(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
(Red’s POV)“What’s the problem then?” she asked worriedly.I was unsure what the worry was about, but she looked at my face, then glanced at my shaft.“My manhood must have trust issues entering territories?” I joked, thinking I might be right.Aya chuckled, then pressed her lips, lowering her head. When she raised her head, she stepped closer. I could feel her big belly between us.“This is what I fear,” she murmured, confusing me. She began to pull off her shirt and unhook her bra, freeing her mounds.“What are you doing?” I swallowed hard. I could not remove my eyes from her breasts, which had become more prominent because of her pregnancy.My heartbeat accelerated as my eyes pinned on the woman who had made me nuts since meeting her. I swallowed again, thinking my heart had gone nuts. She took my hand, pressing my palm on the slope of her breast. I gasped, feeling her skin, and was tempted to raise my other hand to knead them.“They said when pregnant, the heart rate increases,”
(Aya’s POV)“Are you okay?” Red sat on the edge of the bed; his face of extreme happiness was replaced with worry when he saw me winced.“I’m good, Red,” I chuckled and breathed slowly. “Our baby got overexcited hearing our voices.” He moved maybe a few times before Red and I reached our seventh heaven. I lifted my hand, caressing his face. “Guess what? You’re not broken.” She chuckled.“If I’m not broken, what do you think is the problem?” I asked her, taking her shirt and giving it to her.“Help me with my bra, please,” she said, handing me her brassiere. “Your problem?” She went quiet for a while, thinking while I hooked her bra and sat before her when I was done. “Same as Scarlett’s advice. Go and see a doctor,” she grinned as she wore her shirt.“Seriously?” My mouth downturned as I cocked my head, looking at her.“If you’re some flour, I’d probably say it’s a piece of cake, but I have no idea, Red. If I’m not pregnant, I would say I want more, and this...” she gently wrapped her
(Aya’s POV)It was almost dinner time when five cars stopped near The Sophia House. Addie groaned and already thought of how to refuse the guests politely. Red looked quickly from the window at the cars she mentioned and assured us that one of the guests had no intention of staying. He was right because his sister was the first one who gets off the car. Only two or three from their company were not familiar with me.“That’s Miles,” Red said in a hushed tone when he saw me narrow my eyes.“Oh!” I exclaimed in a low voice and looked at the busy common room.Unlike the villa in Rose Hills, Red had an office where they could talk privately. Here, the only place I considered my office was the original kitchen of The Sophia House. Red pulled me closer to him and kissed my temple.“We can talk in the kitchen,” he said as if he had read my mind.I nodded, opening the main door and welcoming the guest, who took the guests’ attention for a while, but then they returned to whatever they were doi
(Aya’s POV)“What happened to Red?” Leslie asked, glancing at him as he stopped in the shared kitchen and poured coffee into a cup.Red closed his eyes, wincing and hissing as he reached for his back.“Well, as far as I remembered, we were alone in bed, and when we woke up, five cute children were crowding the bed. Only Violet slept in the pull-out bed,” I explained and chuckled when I recalled him trying to protect me from our ninja kids. “Where’s Addie?”“Helping Nessa and Ana prepare the kids. Violet and Katie are in the swing,” she said, glancing at the time on the wall clock. I have an hour to prepare.” She finished drinking her coffee. “I’ll use the shared bathroom upstairs.”I nodded, and when she left, I walked toward Red. “Feeling okay?”“What’s the use of having ten bedrooms when they will only sleep in our bed, Aya,” Red’s mouth was downturned as he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him.I curved my lips into a smile, raising my hands and letting my index finger turn