“I will check and sign them….” With a monotonous tone, I dismissed Evan. “Try to restrict the use of papers,” I added.

Laughing, “I knew this is coming…. I talk to my mom about you. She wants to start her education.” Evan said through video call. Sitting comfortably, he pulled out his wallet and revealed to me his beautiful mother. Her age is written all over her face, but her eyes shine.

“Oh, God… She's beautiful.” Words left my mouth.

“You think?” Sounding surprise, Evan was interested. “My parents spend their whole life, trying to fight poverty that they forget that they had dreams too. Thank you for giving my father a job.”

“What?”

“Yes…” He looked so happy. “My parents have been trying to run their dry cleaning shop for years, but nothing helped. You talked to Mr Carter. He has been sending all the clothes from all his office to us… Can you imagine, it's loads of truck that travels on the highway just to get wash to my parents?” He let out a hearty laugh.

“Well, that's because they never gave up.” His smile was so infectious that I automatically smiled.

“Kid…” James interrupted us and kissed my left cheek. I know, he targeted my dimples. “Don't steal my lady.” He faked the warning.

“I will never,” Evan said. “I will e-mail the paper. But the order is high, and they are supplying the flowers. They demand more money.” His mood turned into business.

“Sign the current order,” James said to me. “And don't order them for further supply. We can manage for a while… Tell them, Anastasia Carter and Trina Jacobson have another supplier, who is ready to give them flowers at a reasonable price.” James Carter is on the play.

“Who?” Both of us asked.

“Anastasia Carter.” Shrugging off, James declared like it was the fact that everybody knew. “She has acres of land, for her garden… Flowers. I brought the land, little land, for my basketball court that I always wanted.”

Basketball court that James wants.

Panicking, I looked at James. “You can't play basketball… Ever.” I reminded him and witnessed the joy eliminating from his eyes. He loved that sport, but he can't play anymore. It all happened when he was in college. James told me how Adrian didn't help him, and he lost his legs for years to paralysis. His legs although seems fine, but I know, I have seen him, he trains a lot, stretches a lot to maintain his legs. Both of his legs. Occasionally, he struggles to walk, but he manages to walk.

“That's a wife.” Pointing at me, he said to Evan and laughed. “I know it better than you…” Pausing, he leaned closer to me and whispered, “Mrs Carter.”

Living with James is getting harder. He stays with us and tries to act like he is one of us. Kids are getting along with him, but Cherish is no way near meeting down. I tried to explain to her that whatever happened involved me And James, and She has nothing to do with the situation, but she is wounded. And, as parents, we never saw the impact on our eldest.

I watch my young daughter ogling a young, handsome man that James called for work. James is getting a mini ground ready for kids. Annie demanded a little playground. So, he is giving her a playground of her own.

“Cherish….” I called her, but she ignored me. As Her senses are busy in OTHER activities.

“Cherish….” Her siblings, Annie and Jamie, yelled for her, together. I am sure they want to embarrass her. Sometimes, they not only embarrass Cherish but me as well.

Rolling her eyes, she looked at them and shush them with annoyance as this caught the attention of workers, even the teenage man. He doesn't look like someone who needs to work. His wristwatch is expensive… It appears a classic watch that could cost high.

Gasping, “She rolled her eyes at us.” Annie complained to James, who is talking on the phone.

“Rolling… Rolling….” Jamie repeated, bouncing on the grass.

“Leave her alone.” Jace scolded his sibling.

“Yes… Leave me alone.” Cherish smirked when seeing her younger brother supporting her. Sticking her tongue out like Jamie, she teased her sibling.

Annie doesn't like this. Not, even when Jamie does this. So, her red face was expected, but when Jamie pouted and run towards Cherish, I panicked. Is he going to hit his sister?

What is wrong with my kids?

But to my surprise, Jamie surpasses Cherish and reached the teenager. “You take Che…” The toddler accused him and hit his shoulder with a tiny fist.

Jamie's language is still not clear. As we are hearing him every day, we can understand, but it's out of understatement for new listeners. Of course, Jamie's words didn't make any sense to him, so he frowned, unaffected as well as surprised with the little blow, and looked at the toddler. This frustrated the 2-year-old.

“Stay away. Che.” He warned the confused man and was ready to bite, but Jace stopped him.

Holding his tiny forearm, Jace pulled the angry protective brother from the future victim. “Jamie… That's bad.” He tried to take Jamie, but the toddler wasn't raging.

Sticking his tongue out, Jamie glared at the teenager.

“Jamie… Jamie… What is wrong with you?” I managed to pull Jamie from teenager. He is out of the hands.

With frustration, Jamie stopped and stood glaring at us. Then, he circled me, before laying on the grass, and he started to cry.

“He takes Che…” He cried out. “Meanie…” He pointed at the teenager and beat the grass in anger.

“Jamie, no one will take, Cherish.” James finally joined and took Jamie in his arms.

Hiccuping, “he… Meanie.” Jamie accused the teenager, who was still squatting on the grass with a hammer and a wooden box.

“I didn't touch your son, Mr. Carter.” Finally speaking, the teenager raised his arms in the air, surrendering to my husband.

James chuckled and rubbed the back of crying, Jamie. “Chris, don't tell me You didn't understand what he accused you of?”

“He accused me?” the teenager, whose name is Chris, asked. “I am not even aware of my crimes.” He smiled.

