"Well,I'm glad you're glad, Mrs Gaston... No,I'm certain that Mrs Gold will be pleased with my choice... Good. Now as to how you'd get it,My PA would make all the necessary arrangement and have it delivered to your daughter's home by six-thirty. I know it's early,but... Okay. Very Good. I look forward to seeing more of you. Good night."

William Mckade's hand was still on the telephone received,and he was staring at it thoughtfully,when his wife came in carrying two steaming cups of coffee. She set one in front of him on the desk and took the other with her to the leather chair facing the desk.

"Who was that?"

His home office was on the second floor of their stylish,yet comfortable residence in Camps Bay,South Africa. William sampled his coffee. "Mrs Gaston. Are the girls in bed?"

Rafaella Milestone Mckade,Ella, rubbed her hand over her protruding belly. "In bed,but I gave them an extra ten minutes before lights out."

William smiled at her.

"Are you still searching for my parents?"

He knew what was coming,but he answered anyway. "Yes."

"I told you to refrain from doing so. If they really wanted to see me then they would have come looking for me after so many years."

"Don't say that,Raffy. Everything happens-"

"For a reason, yeah I know. "She exhaled heavily through her lips. "But I don't want you looking for them. I'm happy with the family I have now. What if,in the end, you find my parents and they are dead? Or what if they are out there enjoying their lives with their new family?"

"Stop interrogating me,Raffy." William came out of his desk chair so fast,it rolled backward on its casters and bumped into the wall. He went to the liquor cabinet for a decanter of vodka and poured some into his tea.

"I wasn't interrogating you," She said softly.

"Like hell you weren't. I am only trying to help. And each conversation we have these days evolves into an argument or a cross-examination."

"That's because you're so secretive nowadays," Ella shot back. "Even the most innocent question strike a nerve. You barely have time for us anymore,and it's beginning to stress me out. Aggy and Tina hesitate whenever they are around you. There's also the issue of drinking. I told you not to drink in this house again!"

"Your questions are never innocent,Raffy. You're probing and suspicious."

"And you're paranoid," She shouted. "You don't even sleep in our bedroom anymore. Are you having an affair? Is that it?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do know that since the day you found out that I was pregnant, you've completely changed. You've become a different person."

"You're wrong,Raffy!"

"Dad?"

William whipped around to see his twin daughters,Aiglentine and Aiglentina, standing in the door way. They looked so sweet and vulnerable in their pajamas,their faces scrubbed shiny. At the sight of them,his anger evaporated.

"Hey,princess. Come in."

They hesitated on the threshold until Aggy,the older twin,took the first bold step into the hostile arena. Her younger sister tagged behind her. William returned to his chair,pulled each of them on a knee,and hugged them close.

Their curly brown hair smelled of shampoo and they smelled like toothpaste. They smelled like cleanliness.

"I got A on my math paper." Tina told him proudly.

"The teacher called me to read out loud today. I knew all the words and read them without a mistake." Aggy chimed in.

"That's great! You both deserve a reward. How about this weekend? A movie? Or a trip to Disney world? Something special."

"Mom too."

William glanced at Ella. "Sure,mom too. If she wants to come along."

Tina blinked up at her mother. "Do you,mom?"

She smiled at her daughter's. "What I want right now is for you two to get into bed."

Following another round of hugs and other delay tactics,she shooed them from the office and down the hallway to their bedroom.

Ella was in the master bedroom when William caught up with her half hour later. She was brushing her hair,which she now wore in a chin length bob. Like her hair,her eyes was the colour of a raven's wings.

She was ready for bed,wearing only panties and a soft tank too,which did little to cover her tanned belly. Their love story was a bit rocky from the start and he even almost lost her and his children; whom he had no idea of their existence until they were almost three years old. William still got the chills when he remembered how close they came to dying.

She had never resented the demands his works placed upon them. At his insistence,she was a full-time mother and wife; she stayed with the children each time he was on a long business trip. She hosted great parties and had a fair command of two languages. She knew how to dress tastefully and how to comport herself in any situation.

He loved her. God,how he loved her.

He watched the graceful movement of her slender arms as she continued brushing her hair. The rise and fall of her breasts entranced him. Her nipples made small impressions against the soft cotton of the tank.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper." He began in a quiet voice.

"Ella's dark eyes swung up to meet his in the mirror. "I don't want an apology, Liam." She turned to face him. "I want my husband."

He came to her,placed his arms around her,drew her close. "You have me."

Even though she clung to him,she shook her head no. "Work has taken you away from me and the twin."

He set her away from him with a sigh. "That's not true,Raffy."

"Yes,it is."

"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered. "You and the girls mean more than life to me. I couldn't bare to loose you."

"What about him?" She patted belly. "Does he mean anything to you?"

William stared long and hard at her belly and then shrugged as their gazes locked.

She peered intently into his eyes. "You're loosing us,Liam. Everyday you slip farther and farther away. No matter how hard I try,I can't seem to reach you anymore. You keep secrets. You hate your own flesh and blood. You're becoming a stranger." Her voice cracked and tears formed in her eyes.

"Please,don't cry. Don't."

Ella shook her head as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "It's getting hard for me."

William reached for her but she side-stepped him and went to gather some blankets and pillows. "The girls and I would be going to Philly tomorrow. Mother's been asking to see them." Then she waddled out of the room,sniffling as she went.

