I was seething by the time I went inside my car. With my hands on the steering wheel, I backed out of the parking lot without checking on Caleb’s car, not caring whether he was following as he said. I drove fast, too. Fifteen minutes, and I was already parking my car on the school grounds. I went out of my car and walked the short distance to the twins’ classroom to wait outside. Joachim was the first student to get out of his class. He walked leisurely to my side. “Where is your sister?” I asked. He motioned in the direction of their classroom. “She'll be out in a moment.” True enough, a quick look at the door opening showed his little sister getting out of the classroom. She was struggling with her backpack, but a tall man strode in her direction to help her. He took her backpack from her. Oakley smiled when she identified the man. “Daddy! You came!” Everyone around us gasped when they heard Oakley address the man. There were some buzzing sounds when they started to w
Cassy POV I started to shake my head when Caleb assisted the two kids in the back passenger, surprised he was ready with child seats for them.That impressed me. I thought the billionaire playboy would not know anything about them and would come in unprepared.Then, he closed the door and opened the front passenger door for me. That pulled me from my trance.I shook my head, intending to get to my car.I changed my mind; I did not want to ride with them.Their talk about family and the mansion where Caleb and I used to live opened a can of worms I would rather keep unopened.Then, I heard Wax and Oaks calling out to me from the backseat.“Mommy!”“Mommy, get in!”“The kids are waiting. Do not disappoint them.” Caleb whispered in my ears.The reminder made me change my mind.I hurriedly got inside Caleb’s car so as not to give myself another chance to change it again.Caleb bent to assist me with the seatbelt, but I grabbed it from him. “I can do it,” I said in a slightly harsh voic
Cassy POVCaleb played with the kids after dinner.Oakley was in seventh heaven when she learned that her father would be tucking them to bed.“Why can’t you sleep here?”I overheard Oakley ask while they were climbing the stairs to their room.Caleb's eyes darted in my direction, but I didn’t rescue him from Oakley’s question.It was his choice that we ended up like this in the first place.I let him parry Oakley’s incessant questions for a change until he ran out of excuses. Let him deal with his daughter.When they were out of my sight, I finished tidying the kitchen.I scraped off food from the dishes before loading them on the washer.Then, I packed the excess food and put a thin plastic wrap to cover it and reheat it the next day.Then, I started checking our stocks and went to the adjoining pantry, where I found an assortment of beverages.One particular beverage caught my attention, made with the best Californian grapes. It came in a box with two wine glasses.I took the wine
Cassy POVI was seething in the car while Caleb grinned like a Cheshire cat.“Why are you smiling, Daddy?” Oakley asked curiously at her father’s happy mood.I retreated into the far side of the car. My face almost kissed the window, trying to put as much distance between us in the cramped space.On the other hand, Caleb was smiling.Who wouldn’t when they got their way, after all?Caleb did a fast one on me, taking advantage of my sleep-hazy brain to trick me into agreeing with him about Mrs. West.I already declined the earlier offer of Mrs. West’s services because I d
Cassy POVMr. and Mrs. Kingston?I looked sharply at Caleb, but he was already busy chasing the kids, who hurriedly raced to the dunes all the way to the beach after hopping out of the van.My breath hitched at the sight.The twins looked cute, grabbing attention in their matching inflatable vests and swimwear, though in different colors. Oaks wore a neon pink one, while Wax wore blue.They were so excited to jump into the water.Caleb reached them. He was quick to pull them back, grabbing them both by the arms, impeding their progress to the frisky tides.The kids were giggling and kicking their arms and
Cassy POVThe nerve of the man!I looked at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes, but why can’t I believe him?Caleb spun so many lies in the past that I never trusted any of his words.“When we divorced, I already accepted that my children would grow up without their father and I, a husband. Now, you wanted to rectify your mistakes and rebuild our family as if those three years never mattered. What about me? What about all the things I endured in the last three years?”“I moved on. I no longer need you.”I saw his face twitch. Undoubtedly, I hurt him with my words, but we have to set our boundaries here. Caleb is acting too close for my comfor
Caleb POV “Don’t chop my head off!” James said while we were having a few rounds of beer in my bar. I already sent Cassy and the kids home after a two-day stay at the resort, but I was restless and anxious. When Greg invited us for a drink, I was about to decline but later changed my mind. Maybe, a few drinks is what I needed to clear my head. But hearing him talk about Cassy made me see red. “Calm your t*ts man. I was just impressed with your wife, nothing more. Cassy was truly savage out there, even you know it.” James added. We were talking about Cassy’s marvelous wakeboarding skill back at the resort and James’ reaction to it. I hate to admit it, but James was right. I remember when the kids and I started looking for her, and James told us that she enrolled in a wakeboarding class, I was in so much hurry. My heart raced wildly in my chest. I thought she was doing it recklessly out of anger. Panic and fear mingled as I rushed out, kids in tow. I ran to the beach, bu
Cassy POVI just left the children’s room and accidentally looked at the time on the wall clock at the end of the hallway.The long hand was pointed at the number ten, while the shorter hand was just past the number twelve.I got down expecting to see Caleb, but he was nowhere in sight.I sighed, knowing he already left without informing me.As if by tacit understanding, after we arrived from our two-day trip from his resort, Caleb attended to the kids while I stayed in my bedroom.I did not manage to go out of my room to join them for dinner. I got busy with my laptop reading all the notes Norma sent me last week for the annual investors&