—Nathaniel—What kind of fool gives his heart to a stranger?I blinked twice, not because I was fighting tears. But because I needed to be sure I was seeing right.No. It wasn’t my imagination. She’d chosen the money and left without looking back.The silence was suffocating. It felt like someone had cut me open with a knife.I hesitated, then reached inside my pocket for my phone. Only to come up with a pack of condoms. Damian must’ve slipped it in last night.Shit. I hadn’t even used it.I pulled out my phone, and dialed the head of my security.“Hello, sir.”“Prepare my convoy. We’re going home,” I muttered, and ended the call.I didn’t move until a knock sounded at the door. The head of my security stepped in.“Your convoy is ready, sir,” he announced.Slipping my phone into my pocket, I pushed myself off the couch and headed for the VIP elevator.In the parking lot, I climbed into the lead car of the convoy, and we merged into D.C' s morning traffic.No meetings. No work. Not tod
—Nathaniel—Something about her stopped the noise in my head. Maybe it was the way her cocoa skin glowed under the dim lights, or how her afro hair fanned out like a crown halo.Then I noticed what she was wearing— a sheer silver bodysuit that hugged her curves, and jewelry that caught the light.Damian hooted, before turning to us at the table. “Seems we have a newbie in the house.”Eloise gasped. “Oh my God, she’s so beautiful.”As for me?I could only sip my drink, unable to take my eyes off her.Something about her tightened my chest—made me acutely aware of her in a way I’d never been with another woman.As though all the oxygen in the room had disappeared.She scanned the room as though unsure of what she was here to do, then Reluctantly grabbed the pole.“Why isn't she dancing?” Eloise asked.Damian shrugged. “She's a fresher, what do you expect? Guess she's not used to this kind of attention.”“Move it already, will you?” someone shouted from the crowd.For the life of me, I f
—Nathaniel—The shrilling of my alarm clock dragged me out of sleep. I slammed a hand over the timepiece, silencing it, before rolling onto my back.Something about today felt different. Why? Then it clicked.Today was my twenty-fifth birthday.I slipped out of bed and into the hallway of Sunrise Mansion, where sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows.“Good morning, sir,” my domestic staff greeted.I offered them a curt bow and headed to the dining room. One of them even mumbled, “Happy birthday, sir.”A faint smile curved my lips. “Thank you,” I replied, before turning to my tablet on the table.As expected, there were several missed calls and texts from my parents and siblings. I browsed through the messages, then returned the calls, starting with my parents.The phone rang twice before connecting. My mother’s face filled my device’s screen, calling from the master bedroom of Green Oak Mansion.“Good morning, mom.”She beamed. “Hello, Nat. Happy twenty-fifth birthday,
Nathaniel Rivera has always reserved himself for his future wife. The youngest of the Rivera triplets believes in sex after marriage.But the morning after his twenty-fifth birthday, he wakes up tangled in the sheets with a stranger— a woman whose name he doesn’t even know.One night of passion leaves Nathaniel craving more, yet when he offers her money or himself, she takes the money instead and walks away — leaving him reeling with his first heartbreak.Months later, while overseeing the family company in Africa, Nathaniel crosses paths with the very woman who shattered him, now working as a janitor.When fate gives them a second chance, will they rewrite their story… or repeat the heartbreak that started it all?*. *. *. *. *Amari had always believed in true love until it landed her on a ship bound for the States. An orphan and now a homeless girl in a foreign land, she must hustle for her freedom, only to stumble upon the man who promises her love.Amari is done giving her heart
—Mabel— Silence fell in the room.Alec and Kyu-hun beamed at the gesture, suspecting nothing, while Ruth and I exchanged knowing glances.Ruth smiled. “Her name is Chloe Ji-hye Han. And her brother’s name is Ethan Min-jun Han.”“Hi, Ethan. Chloe,” Nathaniel waved.Damian said nothing.He stood quietly by the bedside, his eyes locked on the baby as though they shared a bond none of us could name.“What’s our brother’s name, Mommy?” Eloise asked.I exhaled. “His name’s Adrian Rivera.”Eloise nodded and turned to her brother. “Hi, Adrian. I’m Eloise, your sister. Welcome to the family.”“You have two brothers; Damian and Nathaniel Rivera—and two grandmas, Mama Emelda and Veronica.”“We also have a dog called Fizzy. Don’t worry, I’ll take great care of you,” Eloise added.Tears stung my eyes as I watched my daughter welcome the youngest member of our family.That night, after the triplets were gone and our husbands had fallen deeply asleep, Ruth and I shared a grin as we tucked in our ne
—Mabel—Hawaii was gradually becoming my favorite place.The kids’ laughter carried across the waves. Alec just finished crafting toy boats for them, and now they were racing them across the water.Fizzy barked with excitement.“Mommy! Look,” Eloise called.Shifting on the lounge chair, I waved to them before turning back to my tablet propped awkwardly against my belly. My due stomach left little room, forcing me to tilt the screen just so I could see.Mama Emelda and Veronica were showing off their cooking skills.“Mmm,” Mama Emelda moaned as she tasted the sauce, then leaned closer to the screen. “This is delicious, Mabel. I wish you were here to taste it yourself.”Mama Veronica snapped her fingers. “Or perhaps we could package some up and send it to you by dinner. What good is a private jet if not for that?”I chuckled. “No, no. Don’t go through all that trouble. I’ll settle for the recipe.”Mama Emelda squinted her gaze dramatically. “Mmm...are you sure? “I think the baby might d