(Tara's POV)
I was staring at the sky for a long time as if waiting for a miracle to happen. It was like looking at a postcard, the blue sky was perfect, but I guess nothing is constant that even the sky was changing. Big clouds formed above that darkened the sky, hiding the sun. I began to move my wooden easel, and I stood up to switch on the light in the veranda. When I went back to my seat, the rain started sprinkling onto the ground. The rainfall became strong, making me remember that first time that I could not go home because the rain was not stopping as if heaven did it on purpose to imprison me to that office to be with Blake for a long time.
The door behind me opened, and even if I did not turn around, I would know the person who came out was Stella, holding cups of hot choco. She gave me the other cup and walked towards the railing to look up at the sky.
She took a deep breath, turned to me, and then s
(Blake's POV)“Blake, are you listening?” Samantha called my attention as she stopped the car.“Huh?” I blinked at her, knitted my eyebrows trying to figure out what it was, and glanced at her, not realizing she was saying something. She grinned at me, but I could see the worry behind the smile on her lips.“You’re not listening, then,” She nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt and looking back at our passenger, who was busy playing an online role-playing game. I shook my head, smiling as I remembered we used to hear nursery rhymes, but now it was normally quiet as Sean would use earphones, and we would just hear him utter words reacting to his game. She puckered her eyebrows, extending her hand to him. “Give that to me. Game over, Sean!”“Mom!” He pouted, complaining and not looking at his mother. He continued to play, ignoring his mother’
(Blake's POV)“You have your own children, Mr. Williamson?” Ben asked, lowering his gaze at the ring on my finger.My right eyebrows lifted, thinking what he meant by his question. “If I had, one thing for sure, I won’t allow my child to be playing or wandering alone by the beach. We never know when an accident happens,” I explained with a hint of anger in my voice.“Yeah, you’re right,” He agreed, gazing at his secretary.She looked down again, nibbling her lower lip as she tried to stop her tears.“Was she your daughter?” I asked, curious and hoping that his answer was no, although he seemed to know the child very well.“If we’re still talking about Bree, then she is.” He said. “And I’m fortunate to have gifted and beautiful daughters, Mr. Williamson,” He proudly shared with us. “I was hoping to have another
(Tara's POV)The main door creaked when Bree pushed the ajar door. I put down the palette and brush to the table beside me and glanced at her. I pressed my lips, suppressing a smile as I peeked at her. Annika, Ben’s sister, looking after Bree today while I worked, wailed when she came home, realizing my daughter was not with her. I told her she might be on the beach looking for a hundred-eyed cowrie shell, one of the rarest seashells in the world. When I first learned to dive underwater, Ben told me I was lucky to spot this sea jewel.When Bree started asking about her father, I told her I would bring her to him if she could collect four of them, and I knew it was impossible for her age, but she was so persistent like Blake. Every morning, in our morning walk to the shore, she would pick one, study it carefully, and I would hear her heave a sigh whenever she got the wrong one.I wondered who chose her T-sh
(Tara's POV)My heart ached as I watched Bree lying in the hospital bed. I clutched the hem of my shirt, consumed with worry as this was the first time she fainted. The hospital was small, and I had been hoping that I would bring her to a big hospital for a check-up when she got older. When I gave birth to her, she seemed to have a normal heartbeat, but when she reached the age of three, I would notice her having shortness of breath, and she would complain she got tired quickly after playing for a short while. Stella and Ben insisted that we had her check, and that was when the doctors found out that she had heart arrhythmias.When the door opened, I turned my head quickly and fixed my eyes again in Bree. Stella dashed to me. Dr. Jem Cunha, Bree’s doctor, and our friend followed her.“Tara,” Stella held my hands for a while and then checked on Bree. She kissed her hand and turned to me. She sto
(Tara's POV)“Tara!” Stella called my name as she squeezed my hand. She wiped the sweat on my forehead. She was standing near the headrest of the bed. When I craned my neck to see her face, her face was full of worries like she was the one who was giving birth and not me.I chuckled in between the pain I was feeling. “Stella,” I said as I took a deep breath. “Thank you... for everything. Bree-”She nodded, and despite the tears shimmering her eyes, she did not cry. “Yes, for Bree. You can do this, Tara. Think of Bree,” She said.I nodded, feeling the contraction more often now. I heaved a deep sigh, listening intently to the doctor’s instructions, giving more pushes. Amid my pain, I closed my eyes, remembering Blake’s face and imagining he was the one holding my hand. I puffed a couple of quick short breaths, then I heard the doctor say, “O
(Tara's POV)I never thought love and hate could still ignite a fire. He was burning with desire as he kissed me again, exploring my mouth with his tongue, and when he left my lips, he kissed the hollow of my neck down to my shoulders, nibbling and tasting my skin. When I tried to raise my hand to touch me, he hissed.“Don’t you dare touch me, Tara,” He growled like he was going to bite if I insisted on holding or touching him.My hands trembling and my heart thumping hard, I held on to the edge of his table and closed my eyes tight when he unclasped my bra but ripped my undies. I gasped as his hand started moving down to my core, and his fingers started brushing my pearl. It sent me tons of tingling sensations that I haven’t been felt for a long time. I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop myself from moaning. But as his nose glided down my breasts, I could not resist moaning with ple
(Tara's POV)I ignored the cold, or maybe I was not feeling anything anymore. I guess Ben just wanted to respect my silence that he did not dare ask me. Even when we were in the car, he did not talk until he saw the mark on my wrist.“Tara, Bree’s like a daughter to me, and I don’t care shouldering the cost for her treatment.” He gritted his teeth. “No one has the right to hurt you.”I swallowed hard and looked outside the window.“I didn’t want to oblige you, Ben. You’ve been there for me, for us and I don’t want to rely on you when it comes to her,” I said.“You and Stella are giving me a heart attack,” He shook his head.I smirked. “It’s your fault marrying two stars, Ben.” I joked.“I don’t care marrying one hundred stars in the sky, Tara,” He glanced at me and when ou
(Blake's POV)I wonder what will happen today. I could not foresee the future, but something always happens every time the clouds loomed like this in the sky. I didn’t know how long I have been standing here, watching the perfect blue sky being covered by large clusters of clouds. Samantha went inside my office but just like the other days, she would just come inside to bring me some documents. I knew how much she wanted to ask what happened but after seeing my messy office, after finding me drunk in my room, she could have probably guessed it did not go well.It has been a week since I saw Tara but I could still not get over the pain I inflicted on her. My heart jumped with joy when I saw her in the elevator, but I didn’t know what came over me when I saw her wedding ring. I got too mad at her, at myself that I had to punish her. I would still cry at night whenever I remember her face.God, Tara is