Jake's POVI followed Selena into her home, the place where my kids were growing up. I hadn't expected to find her mother there, but her expression made it clear she wasn't thrilled with my presence.She wanted me out. Plain and simple. But nobody was throwing me out without seeing my kids. I had to meet them before leaving, and I would be back."Mrs. Dacosta," I began, "I'm deeply sorry for not being there. I had no idea Selena was pregnant. She never told me, I only found out from a friend."Selena shot me a glare for involving her mother, but I needed the woman's sympathy, not anger."You never told me he had no idea he was going to be a father?" Mrs. Dacosta turned to Selena, her voice laced with disappointment. "Are you aware of this, Hillary?"Selena's friend fidgeted. "She asked me not to say a word," Hillary confessed."Goodness gracious!" Selena's mother exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "But you," she focused back on me, "how come you didn't come looking for

Diego's POVI was still boiling with anger when I left Selena that afternoon. To calm myself down, I went to the strip house with some old friends. The only thing that will help keep me sane was a few drinks. After my warning, that son of a bitch still went ahead to meet with Selena’s children. Soon they would be my stepchildren, and I plan on adopting them as my own as soon as we have the wedding. Jake Marino will have zero rights to the kids by the time I am done with him.“One more round,” my friend called, and our glasses were filled to the brim again. “So, what’s on your mind?” he asked me, leaning to my side so I could hear him over the noise from the dance floor.“Do I look troubled to you?”“ Isn't that obvious? Yes, you do.”“It is nothing,” I told him. I don’t go around talking to people about Selena.“If you say so, but you look like you can murder someone right now,” he chuckled.It was true, with my anger I can murder Jake Marino, but I have to calm down. Not before the

Jake's POVMy body ached from the awkward sleeping position. I turned slowly, careful not to wake the twins. I gently laid Jada's head on the soft pillow, untangling her tiny legs from my arm. Jadon, thankfully, wasn't sprawled on me anymore, but he'd fallen asleep curled against my chest.Sitting up, my neck protested in a symphony of pops and cracks. I looked around, disoriented, searching for my phone and the time.My gaze landed on Selena standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on us. Our eyes met, but her expression remained unreadable, offering no hint of her thoughts or emotions.Standing up, I stretched, the room a mess of strewn wrapping paper, toys littering every available surface. Mrs. Dacosta must have left when we all drifted off to sleep."Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep," I apologized, walking towards Selena. Her beauty was striking, bordering on unreal. To my embarrassment, I still had trouble differentiating between Mrs. Dacosta and Gracie. I hoped they hadn't no

Jake's POVThe next time I tried to see the kids, I was denied access at the gate. They told me they weren't around. Selena must be behind this. I can't just give up on her, not when she's on the verge of marrying someone else.It's true what they say: you never truly appreciate something until it's gone. I won't lose Selena like that. That's why I've been showering her with gifts and flowers, pouring all my love into the kids... only now I can't even reach them. She can't just shut me out of their lives like that! I am their father.I don't want to make a fool of myself again. The last time I called Mrs. DaCosta "Gracie," I nearly blew my cover. It's a miracle my secret is still safe with my history of blunders. I can't afford to mix them up again. My only option is to see Selena face-to-face.The security guards wouldn't even let me enter the building. Did they recognize me, or did Selena specifically tell them to keep me out? I called her phone repeatedly, but it went straight to v

Diego's POVShe seemed lost in thought, not paying attention to me or responding to my questions. When we reached the restaurant parking lot, I had to tap her shoulder and call her name to get her attention.What troubled her? The kids were fine, the family was fine, work was smooth sailing. What could be weighing so heavily on her mind? Jake.That damn guy just wouldn't leave her alone. I'd been actively inserting myself into their interactions, fearing I might lose her if I wasn't careful. That's why I'd moved up the wedding date. In a week, we'd be married. No more interference."Why do you look so lost? Is it Jake?" I asked as she looked up at me with those innocent, troubled eyes."What?" she blinked repeatedly, trying to regain control of her expression."He's been hovering around you a lot lately. Is he causing trouble?""No," she said, shaking her head, but I saw the lie in her eyes."I think you're lying," I stated. "Anyway, let's go in."I stepped out of the car, unfazed by