LOGINOlivia Barnett POV
Since I came back here with the children, he never failed to protect me. He had been proud in announcing to anyone who cared to listen who I am to his life. Not just as the mother of the children, but his wife.
My breath hitched.
Words got stuck in my throat.
Olivia Barnett POVI mulled over what Grandpa said, but in truth, there is really no need to think it over. I already knew in my heart what my answer was.“Stay. Josh needed you and the children.”I wanted to tease him. How come he’s changing his tune now? Where was the old man who told me to let his grandson squirm and beg?“I am getting older. I feel weaker. I will rest easy knowing that your family is together.”I was aghast.How can he say that?“Gandpa! Don’t say that! You are not dying.”He patted my back in comfort.Maybe because he realized that what he said earlier scared the h*ll out of me. Grandpa is my family. He stepped in as my sole parent when mine died. Even just thinking about the eventuality that he will leave this earth pained me.“Please, don ‘t say that. I need you. The children and I needed you. Josh needed you, too. He may sound like he hated you, but Josh loves you too much. More than he loves his own parents.”Tears welled in my eyes.In truth, I had never tho
Olivia Barnett POVThey were already outside, but I could still make out the children’s voices, their tone, and even their words.“You should stop embarrassing Mommy. Your kisses make her uncomfortable.” It was Leo, and he sounded mad, reprimanding his father.Josh laughed heartily. “I am not embarrassing your mother. I only wanted to show her how much I love her.”“But she’s so red in the face. She’s embarrassed!” Leo’s argument made me want to run outside and tell them to stop. The nanny and the driver were with them. I can’t let the whole household know about what happened.That’s a private thing between Josh and me. It should remain private between us
Olivia Barnett POVI tore my mouth away from Josh’s scalding kiss and burrowed my face to his massive chest to hide, unable to meet the triplets’ gazes in my shame.It was the second time they caught us kissing!D*mn it!How can I be so reckless?“Don’t be shy, sweetheart. I am not holding you accountable. This is all my fault.” He said, but I could feel his chest vibrating due to his uncontained laughter.And this man was so shameless.He’s making fun of me. He was turning my embarrassment into a cause for his amusement.I pinched his back, and he cried out in pain, but he did not let go of me.His arms wrapped tight around my body, making me feel the natural warmth of his.“Josh, let go of me. The children are here. It’s embarrassing?”I wiggled from his arms, but he was stronger, and I realized I couldn’t escape unless he slackened his hold of me, which at the moment, he refused to do.“What’s embarrassing? I am just teaching our children how a husband should treat their mother.”M
Josh Morgan Sterling POVMy phone rang. It was my secretary confirming the appointment with the first venue the children and I are set to visit this afternoon.I looked at my watch and realized that we had consumed so much time bonding as a family. Then, I felt Olivia pulling away from me. I hugged her one more time with my right hand, and with my left, I held the phone to leave instructions to my secretary waiting in line.“Tell them we will be a little late.”Olivia squirmed in my lap when I ended the call. She succeeded, not before I kissed her forehead.The two girls giggled.“Daddy kissed Mommy!” They both chanted.I smiled because Ivy was beginning to loosen up in my presence. She was now acting her age, and there was a genuine happy smile on her face.“Don’t tease Mommy,” I told them, but I was smiling when I noticed Olivia’s burning face.She turned her head to the other side to avoid meeting my gaze, but her pink ears and neck gave her away.“Mommy, you are red-faced!” Zoe ex
Josh Morgan Sterling POVWe both nodded in tacit understanding.Olivia’s face cleared.“Daddy!” I heard the children call from downstairs.“Go. The children are waiting.” Olivia prodded me, but I couldn’t seem to pull myself away.Now that I finally admitted it to myself, the children, and most importantly to her, that I had always been in love with her, I realized I couldn’t just leave her like this.Without thinking, I grabbed her chin, tilted her face, and kissed.It was the most natural thing.I had been running on instinct. I did not give myself time to analyze what I was doing. I just let the impulse dictate to me.At first, she struggled. She gasped and clawed at the back of my hair. I ignored it, and pressed my lips to her, and then when her mouth opened, I began to nibble her lips. To taste the sweetness that had been missing from my life for a long while now.Then before I could fully submit to the moment, I pulled back.“Thank you for the kiss,” I told her, refusing her tim
Olivia Barnett POVThe moment I stepped out of the master’s bedroom, I turned and leaned my back to the wall, sighing.Fifteen years, and the feelings still run deep.Because of what I heard, I know that I can never hate Josh. He was and will always be the father of my children.I will always be thankful for that fateful day that bound our lives together. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have three wonderful children who are now making their father’s head ache.I pulled the chain around my neck and took out the friendship bracelet the teen Josh gave to me.I held it up for inspection, remembering that day, and my eyes misted.The door opened, but I was not quick enough to hide it. I was so sure that Josh had seen it and he recognized it because he was silent for a while.Then, his voice came, hoarse and guttural like he was holding himself in check.“I see you kept it all this time.”My face burned, but I did not say anything to counter his words.What’s the point?He already saw th
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 POVA look of pure hatred crossed over my features. This time, I did not try to cover up the knowledge that I knew of his plans for the children and me five years ago.“No, Via. You don’t understand.”A bitter smile curled my lips spitefully. The look on his face as he tried to implo
Olivia Barnett POVThe next morning, even before the first rays of sunlight appeared, I woke Lucy so we could go.She looked surprised when her eyes ran over me. It was probably because I had already taken off my hospital gown and was dressed in my clothes from the day before.Lucy got up, yawning.
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







