Semua Bab LOVE'S OVERRATED: Mr. Sterling, We're Over!: Bab 131 - Bab 140

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

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

Josh Morgan Sterling POV“What are you grinning at, Daddy?” I was surprised when Leo asked me. I did not realize that I had been grinning until he told me.We were riding in the car on the way to our first ocular. Some of my staff were already waiting at the venue for an advance party since the children and I were coming in late.“I am happy, champ.”“You are happy because you kissed Mommy. Is that it?” This time it was Zoe who asked. She looked up at me, with her hands folded near her face. She was smiling, too.I ruffled her hair. She looked like her mother when we were young. My heart ached a little when I remembered how I had broken her mother’s smile when I constantly rejected her in the past.I was the second person she trusted next to Grandpa, but when she confessed, I transformed into someone who hated her. I thought I was protecting her heart back then, but in truth, I was just a coward who couldn’t face his own feelings and retreated to hurting the people that mattered most.

Josh Morgan Sterling POV“Okay. We will do as you say.” I said in agreement.Olivia arched a brow. “No more arguments?” She asked as if trying to make sure that she was hearing me right.I nodded. I do not need further convincing. Olivia knew what our children needed. She raised them. She knew what was best for them.Suppose she said that they needed me to make my presence known all the time. That’s what I am going to do.No excess.“They don’t need shortcuts. They need consistency.” She added. “They needed a father they could depend on. A father who will be there when they need him.”“I can be that father,” I told her.“I know.” She nodded, and for me that was enough.“I just thought I needed to make up for the lost time. I owe it to them to give them the best that I can afford.”Olivia shook her head. “Not what you can afford with your money. The children only needed you. The best version of you. It will require adjustments on your part. There are sacrifices involved because rearing

Josh Morgan Sterling POVShe's responding.She wanted me!Elation filled my heart because Olivia did not repulse my kisses. She was always ready.Even when I hurt her, she did not deny me.My chest felt like it was exploding with overwhelming gratitude.But I realized I hadn't done my grand gesture yet.I hope she will be happy with the surprise from me and the triplets.I pulled away abruptly. Putting distance between us. Though she's responsive, I do not want to take her yet.The moment was too premature.I wanted to make it slow, nice, and easy.I just did not expect her to look so hurt."Don't be hurt," I said, holding my palm up as if the action could break the tide of emotions spreading across her face and making her composure crack.In milliseconds, her expression changed to one of undisguised sarcasm."You are pushing me away. Why won't I be hurt? It was like rejecting me all over again."There were tears in her eyes, and I wanted to punch myself in the face for making her fee