“You made my brother cry.” Annie run towards Chris, but Cherish caught her.

“No… No… Lady…” With a saccharine voice, Cherish flashed her sister a fake evil smile. “I know what you did? You told Jamie all this drama.” She cooed the 5 years old.

Widening her eyes with alarm, she looked at me. “Mommy….” Yelling, she runs towards me. “I wanted Cherish to play with us. Promise, I didn't want Jamie to cry.” She hugged me and accepted her little crime.

“Annie…” James tried to talk to her, but Annie refused to look at her father. “Look at me.” James pulled Annie, but she shrieked in annoyance and held me tight.

Laying on the grass with Jamie, James groaned. “Annie… You did this.” He faked cry.

“I am leaving.” Cherish announced. “Annie and Jamie are like each other.” She said. “Come on, Jace. We have to arrange my bookshelf.”

“Don't you have a business to run?” I find myself asking to embarrass my husband. I am convinced that kids are learning this unique way of embarrassing technique from James.

“Well, I am doing my business.” He pointed at me.

“I am so sorry, Mrs Carter. I didn't mean to hurt the youngest.” Chris apologized.

“Ignore them.” With my sweet smile to Chris, I Left Annie with Jamie and James.

My phone has been vibrating, but I am doing my best in ignoring it. Theo is still calling me, even though I told him I am not ready for any man in my life, he wants James to get out of my house.

I understand where this is coming from. My obsession with James is world infamous. Theo is assuming that I will fall for the trick that James will put and settle down, which I don't know. But deep inside, I know, I will be choosing James.

James Carter is the father of my children. He has a giant empire for my kids and lastly, he is trying for our family. He hasn't contacted Norma and spends time with the children. In these past few weeks, I haven't seen him going to the office, he claims the CEO works better than him. He even asked me if I want to find His missing mom.

I wanted to deny it, but then, I couldn't. James told me that she fears doctors and hospitals. Maybe this is the reason she never got the help that she needed. In my heart, I sympathize with her despite her hate towards me.

“The dinner was perfect.” James interrupted my thoughts. He placed the flower of sunflower which symbolises unwavering faith and unconditional love, in the vase near the stove before starting to wipe it.

“You don't have to do that.” I forced myself to speak. Another issue with me, I want to avoid speaking to anybody. Everything is getting boring. I intend to do everything, but I simply don't have the energy to do anything.

Stopping his work, “How are feeling?” James walked towards me. He touched my cheeks to check my body temperature. “You are fine.” He stated.

“No, I don't feel fine,” I mumbled again.

James looked at me with concern and waited for me to speak further. His body language says he wants to hear my words.

“Everything is so… So….” I thought, but no appropriate word invaded my mind. “I don't know.” I could feel tears on the way.

“It's fine…” James was about to hug me when I stopped him.

“How does it feel?” I asked.

Raising his eyebrows, his eyes asked me a question. What are you talking about?

“Your struggle with alcoholism. You were even admitted that day and… You shake occasionally. I saw you. I also noticed that it become hard for you to concentrate.”

“It's hard… But I have my motivation with me…” He smiled. “Yes, it's too cold sometimes, but it could be too hot. But I think I am doing better. I will get better. Dr Shane Reynolds has suggested I spend more time with my family. To keep me busy and motivated.”

“You are here for that.” I was surprised. I assumed he is here to annoy me and is nothing but an intruder. But he is here for his purpose.

“I know what you feel. And, it's fair but tries to see things from my perspective. I was fooled too.” Leaning towards me, he caged me in his arms; between the kitchen platform and him. “We both need to work on us. How about family therapy? Cherish needs that. And, we need to focus on Jace. He is nothing like 5 years old.” He whispered, and I noticed his eyes on my lips.

“What about Annie and Jamie?”

Chuckling, “They are perfect.” He said.

“You mean, embarrassing.” I smiled.

“They are 2 and 5. They should be curious… And, curiosity can bring Drama. I am not embarrassed with them. They are perfect, entertaining. I enjoy them. And, they know that harmless drama is fine.”

“Even you are embarrassing with them.” I smiled and hit his chest.

Faking the wound on his chest, he kneels on the floor. That's when I realized that James and I can start slow; Baby steps, but I am sure, in the future, we can stand with each other.

I turned to finish dishes, but I stopped as I felt a touch on my thigh. That touch is travelling upward to my… Womanhood.

“What are you doing?” I grumbled at James and was about to turn when something in the dark caught my eyes.

I noticed the back gate of our high walled boundary is open and there is a shadow walking towards the dining table that James brought to the lawn… For morning breakfast.

Here, James finally reached to my core and bend me to towards the platform. “I will be gentle, I promise.” He murmured. “I need this.” I felt him removing my underwear. “I don't want any woman.” He added and stood up. “I want you.” Whispering in my ear, he entered into me slowly, gently.

While James was thrusting me, I saw the shadows roaming in the lawn like SHE owns it. I couldn't see the face, but I am sure it's a woman…. Due to the silhouette.

I need more light.

“Anastasia….” James groaned with pleasure.

I focused on James now, ignoring that someone is roaming in my property. The next morning, I will have to check the footage. “Kids will see….”

“They Are sleeping and Cherish left. She's with Susan tonight.” James travel deeper.

“I want this on the bed,” I demanded.

“I can't stop.”

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