Once upon a time, there was a little girl who used to pray for her forever home. And, one day it happened. She got her home. That was her happiest day. A few years later, two girls join her. That was supposed to be the happy ever after.

I turn the pages.

But it didn't last for long. A devil was waiting for her. She heard her mother crying all night, and she had to take care of her 2nd baby sister. Nothing was happy anymore after the 2nd baby.

What happened to them?

Rebecca was best. She is the sweetest girl ever. Together, they were a team. They used to take care of little Emma while mom used to stare at the walls. Mom was lost and Dad was helpless.

After having Emma, their mom was sad. Is it postpartum depression? Thank God, I got the help. What could have happened if I didn't get help after Jaime? I cannot imagine that life.

Mom and dad argue a lot. I heard them. Mom was crying. But it was one night, it changed everything. She didn't feel right, but she couldn't stop. Even She was helpless.

Is the night their father assaulted Norma?

Dad was sitting on the couch with a blanket. I watched him. He looked angry. Furious. I heard him, screaming at mom. She hasn't been the same after Emma. It's been years and Dad says, she needs help but after having Emma, she doesn't want to the visit hospital. We almost lost mom during the procedure and mom is so scared of Dad because he is the type of doctor who cut the body to take out the problem causing parts.

“Dad.....” I called him from the stairs. “Mom will be fine.”

“I know, pretty girl. She will be fine. She needs to focus on herself.” Dad sighed. “What are you doing this late? You should sleep. And, stop taking care of Emma. Nanny will handle her until mom is fine.”

“I can take care of her. She's my baby sister. I will always protect her.” I promised.

“You are the best.” Looking at me, dad forced a smile. “Thank you for coming into our life. I lost all the hope. But you came and brought the two best things in our life.”

Seeing him, I feel bad. Mom sometimes hit him and he takes it. I approached him and sat next to him. “You can share your thoughts with me. I promise I'll keep this secret.”

“I know, you can every secret.” He smiled and bend down to get a cushion from the floor, that's when I see him.

He wasn't wearing anything beneath the blanket.

“Go to sleep, Norma” He mumbled and lay on the couch while closing his eyes.

“Why aren't you wearing anything?” I feel the heat rushing into my cheeks.

He opened his eyes and covered himself. “Norma, go to bed.” He demanded. “I don't need your help.”

“I just want to help.”

“Go to sleep. Your mother is already on my nerve. All these years, after Emma… I am frustrated now. Listen to me and go to sleep.” He yelled.

“I want to help," I argued.

Then he did something heinous.

I closed the diary. My heart rate is already at the top speed. Norma just wanted to help. How could he do that to her?

“You shouldn't be reading that. That's an invasion of Norma's privacy.” James interrupted my thoughts and pull me into his arms. “They are graphic sometimes.”

“Did you read them?” I asked and relaxed in his arms.

“Only one. And I was burning with anger.”

“Which one?” I pull the blanket over us. I don't mind James sleeping next to me. It feels so normal now.

“The one where she described how she lied about her pregnancy to her father.” He mumbled. “I would never do that to my daughters. How could he do that to his daughters?” He is trying to control his anger. “No one will ever hurt them… Not just our daughters, but sons as well.” He was assuring me.

“I know. You are the best father… To our children and….” Taking a deep breath, “Dean.” I finished.

“Trust me, I am not in contact with him and his mother.” James' defence mechanism was working. “I haven't replied to any of his emails. I even talked to George to pass my no contact message to him. But he keeps on.....”

“I know.” I was calm. “But I don't feel this right. For Dean, you are his father. And, he needs his father like our children.”

“I understand… But HIS father needs him. I am in touch with his father. And, he wants me to back off… Because I am stealing his son from him.” Snuggling closer to me, “but I love him. I have a little fund for him. I hope, it's fine.” He informed, politely asking for my permission. I appreciate this move.

“That's even better.” Forcing the smile, I closed the diary.

Norma had several diaries, hidden in the attic. She wrote them in unknowingly hours and hid them well. Daniel knew she writes, her thoughts, she even writes confession letters and burns them, but few of her letters were recovered by Mark Rogers.

Mark Rogers did an impressive job. He even didn't charge for the last task. Periodically, James name him as money-hungry, but that's fine, his resources aren't free. They come at a price. And, with his accuracy about the expired information, he needs a bundle of money to dig them out.

“How Cherish got the diaries?” James asked, opening the door of our marriage therapist for me.

“Norma gave her. She knew what she described so, she chose the better one and passed it to Cherish with a letter about the origin of this mess.” I answered, holding the keys made up of dried honeysuckle that James gave me, to symbolize his pure happiness to me. I looked at James to respond.

“So, my daughter knows,” James concluded.

“Yes, but I am surprised. Her perception is that whatever happened was equally heartbreaking for Norma, too. She still sees her as a good person.”

“Even I love her. She chose us over her daughter. She aborted her daughter and stayed with us most of the time while ignoring her family. Daniel understood her love for Emma, so he never complained. But he feels betrayed.”

“Daniel still loves his wife.”

Nodding, he went back to his tablet. James constantly attempts to hide his hectic life, but I have noticed his dark circle around his tired eyes. He is sleeping less and less. He is trying to be a house dad and also juggling between his various companies.

“James,” I called for his attention. He didn't remove his eyes from the screen and hummed in reply. “I think, you should go back to work.”

“We don't have a money issue.” James still didn't look at me. “We have marital issues, and we need to work on it.”

“We are working on it… aren't we?”

Finally, he looked at me. “And Cherish?” He asked with hope.

“She is working on us as well. Her counsellor from school called me… That's what I wanted to talk about.”

“What about Theo?” He threw the tablet inside his blazer and gave all the attention to me.

“Trina says she is handling him. She understands my decision to stay. For Jace and Annie. I want to give them a happy home instead of two homes.”

He smiled and rush to me. Kneeling in front of me, he cupped my cheeks and kissed me.

The slow, warm kiss, that I always wanted in my wedding, is here. After 17 years of marriage. Should I call it a marriage?

I feel him, pouring his emotion on my lips. His burning breath on my cheeks.

“You have no idea. I was dying to hear this.” He grinned like a fool.

“Be careful, your almost 45 years of heart is weak.” I giggled and looked around. We are ALMOST alone with a receptionist and another male, who is definitely the staff here. They both are gawking at us.

“Couples.” She whispered loud enough to hear for us and rolled her eyes before resuming her work, while the male staff looked embarrassed.

“Can't help, I have a young wife.”

“Don't break our hearts this time.” I couldn't help but feel helpless. I am helplessly in love with him.

“I won't fuck up this time.”

.