Standing under the shower he inhaled sharp. He knew he had screwed the situation. Her moans and the way she touched him roamed in his brain. He tried to relax but couldn't. There were many questions that he needed answers for but right now he was embarrassed for how he commented on her body.

Stepping out of the shower he recalled how good and affectionate she had been with him all this time. This somehow made him confident that she will let the matter slide.

The moment he laid his eyes on her he saw her as a beautiful fragile girl. Now seeing she has scars all over her body was not less than a blow.

Coming down he noticed kids still in their sleep wares coming up to him.

"Good morning, daddy" Gideon showed his perfect smile while Amber sheepishly approached him and wait for Noah to pick her up.

"Where's mom?" Noah asked picking up Amber and Gideon was quick to reply.

"In your room."

"Yea," Noah sighed a little puzzled before calling, "Sandra!...Sandra!" And, the moment kids saw Sandra appearing they heard Noah ordering,

"Get them to take bath,..."

"Where's mama?" Amber asked this time fully alerted.

"I am here," Sydney appeared securing her hair in a bun. Noah looked at her simple white t-shirt and black trousers while kids ran to Sydney. He waited for her to look at him but it never happened.

He wondered if he knew already about those scars. But recalling her comfort with her body around him he knew that he was aware and didn't have any problems with it in the past.

He waited on the table but when no one arrived even after half of an hour he had to get to them to bid his farewell before he leaves.

"When I become the baker I will make orange cupcakes for you,..." Noah heard Amber and came to look at Sydney who was styling Amber's hair.

"Granny won't let you do that,...but I won't tell her if you make me cupcakes," Gideon added busy on his game.

"You know what I want you to be," Sydney said getting her kids' attention in a second.

"What?" Both asked,

"I want you two to be happy," Sydney smiled while Amber showed her an all teeth smile.

"This is easy," Gideon commented showing his smile to her mom too.

"But dad said I should think about working with him," Amber told her mom,

"...but dad wants you to be happy too," Noah commented getting in the room.

"You never said it before," Gideon commented,

"This is because I know you two are always happy," Noah said before giving some space to Sandra who came inside with their breakfast and started setting it on the table.

"Pancakes!" Amber exclaimed with joy while Sydney smiled looking Amber happy and active.

Noah was served his coffee while kids started having pancakes. And, when Sydney chose for nothing Amber offered her strawberry shake and asked,

"You like it?"

"No, you can have it," Sydney smiled looking at Amber finishing her glass but her smile faded when she looked at Noah. He took a sip on his coffee with his eyes all over on her. The two red marks on her neck was still a reminder of their very passionate night.

For him, it was still very early to say if he loved her or not. But he wanted her. He recalled the event from the morning and needed to know who did it with her. He wanted to know if the person who treated her badly was sent to hell or still littering the earth.

"Daddy? Mom is going to set our rooms. I am painting it blue and white," Gideon informed Noah and Amber added,

"I will keep it yellow and white and pink and orange,...what's your favorite color daddy. Mama loves white,"

Noah who had his eyes on Amber for a moment turned to look at Sydney and held her gaze for a few seconds,...he wanted to know her. He could already see it was not simply him falling for her beauty. There was more to it. Something he couldn't feel or recall but surely something he didn't want to lose.

"I like black," Noah answered,

"I don't think it is even a color," Gideon said and Amber laughed.

"We need to leave and I guess you two will be at your best behavior,..."

"I will come later," Sydney cut him off and Noah only nodded with his lips pressed before kissing the kids goodbye and leaving.

Coming out of his place he dismissed his driver and decided to drive himself. He wanted to clear his mind but there was only one question that made him feel impatient.

Who is she? Who is she that can drive his desires just like Sarah? There was nothing in her that resembled Sarah so how she got to win his heart.

"Claudia! The moment Mrs. Miller arrives I want you to hold the calls for me. No matter who calls,..." Noah ordered Claudia before getting into his office but then stopped to add,

"Send Mr. Kent in,...but if she arrives you better call him out,..."

"I got it," Claudia said in a concerned tone.

He had to pay a lot of attention to all the briefs with Mr. Kent came into his room. Two hours later when he had moved to his board room about some case going wrong with a product in Mexico, Claudia came to say,

"Mr. Miller, you have another meeting," He caught the gist and excused his team. The members were still leaving when he ordered Claudia.

"Send her here," Noah said and got rid of his suit jacket. His breathing escalated. He was excited and pissed that her presence had started affecting him in ways he didn't want to admit.

He waited patiently by the door and loved how she got puzzled for a few seconds finding him at the door.

She looked inside the room before asking, "I thought you were in a meeting,"

"We need to talk," The very same voice of Noah caring about her got her for a few seconds before she told herself he was not the same person.

"We have nothing to talk about, Mr. Miller." She was about to turn when he held her arm to make her stay.

"Tell me who did this to you?" His stern face reflected how important it was for him but it only irked Sydney more.

