Chapter 1 — A Surprise Visit

Lucy POV:

I woke up early to prepare my husband's breakfast. Cassandra was assigned to everything that came to our son Austin. I agreed to this arrangement since her daughter passed away five years ago. 

I steamed tuna and paired it with macaroni soup—his favorite. It was seven in the morning, and I climbed upstairs to check if Kent was already up. 

I entered the room and my face brightened to see my husband lying on the mattress still sleeping soundly and peacefully. It has been five years since our lives turned upside down with all the drama and heartache we've been through together. I walked closer and sat beside him. I took a deep breath and caressed his face when he quickly pulled me against him. I fell on his hard chest, and I blushed when he showered me with soft kisses on my face. 

"Hmmm, why are you up so early, honey? How can you leave your handsome husband alone in our room?" he teased me and climbed above me. 

We were like young teenagers who loved teasing each other. I bit my lower lip to tease him too. 

"Why are you mad? Was last night not too good for you?" I said, then he nodded his head and smashed his lips to mine. 

I just closed my eyes to imagine how Kent became a good kisser. He nibbled my lips like ice cream, and his tongue travelled inside and took mine to suck it like a lollipop. 

"Hmmm," I moaned when he started to suck my tongue. The pleasure this brought me was beyond words and I was going crazy. 

He stopped and stared at me for a while. He smiled and looked so happy. 

"What?" I asked him while I felt a sudden growth between his thighs. 

"I just can't believe that you're now my wife and Austin are with us. I promise to never leave you or hurt you again, Lucy!" he told me, and I was glad to hear it. I giggled and pulled his head closer to kiss him again. 

Our kisses were full of love and passion. My back bent forward when his lips wandered down my chest. I moaned in pleasure when his lips nibbled on my nipples. I felt electricity run through my veins and spark my wetness.

Kent slowly spread my legs and slid his hardness in between my thighs to my core. At first, his movement was gentle, but then he started to grind deeper and faster. 

"Do you like it, honey?" he asked me while pounding me. 

I just nodded softly, enjoying the moment. 

"Faster! Austin might come in and see us!” I told him while staring at our door. 

We were almost on the brink of our orgasms when I heard Cassandra calling us. We quickly got up and I walked out first. Kent looked pissed when I left him. 

***

I went downstairs and saw Austin in the kitchen eating his breakfast, but he was not alone. 

“E-Eloisa? Gale? Is that you?” I asked them while making my way towards them. 

They stood up to greet me.

"Hi, Lucy, it's been so long—five years! We're so glad to see you and Austin!” Eloisa said while smiling at my son and me. 

Although many terrible things happened between us, I had already forgiven Eloisa and Gale with all my heart. I don't seek revenge anymore and I was so happy that they were now free and happy too. 

I was shocked when she hugged me. 

“I'm so sorry about the past, but I hope we can start over and become good friends, Lucy,” she said, and I accepted it wholeheartedly. 

My eyes shifted to Gale, and we smiled at each other. 

I didn't notice that Kent was there standing behind me. I heard him clear his throat.

"I didn't know we had visitors! How are you, my brother? I'm happy to see both of you got out of prison," he mumbled and walked to Gale to embrace him. 

I was happy that Kent finally forgave his brother for what he did in the past. We decided to move on and focus on our family's future. 

I saw Gale hug him back and they started to get emotional. Eloisa and I winked at each other. 

"Thank you for welcoming us here, Kent," he said, and he took a white envelope from his pocket. 

I didn't know what it was. 

"We came here to deliver our wedding invitation! I know it's shocking, but we wanted to make our secret affair from the past official!” Gale informed us while staring at Eloisa with a wide smile on his face. 

Eloisa smiled back and giggled. 

“Yeah, during our time inside prison, our feelings grew stronger, and we decided to be reborn as good people, not as murderers!” She shrugged her shoulders. 

“Wow, we're happy for both of you. Don't worry, we will be there. Let's sit first and have breakfast together!” I invited them and we were happy. 

Dad wasn't with us because he was visiting his doctor for his legs. I was grateful that my family and friends were reunited. I hoped that there would be no more drama this year because 2019 wasn't the best year for us. 

While we were eating at the dining table, Eloisa asked me about Cassandra. 

"I heard you hired her to be Austin's nanny. How is she here? Is she taking care of Austin?” she asked me, but before I could utter a word, Cassandra appeared behind us. 

“Yes, Austin is like a son to me! Right, Lucy?” she said, and I told Eloisa how lucky we were to have her in our lives. 

"Yeah. That's why we're giving our full trust to her. Come, let's eat!” I invited her to join us, but she declined.

“I'm good. I just ate my breakfast before feeding Austin," she replied. 

She told me that she would check our botanical garden. Kent built it himself and surprised me as a gift for my thirtieth birthday. He knew how I adored flowers and nature and I was so delighted to accept it. 

"Okay, just water them for me, Cas!” I ordered her and she nodded. 

I saw Eloisa raising her eyebrows at Cassandra. 

“I don't like her. She looks weird to me. I don't know but I just feel strange about her," she informed me, but I just laughed at Eloisa, and Gale and Kent heard her. 

They reacted too. 

“Why bother her, babe? Just focus on our wedding, okay!” Gale said but Eloisa just rolled her eyes at us. 

She sighed. "Okay," she answered lightly, and we finished our breakfast together, but Austin excused himself to follow his Yaya Cassandra. 

***

Eloisa POV

Lucy's friend, Cassandra, seemed familiar to me. I couldn't recall where I saw her, but I think I saw her somewhere when Dad and I travelled together a lot. 

She doesn’t seem okay to me. The way she stared at me seemed weird and creepy. I don't care if she is Lucy's friend and Austin's nanny because to me, she is still a stranger and a murderer. 

I don't like her, and I don't always trust strangers.