Chapter One — Broken Promises
"Zahid, please… be gentle," Angel whispered, her voice trembling with love, lust, and anticipation for what was about to happen.
"I promise," Zahid murmured, his voice low and husky. "Relax, Angelina. I'll take care of you."
"Zahid, please, promise you won't leave me. I want to be with you forever. I love you."
"I promise."
"Mummy! Mummy!"
Angel snapped back to reality.
"Tsk, tsk… Believing a man's promises in bed is like believing pigs can fly," she muttered under her breath.
"Mummy! Can you please hold your son? He's being extra annoying today!" came a little girl's voice from inside the house.
Standing up from the kitchen seat, Angel groaned. "Mara! Malik! Can you guys not tear down the house today? I'm begging you!"
It was always like this. Every day, either Malik was doing the complaining or Mara was being a pint-sized sassy ass to her brother. Angel sighed. I don't know who said babies are angels. Maybe these two weren't around when God was adding the angel touch. They were two-faced, sometimes sweet, mostly wild, but she still couldn't imagine life without them.
When Angel stepped into their shared bedroom, she froze. Clothes, toys, and crayons were scattered all over the floor. The bedsheets were half-hanging off the mattress, and a bucket of Lego blocks lay spilled like someone had declared war. No, it looked like a war had just happened here.
"Did the third world war happen here?" Angel muttered, rubbing her temples. "Why do I even bother cleaning your room?"
Two small faces peeked from behind the bed.
"Guys, we agreed, no fighting today. Your uncle Simeon is coming for dinner, remember?"
Mara gasped. "Uncle Simeon? The rich one?"
"The only one," Angel said dryly, scooping up a shirt. "So, can we please try to act like humans and not wild animals?"
After finally getting them to clean up, Angel stood in the kitchen, staring at her reflection in the window. Her hair was frizzed from stress and heat, her hands smelled faintly of detergent. She looked older than twenty-two. Too old, maybe, for the kind of dreams she used to have, the kind that began with whispered promises and ended with a broken heart.
Simeon was safe. Predictable. The kind of man her mother would have approved of, if her mother were still alive. Maybe that was why she kept letting him close. He reminded her of the life she wished she had, a secure, quiet life.
That evening, the house smelled of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. She wanted everything perfect for tonight, she'd even outdone herself with dinner.
Simeon arrived right on time. She'd barely finished wiping the table when the doorbell rang. Malik and Mara ran to the door before she could stop them, their laughter echoing down the hallway.
Angel forced a smile as she followed. "Careful with the door, it's old!"
Too late. The door swung open, and there he was, Simeon Forrest, perfectly pressed and confident, carrying a bottle of wine that probably cost more than her month's groceries. In a crisp black suit, he looked effortlessly handsome, making Angel instantly aware of her faded jeans and flour-stained top. She hadn't had time to change, and honestly, she didn't have the energy anymore.
He smiled that polite, charming smile, the one that almost swept her off her feet once.
Dinner went smoothly until Simeon placed his glass down and said softly, "Angelina… I've been thinking. You've done so much on your own. You and the kids deserve stability. I can give you that."
She blinked, unsure if she heard right. "Simeon…"
Then he slid a small velvet box across the table.
Mara gasped, clearly thrilled. But Malik's chair scraped back suddenly.
"Is he going to be our dad?" he yelled, his face red.
"Malik..."
"You can't marry him!"
He didn't wait. He bolted up the stairs, slamming his door so hard the walls shook.
Silence fell. Angel stared at the ring box, her heart pounding. Simeon's smile didn't fade, though he looked genuinely shocked.
"Angie… I thought the kids liked me."
Angel swallowed hard, torn between anger and exhaustion. "They do, Simeon. Malik's just… protective."
"Protective?" Simeon repeated, one brow lifting slightly. "He's what, four?"
"Five," she corrected automatically. "And yes, protective. He doesn't want to share his mum."
Simeon chuckled under his breath, but his eyes flickered, something unreadable passing through them.
"He'll come around," he said finally, reaching across the table to take her hand.
His fingers were warm, steady, but they didn't make her heart race. Not like that person ever did.
Upstairs, a soft thud echoed, Malik, probably tossing his pillow against the wall again. Angel sighed, staring at the ring box between them.
A promise. That word again. And look how well the last one turned out.
But she couldn't think about that now. She knew Simeon. He could be the father figure the kids needed. He'd take care of them, guide them, protect them, and that's all that mattered.
Right now, she just needed to talk to Malik, make him understand that nothing would change with Simeon around. It would just be like adding an extra plate to the table, one more adult in the house, that's all.
Everything she was doing was for her kids. She could take care of herself.