"And, who are you to ask me?" Sydney questioned not hiding the disappointment in her eyes.

"We both know that we are married and,..."

"Don't,...We are nothing, Mr. Miller. And, don't act that I mean anything to you because I don't,..." Sydney cut him off but the way her voice waver made Noah more embarrassed and before she could break in front of him he said,

"I am sorry. I shouldn't,...

"No, thank you. Thank you for showing me that I was acting like a fool. I have lost you, Noah. There is,..." Her voice broke before saying,

"...nothing left,"

"There is something that we shared last night." This made Sydney looked at him in furry before coming,

"I slept with a total stranger. This is what happened last night. And, there is nothing to feel good about it."

"We are not,...strangers. We have kids together." Noah said not knowing what else to say. He wanted to mention that she could drive his sexual excitement but didn't want to sound creepy. And, this is when it struck him. She was right. They were strangers. He would have said it if it was Sarah standing here.

"You don't even love them, Noah. You don't even remember wanting them. You had to make yourself accept them,..." Listening to this got Noah alerted.

"Now, this is where you should stop," Noah warned. He did have problems with his kids but now he would do anything for them. Meeting Kate or having Sydney all was for his kids first.

"No, I can't. If you loved them you wouldn't have left them at that bitch's mercy..." It only took Noah a second to realize she was mentioning his grandmother.

"She is my granny," Noah seemed to get mad.

"I don't care. You should be thankful I didn't kill her..." Sydney came louder than his tone.

"I know she did wrong. I am mad too. But I can't let you kill her." Taking his tone into account he tried to be a little calm.

Sydney stared at him for a few seconds before a tsk, "You see, if you ever loved our kids you won't stand someone abusing them,"

"Abusing them?" This got Noah's eyes widened.

"Don't tell me you don't know about our kids getting absurd punishments." Listening to her Noah let out a sigh before adding in a low tone,

"It's her way of dealing with kids."

"They were fleeing the house, Noah. If I wasn't there to see them, they must have been lost in streets or worse I don't even want to think about." Shivering she gave in to the tears in her eyes and Noah hugged her to support her from falling.

"Relax, just breathe. Everything will be fine...I promise...I won't let anything happen to them." He caressed her heaving back.

"I don't ever want them to live with that woman. Even if I die,..." She hiccupped before adding, "Promise me you won't return my kids to that witch."

"I promise I won't do that," Noah said and massaged her back until her sobs turned into little whimpers. And, seeing maybe he can ask the matter now he started.

"Sydney?"

"Hmm," She hummed in his chest.

"Can you please tell me who did this to you?" In seconds, he could feel her back getting tense.

"...or if that person is still alive?" This time he whispered in her ear with quite a stern voice. This was indeed not her Noah. There was no way he would have talked to her like this.

"I don't want to talk about it. They...they got what they deserved." Sydney said as she tried to pull away but he held her and this made Sydney look at him.

They? The word rang in Noah's voice but he tried to hide his shock.

He looked at Sydney's red nose and swollen lips. And, the moment he leaned in to kiss her she turned her face away.

"Mr. Miller, we shouldn't. You are not obliged to do this. So, cut it out." She said but inhaled in the last part. She could feel his member excited poking her belly. He looked at her as if asking her of any other evidence of his interest required but she gulped before adding.

"Believe me, you don't want it,"

Recalling how he reacted in the morning made him let her go and she was quick to set her face before getting out of the room.

The rest of the day Noah spent busy in his meetings but tried to catch her during lunch. He did try to strike a conversation that failed miserably because Sydney didn't feel like talking.

At 7 in the evening, Noah bid farewell to a business delegate and walked to his office to see Sydney busy in finishing files for him.

"Let's go, kids must be waiting," Noah said and she nodded before closing the file after five minutes.

Noah held the door for her and they both bid farewell to Claudia on the way.

"What are you doing?" Noah asked looking at her cellphone as she ordered an Uber.

"I will go myself. You don't need to,..." She said looking at her cellphone but he was quick to add,

"We are family. You are right.... We are strangers but we are family." This made Sydney look at him briefly before she took her attention back to the cellphone.

"If it can be avoided I don't want to be anywhere around you," Sydney said and bit her inner cheek afterward.

The lift opened to reveal the parking lot but both stayed still looking ahead.

"How do you expect me to be indifferent after last night?" Noah asked.

"You don't owe me anything. Like I said before...don't feel burdened." Sydney said before clicking her heels and getting ahead of him. She tried to seem busy on her cell phone but was nervous finding him standing beside her.

"And, how to do that when I see the love in your eyes." This made Sydney narrow her eyes.

"There is no love Noah. I am only mourning." She said looking right into his eyes.

"I am mourning over the person I once knew," She said and he could see he was getting on her nerves.

He didn't know how to deal with her but he knew they were going home together that too in his car. "We are going home together. And, you will have to understand that I need some time." He tried to seem gentle.

