” I told one of the doctors trusted by our family and the director of St. John Hospital when we visited his clinic.Right after, Leo underwent buccal cheek swabbing for less than a minute.“Does it hurt?” Zoe asked. Her face was filled with curiosity.Leo looked like he wanted to tease his sister, but I already intercepted his look and shook my head lightly. In the end, he told her the truth.“No. I felt nothing at all.” He said, giving me a two-thumbs-up.I nodded in approval when he snuck a glance in my direction while Zoe sat on the stool and the doctor performed the colle
Josh Morgan Sterling POV“Daddy! You are here!” Zoe climbed into my lap when she found me sitting on the kitchen bar stool, sipping coffee with their mother.“You are not wearing your suit,” Leo commented when I offered to pick him up to place him on the stool on my right.“We are going somewhere,” I told them, and I saw their eyes light up with an excitement they can’t contain. They clapped their hands and shouted.Leo jumped on his seat, pumped his fist in the air, and wiggled his body in an imitation of a jiggly dance.“Really, Daddy! Are we going to the water theme park?” Ivy ran toward me, and I pulled her up. Now, she and Zoe were sitting on my lap.
Olivia Barnett POVEveryone gasped when they heard Daisy, but they all turned their heads away, and their bodies shrank back a little as if they feared her.And who wouldn&r
Olivia Barnett POVIt was exactly one month after my last confrontation with Josh.We have not had any clashes ever since.It was as if we had some kind of a silent truce.The morning passed by in a blur.Lunch soon arrived, and everyone had gone on their breaks except me.I was not hungry. I was mo
Olivia Barnett POV“You’re back!” Lucy cried when I walked back to the office the next day. She ran to me and hugged me tightly as if it was the first time we met again in a long while, and not just last night.“I knew it! The boss did not mean to fire you! Yey!” Her hands grasped my upper arms and
Olivia BarnettIt took me a few moments before the shock wore off and I reacted belatedly.I cried out Todd’s name in alarm before pressing my foot hard against the floor, to use my weight to force him to stop. To no avail.I was powerless against a massive giant as he effortlessly pulled me away.H







