(Aya’s POV)“Why?” I stood up, my eyes not leaving Jared.Curiosity joined us in the living room. Gino eyed his brother, probably wondering at the amount he wrote in the check. Even Ofelia looked at her older son and gave him a quizzical look at his son’s behavior.“Why?” Jared scoffed. “Let’s just say I love this place. I grew up here and...” His lips curved into a smile, causing my heart to beat strangely. “I love the pond idea.”Katie giggled when he winked at her, but she moved her lips from side to side as she turned her head at the paper I held because Gino seemed could not take his eyes off it.Jared returned the checkbook to his bag and took it. “I changed my mind, mom. I’m staying a day or two.”“Huh?” Gino furrowed his eyebrows. “I thought you’ll leave after talking to the owner?” Gino asked before their mother could raise the question.He smirked. “The drive here was not a joke, Gino.” He looked at Katie. “Besides, if my dad fills the pond with water alone, it’ll take years
(Aya’s POV)I waited until Katie was finally asleep before getting out of bed. I kissed her forehead again and took the folder and a pouch before exiting the bedroom. I found Aunt Mae smiling and sitting on the couch, browsing her phone. When I got closer, I saw she was looking at the photos she had taken a while ago, mainly of Katie’s.“Your daughter’s so adorable,” she chuckled, zooming in on her picture. “We have one of these in Myra’s photos her age. It’s like looking at her when she’s four.”I sat beside Aunt Mae, placing the envelope and the pouch beside me, and leaned closer to look at the picture.“You know she’s not my daughter...” My voice trailed off as I stared, panic-stricken, at my aunt.She tilted her head and nodded, pursing her lips as she held my hand. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m here, Aya. Myra asked for my help and -”As if I was burnt by the name she mentioned, I took my hand away from her and clenched my fists, placing them on my lap. I lowered my head and
(Red’s POV)“Red, what happened to the kids?” Ariana asked, her voice in a panic.I raised my head and watched my sister enter the study room, glancing back as if checking if she had closed the door behind her before she walked in my direction. My eyebrows knitted, thinking about where I last saw them an hour ago.“In the family room?” I answered, unsure. “Why?” I stopped reading the report Liam gave me a while ago.I stood up, suddenly worried at the urgency of Ariana’s voice. My sister would not be here if none of my kids had contacted her, especially Violet. My eyes narrowed, thinking what the problem could be. I walked toward the door, hoping they were still in the family room.“Green called me,” she answered, following me as I exited the study room. “God, I know they were just with me yesterday, but Red, when he called me, and everyone’s talking to me at the same, I panicked.”I must have absorbed the panic in my sister’s body because fear and worry crept through me when I saw th
(Aya’s POV)“Are you okay?” Jared asked.I hid my surprise when I read the worry and concern that flooded his face when I saw him sitting on the rubber tire swing his father had made for Katie. It was Aunt Mae’s idea to invite everyone for a barbeque party near our dream pond, but my tummy began to get upset as soon as my nose caught the scent of the herb Gracie mixed in the sauce. I had to excuse myself immediately and dashed inside the lodge, imprisoned myself to the shared bathroom near the living room, and threw up.“Yeah, I’m okay,” I forced a smile, glancing at the pathway to the pond.I had no intention of going back yet, hoping to sit on the swing for a while, but with Jared sitting there as if he was feeling nostalgic about the place, I couldn’t ask him to stand and give me the seat. I was also feeling dizzy, so I opted out of the idea of relaxing on the swing. Instead, I chose to step toward the wooden bench near the tree.“Katie’s a smart kid,” he smiled, showing me the bac
(Aya’s POV)“You should have remained at rest, Aya. Hidden, you know, if you didn’t want to be found,” Deidre smirked at me as we waited for Katie and Gino.“I didn’t know you knew Newton,” I sneered, thinking of thousand excuses of what to tell the Cortez about the sudden delivery of kitchen appliances and ‘who-knew-what-else’ was in the other boxes.“We used to be friends… lovers,” she glanced at me and chuckled briefly, then sighed, her lips curving a sad smile. “We broke up.”I rolled my eyes, still wondering how I became acquainted with this crazy woman. I used to hate her, but after everything she did for Katie and me, I could not afford even to get annoyed at her.“I always hear it from Red, especially when he’s so determined to achieve something,” she scoffed, lifting one corner of her mouth. “Your husband won’t be a multi-billionaire if he remained in motion with a constant velocity.”When I raised my eyebrows, Deidre rolled her eyes and laughed, leaning to her side, closer t
(Aya’s POV)“How did you know I’m here?” I asked Myra calmly, reminding myself a million times of my present condition.“I’m the one who told her, Aya,” Aunt Mae answered for my sister.I heaved a deep sigh, not glancing at my aunt, who had told me she would set things right, but I must be a magnet of misfortunes because, as my eyes wandered, everyone was here, and the only person lacking was Scarlett.“I’m taking my daughter, Aya,” Myra muttered, not wasting her time.My sister did not even consider what Katie would feel or that we were in the middle of a gathering. I closed my eyes, breathing calmly, imagining mom telling me she was my sister, and hearing dad’s voice saying ‘enough’ as he tried to stop us from our overblown argument.“Don’t give me to that witch, daddy,” whimpered Katie, surprising us. She clung tightly to his neck, even wrapping her legs around his body.As if she was in real danger, her five siblings ran to their father, standing before Red, looking like they were
(Red’s POV)“Is it my turn?” I asked Aya again, releasing her hand but raising my arms, lightly cupping her face.As if we were back to square one, I was scared to hold her again. If only I could tell her that my heart was weeping, missing her so much, and those days of not seeing her were hell for me. Standing before Aya brought my heart much pang, thinking I failed her by not being there for her when she needed me the most.“Hi!” Aya smiled nervously. “If these people can find me, how could you not?” She smirked, lifting her hands and placing them on top of mine.“Why did you leave?” I whispered, pressing my forehead into hers. “I was already hating the world, Aya when I returned home and found you gone.”She held my hands, guiding them on her hips.“I was hiding from everyone, Red. It was so painful that I needed to run away from everyone and start again,” she murmured as she grazed her hands on my chest, slowly gliding her palms upward until she reached my shoulders. “Why are you
(Red’s POV)“I had always thought that if Scarlett rose from the grave, my family would be okay, but it didn’t. Before you came, Ariana and Aunt Conchita could barely manage my kids, but you’re our miracle who came into our lives, changing us... changing me, Aya. I need you. I need your help with the kids. Even Violet hated her mother, and I can’t do anything about it,” I whimpered.I sighed and thought it was better to pitch to important investors or clients, but with Aya, it was more like a matter of life and death for my heart and future. I wished to hold her in my arms and kiss her, but I was terrified she would push me away.“Okay,” she breathed. “I’ll help you with the kids. Talk to them. Or whatever convincing I had to do, I will do it for you, Red, but...”My heart leaped with joy, but when she said ‘but’, my eyes gaped at her, afraid she would ask me to leave tonight.“I have conditions.” She muttered in a hushed tone.My heart jackhammered in my chest, and if Aya did not lay