Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
She thought about helping other people organize celebrations, small or big, to bring smiles to their loved ones’ faces, and she couldn’t help smiling.
Beside her in the bed, Kyr noticed the smile playing on his wife’s lips and asked, “What are you smiling about?”
She hesitated then said, “If I tell you I want to study...”
Kyr could feel his insides freezing at the words, and the worst sense of déjà vu hit him, causing cold sweat to envelope his body. In an instant, he realized that his perfect little world wasn’t as secure as he had once thought.
“You’re seriously asking that?” he asked evenly.
She gave him a small nod.
Turning on his side to face her, he said, “I’d seriously ask you to wait.”
Her eyes widened. “F-for what?” She couldn’t help thinking that this was exactly the same thing that had happened in the past, when they found out about her pregnancy and he had asked her to wait. It was almost like he didn’t want her to follow any of her dreams, she thought, but Pollyanna squashed the thought as soon as it occurred.
Kyr loved her, she told herself fiercely. He wouldn’t have any reason not to support her.
“I want to continue building the business—-”
“But you’re already rich,” she couldn’t help pointing out, bemused. “You’re richer than 99% of the human population.”
“It’s not enough,” he said flatly. “I was almost impoverished once, and I wouldn’t want that for our children.” He paused. “I just need a few more years, to be sure that their futures are secured.” His gaze held hers. “Would you give me that?”
And of course, when Kyr put it like that, what else was there to say but yes?
Chapter Five
The years that followed were too happy, with every day offering an experience or adventure to treasure, that it was impossible for Pollyanna’s sadness to linger. As was typical of naturally optimistic people, Pollyanna was easily able to put her dreams in the back burner and concentrate on the present, which was, in a way, another dream of hers, too.
The twins were more than a handful, and Pollyanna threw all her youthful energies into taking care of them. The combination of her innate gentleness and Kyr’s tough disciplining ensured that their children were a lot more well behaved than most other offspring of rich couples.
In fact, wherever they went, friends and acquaintances both would express their amazement at how nice their children were, as if expecting the Gazis twins to either spit on their faces or make impossible demands like spoiled little monsters.
Each time, Kyr would say, “All credit is due to my wife,” and in such a matter-of-fact tone that it never failed to make Pollyanna flush with embarrassed pleasure. It was one of her favorite things about her husband, the way he was never shy at expressing his pride in every little thing she did as his wife or as a mother.
Once, he had asked her why she was working out often recently, and when she had told him truthfully it was so she could build up her strength and be able to carry the twins at the same time, he had looked at her like she had revealed the answer to all the universe’s greatest questions.
Do you really love them that much, he had asked, his gaze brooding.
Of course I do, she had answered him, astonished that he would even ask. She had hesitated then asked fearfully, Don’t you?
I do...but I didn’t expect you to feel the same. His lips had twisted in apology. And I’m sorry for that.
And that was when she had learned about the callous and negligent way his parents had raised him. Even without Kyr going into the specifics, she hadn’t any problems reading between the lines and realizing how having too much money had ruined Kyr’s parents.
His story had been so painful to hear that when he was done, she had thrown herself at him, hugging her husband tightly as she had promised him tearfully, “You and the kids will always be the first with me.”
On their third wedding anniversary, he had taken her and the twins to Dubai. Although Kyr would leave the island a few times each year for business, he had never invited her, and she had never asked him to take her, thinking that it was because he thought the kids too young to travel.
The idea of foreign travel had so excited her she was barely able to sleep, and when their trip finally started with an hour-long ride to the island’s only airport, everything about it had been magical.
For Kyr, the trip had been an eye-opener, too. While waiting for their private jet to be fueled, he had taken his family to the VIP lounge and it was there, while Pollyanna had made sure the kids were settled in their high chairs, that they were able to overhear the conversation of a group of socialites seated at a nearby table.