(Red’s POV)“What with the boxes?” Addie asked as she gestured her hand, calling Sapphire and Katie to the chairs.The two girls walked toward her, sitting on the chair quietly. After Leslie gave them a quick shower, it was as if sleep was pulling them to bed already.“I don’t know. I haven’t checked them yet.” Aya, seated on the couch, handed her the hairdryer and hairbrush.When I caught her massaging her temple, I grabbed her gently and pulled her to me, letting her rest her head on the cushion I placed on my lap. She must be feeling unwell because she did not fight me, and instead of complaining, she lay and breathed in relief when I began to massage her temples. “Argh! You should have told me there’s no water upstairs.” Ariana dashed to the stairs in her bathrobe, her face white with soap. “I’m complaining about this place. Where’s the owner?” She chuckled as she knocked at the shared bathroom near the living room.“I told you this place isn’t ready to accept visitors yet,” Aya
(Red’s POV)“I’ll bet my whole inheritance, but something’s fishy about Scarlett’s return,” Ariana hissed, closing the bathroom door slowly and walking toward us. Ariana sat beside Mike, and like us, her forehead creased as crazy thoughts ran through her mind. My sister never liked Scarlett, but I could not help agreeing with her. My forehead creased, shaking my head as I brushed off the thought. They were with me when my wife returned home and saw how devastated and sickly she was.When our eyes met, Ariana knew we shouldn’t talk about it before Aya. She had gone through so much stress, and the last thing I wanted was for her to worry about our children. She lifted her hand, pretending to yawn, and stood up.“Good night, sister.” She kissed Aya’s cheeks. “Just so you know, mom and dad are thrilled with the news of having another baby... or babies in the family, but are you sure it’s not seven or something?”Aya laughed amusedly at my sister, shaking her head. “It was something Kat
(Aya’s POV)“Mommy? Daddy?”First, it was only Onyx calling, but a few seconds later, I could hear five of them calling us simultaneously.“Mooommmmmyyyyy!!!”“Daaaaddddyyyy!!!”“Sshhh... Your mom and dad are still sleeping,” I heard Addie’s pleading voice, sounding like she was stopping the kids from entering because the tent’s door had moved.I knew somehow that after I reached seventh heaven a couple of times, I fell into the arms of Morpheus. Red and I were crazy at each other, making love as if it was our last. Well... it should be the last. I woke up earlier than my cell phone’s alarm and had to turn it off before Red woke up from its noise.Instead of getting up, I snuggled closer to him, arched my head back, and gazed at his godly face. My mind had been reminding me that Red didn’t belong to me, but my heart kept whispering that it was not my fault that I fell in love with him and him to me. No one was at fault, except last night; I wanted Red... I needed him to make me feel a
(Aya’s POV)Dr. Wyatt’s lips curved into a smile as six pairs of eyes followed her wherever she went, and whenever she stopped walking, they would blink their adorable eyes at her. It was a small hospital, and the kids were not supposed to crowd the room, but Red and I begged the doctor, briefly explaining our complicated situation.“Are you excited to see your baby sister or brother?” Dr. Wyatt asked as she applied gel to my belly.Violet placed her palm on her chest, breathing hard as she looked nervously at me. “Yes,” she smiled as she answered. “Mommy, I don’t know why I’m nervous. Dad?” she turned her head to her father.Red chuckled. “Me too, sweetheart.”“Scared to see seven babies?” I joked, causing Dr. Wyatt to chuckle and the kids to giggle.“I don’t care if ten babies are inside, Aya.” Red reached for my hand, squeezing it as he smiled gently and imprisoned my hand in his.I rolled my eyes, laughing at the thought and thinking I would be luckier than Molly if that happened.
(Aya’s POV)“Are you sure you don’t want us to go with you?” Addie asked worriedly.My cousin raised her head, pursing her lips as she studied the villa. When I nodded, she opened the car’s door, returned to the driver’s seat, and sat quietly, not saying anything. We had this discussion already last night before going to bed, and this was sort of part of our exchange deal after she and Leslie insisted on staying with me in the B&B. I hated the idea that she had to sell her business to a friend just because she promised my dad that she would look after me.I disliked the thought that even Leslie had to sacrifice, traveling that long to her office, although Red and Liam approved of her working from home, and she would report to the office only when needed.Leslie opened the window, her lips curving a wicked smile. “Just like we practiced, Aya.”I rolled my eyes, chuckling softly as I nodded, unsure how to deceive Scarlett without intending to hurt her. Leslie called it bluffing to creat
(Aya’s POV) “You’ll make my kids suffer and have a broken family,” Scarlett continued. I pursed my lips, pretending to think, and then shook my head. “Define broken family, Scarlett? As far I remember, Red and I got married because we all thought you’re dead. Right before you were resurrected...” I pressed my lips and chuckled. “Sorry, it came out wrong, but before you returned, Red and I were happy... the kids were happy. I’m only asking you to allow the kids to be with me.” “You think I’m stupid, Aya, letting my family be with you? Do you really think they wanted to be with you?” She scoffed. “My kids are confused. Red thinks he’s in love with you, but like my children, he’s also confused.” “Scarlett, you’re the one confused. Do you want me to call the kids and ask them in front of you? Do you want me to call Red now and ask him yourself what he wants?” I bit my bottom lip and lowered my gaze, unsure if I really had to push this plan, but I promised Violet I would try and hope S
(Red’s POV)Before having Aya in our lives, the kitchen was never our favorite part of the house. For my kids and me, it was a place where the household cooks and prepares the food, nothing else, but as soon as I arrived in The Sophia House, it was the first room I went to when I could not find her in the common room which included a shared kitchen for the guests and the living room. It was an additional part of the lodge when they renovated the place, and the old kitchen of The Sophia House stayed where it was but became Aya’s sanctuary. When I reached the kitchen, my goddess pastry chef was probably giving Violet some points on where to put the topper, pointing her index finger at the ballerina fondant cake our eldest daughter was designing. At home, my daughter was banned from coming to the kitchen and learning from Fabian, but here, she freely learned everything she could from her. In our video call, Aya said she could only teach her baking but could not help admiring our daughte
(Red’s POV)Violet left the cake she was decorating and took the piping bag to continue designing the cookies. Aya held my hand, intertwining our fingers as we left the kitchen and headed to the hallway. The main bedroom where Aya stayed was at the end of the hallway.“How’s the business?” I asked, glancing at the busy common room.Some guests were chatting on the couch while others just enjoyed their cups of coffee on the kitchen island.“Always fully booked,” she grinned, anchoring her arm on mine when female guests looked at us.“They must have thought why on earth I peed on my pants,” I joked.She chuckled. “Nope,” she answered, opening the door. “They’re probably thinking, who’s the gorgeous man I’m with. How’s Scarlett?”“Still Scarlett,” I chuckled.“You make it sound like she’s about to have wings, Red,” Aya rolled her eyes, stopping in the reception area and taking something from Ana.Aya was a hoarder of the household employees Scarlett replaced in the villa. She asked Mike