William sank onto the bed with his head buried in his palms. He knew that Ella wanted to get away from him,hence why she lied about his mother asking for the twin. Things were falling apart faster than he could blink. The funny thing was that he couldn't do anything to stop it.

Not while she was still pregnant.

* * *

Cassie Milton Mckade took a sip of her coffee,before setting the cup on it's saucer. She reached for a skillet and a saucepan and set them on the stove. She took a can of chilli from the pantry,opened it,and dumped it's content into the saucepan and set them on the stove. Then began cracking eggs into a bowl. After beating them into a froth,she sipped her coffee while the chilli simmered.

Arms wrapped around her waist from behind as a kiss was placed on her cheek. "Good morning,my love."

Cassie smiled as she gave the arms a gentle pat. "Ditto,Kaden bear." Turning around to face him, she molded her lips to his,which led into a full make-out session.

When they parted for air fee minutes later,Cassie went to pour him a glass of coffee.

"You look well rested." She stirred the chilli. "I was a little worried when you didn't arrive before I went to bed,last night. How's the deal with the Merritt's?"

"I am finalizing the deal today." Kaden drained his coffee and set the cup on the marble counter. "Then I'd take you and the children out for family time."

Cassie flashed him a smile and turned back to the stove;dropped a teaspoon of butter into the skillet,and turned on the burner beneath it. As she watched the butter melt,she pondered on how to tell Kaden about Ella's call without coming off as nosy or even angry.

"You have something on your mind." Kaden observed as he leaned his right hip against the counter and crossed his arms on his bare-chest.

He looked particularly yummy this morning. Not that he didn't each time she saw him,but his just-out-of-bed hair and those hazel fuck-me eyes did something wondrous to her libido. It was all Cassie could do not to throw her arms around his neck and demand that he take her right there in the kitchen. But there was the children to think of,and also the pressing matter about Ella.

"Cass?" He gave her a smirk letting her know that he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Cassie reconsidered grabbing him right there, but decided against it. "Ella called me last night, while you were out."

"What did she say?"

"William." She sighed.

Understanding dawned in Kaden's eyes as he let out a sigh himself. It was no news that his brother had changed ever since he found out that his wife was pregnant with their third child. One would think that William would be glad that the twin were getting a younger one soon,but it was the exact opposite. Ella had been calling Cassie to tell her about her husband's behaviour recently. First,he came home late and took extended business trips. Next,he'd started drinking, which was so unlike him.

Even Kaden did not know what brought about the sudden change in attitude.

"What happened this time?"

"Last night when William came home late again,he went to hide in his study. And when Ella had gone to confront him about his search for her parents, shit hit the fan."

"I'm assuming that's not all?"

"No. They had a heated argument and the children walked in on them. Even the kids hesitate around him. Ella said she was afraid that he was going to hurt the kids,with his new found temper and all."

Kaden frowned. "Will would never do that."

"I know that."

Cassie turned back to the stove,spread the melted butter around the bottom of the skillet, then poured in the eggs. The toaster timer went off as she grabbed two plates from the plate rack and placed the one slice on each plate. Then she fed two more slice to the toaster;then scrambled the eggs with a spatula until they were slightly brown,just the way the Ana and Bell liked it. Cassie scraped them into the plates,along with forks,and carried it to the dining table and set them down. She went back to get two plastic cups and a litre of milk from the refrigerator,and set them down beside each plate.

Kaden joined her at the table with a ceramic bowl, Shane's, a spoon and a box of Rice Krispies. He set it down on his youngest son's side of the table,watching his wife from the corner of his eyes.

Cassie straightened and waited for him to do the same before talking. "Ella's taking the children to mother's place today. I love the both of them equally and I would hate to take sides. You have to speak to Will,Kade." Her eyes mirrored her sadness. "I hate that they are fighting."

Cassie herself came from a complicated background. Beatrice Milton turned out not to be her biological mother,which made her mistreat Cassie as a punishment for Rodger Milton's,her father, illicit affair. It wasn't a thrilling experience, but in the end, Cassie still loved Beatrice even after her demise ten years ago. She was happy about her life now. She had a complete family.

Kaden came to his wife,pulled her into his arms,and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I will talk to Will. Don't worry."

Cassie rested her head on his chest. "It's hard not to. I won't stop worrying until everything's back to normal again." She pulled back slightly. "Speaking of worries, Mom called last night complaining about how she hadn't been able to reach Annie since yesterday morning."

"Did you call Lea to ask if Annie called to inform her that she was already in West Mercer?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. " she pecked his lips before pulling away. "I have to wake the children up for school."

Kaden feigned a hurt look. "Won't i get breakfast too?"

Cassie rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "Help yourself to the remaining eggs and toasts."She turned to leave but paused to glance at her husband over her shoulder. "Call Will today,please. I'll talk to Ella and also call Lea too."

Kaden nodded. He waited until Cassie went up the grand stairs and out of sight,before fetching his phone from the pocket of his pajamas button and dialled his brother's number.

He picked on the first ring.

"We need to talk..."

Whaaaaat????? Is this girl crazy? Two updates in one week????

*chuckles* I just love surprising people.

I purposely wrote about Will & Ella, and Kaden & Cassie,to give you an insight of their married lives after several years.

Life isn't always bed of roses, hence,the rocky married life part.

QOTD: Why do you think William is acting that way to Ella,whom he swore to love all his life?