"Believe me, I am giving you all the time." She said with a smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes.

"No, not like this. I want to know you...not as a friend but as your man because that's what I am to you." Noah said and Sydney looked at him like he has grown horns. She looked taken aback for a few seconds before adding in a low voice.

"I don't think it is a great idea."

They both saw her Uber appearing but Noah was quick to shout, "No, we are canceling the ride. We don't need you,...thank you." This made Sydney look at him disappointed. She was about to walk to the car but found herself pulled by her arm and got hit to his chest.

"Believe me, this is the only idea we are going to work on. You get me." Sydney looked at him for a few seconds before waving the Uber away.

Noah started driving the car. The silence in the car was deafening when Noah added,

"Do you want to grab a drink?"

"I am missing kids," Her voice came out without any emotion.

"There is a great bakery around this corner. I love their orange,..."

"...orange cake, I know," Sydney cut him off.

They shared a glance before picking a cake for their kids and headed home. Amber and Gideon loved the cake. They couldn't stop talking about their day while Sydney and Noah were beyond tired. How they want their room to be decorated or wanted to invite their friends was something they ponder over for two straight hours.

Kids still believe they will be attending the same school after some time while Sydney and Noah let the matter be discussed at some other time.

"Their friends can be invited. All of them can afford to come to their parties at any time." Noah commented when Sydney put the kids to sleep.

"I think we should get them busy now. But let's do it after they decorate their room this weekend."

"Yea, I hope Amber doesn't mess things up. There are too many colors." Noah said and Sydney looked at the sleepy figure of Amber before adding,

"I will handle,"

Noah and Sydney walked side by side but the moment they reach stairs Sydney passed the staircase and was about to enter her room when she heard Noah asking,

"You are sleeping in this room," She turned to look at him stun beside the staircase.

"Yea, I think it's for better. Good night," Sydney passed a friendly smile before getting to her room and changed into her black silk nightwear. There was a voice note from Nick that she listened to and left her replies knowing all too well he must be sleeping now. She wished that her kids got familiar with each other and with this new place soon and decide to live here without much problem.

At night she walked out of her room to the eerily feeling of someone watching her. There was no one so she walked to the kitchen and take out the water bottle. The moment she was about to place it back she saw Noah coming down the stairs.

"You are up?" Sydney asked setting her robe that was off her shoulder revealing more than she would like.

"You are too?" Noah's reply came but his eyes on her got Sydney a little puzzled. The last thing she wanted for things that happened in the morning to happen again.

"I wanted to say something," Noah walked to her wearing quite a grave expression.

"What?" Sydney asked looking up.

"I am really sorry for how I acted in the morning. I was shocked," Listening to his apology got Sydney's throat constricted.

"You hated what you saw, and,..." She had to try not to break looking at those same blue eyes that seemed full of lust. "This is understandable because, in the end, you are not my Noah,...and you don't need to be my Noah."

"No, I,...you are perfect and you know it." She knew he was only trying to make her feel good about herself.

"Yea, I know," She passed him a smile and was about to pass him when Noah came closer to held her shoulder before adding,

"You are a lot more than your body. You are,...amazing," His encouraging tone broke Sydney. Noah was the last person she expected pity from.

"I know Noah,...I need to go," She tried to excuse herself but when he didn't budge she had to ask.

"What do you want?"

"You?" This made Sydney go mad and she let her robe fall before looking right into his eyes.

"Do you still want me?" Her voice had the sarcasm. He didn't look at her body but she wanted him to. This time she was ready to see the pity in his eyes and confident to prove her point.

"If I say that you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen that won't be wrong." He said looking right into her eyes. But then looked at her shoulder and leaned to suck her skin over one of her scars. "And, these scars,...they just show how strong you are." She tried to stay unaffected but her breath hitched. He leaned closer with his hands on her waist this time. "They are the sign that you are a warrior." He kissed her neck before looking back in her eyes. "And, it makes me think that you are the most perfect woman I can trust my kids with."

Kids The word roamed in her brain and got her out of her daze. Of course, he was thinking about his kids. She felt stupid all of a sudden and said to hide her embarrassment.

"Yea, you are right. But,..."

"And, that makes you so sexy that I can't seem to sleep on that bed alone." Sydney inhaled sharply when he took his hands from her waist to her a*s and pulled her in to feel his excitement. Her breathing escalated when he leaned in to kiss her mouth. He waited for her response but hugged her even more. Her eyes got misty for a few second but she inhaled sharp and reaching him tried to have faith once more.

I love you all you. My readers are the reason that I write and I will keep on writing.

Thank you for waiting,

The next chapter will be updated today or the day after tomorrow.

I have tried my best to not end the chapter at a cliffhanger but can't promise for the next chapter to not be a tease and full of questions.

XOXO

****

Here lies a note that I would like all of you to read, 

Please read the whole note

Please

We all know that shattered will be completed in a few days. Or the end is near. Don't worry all the loopholes will be addressed,

The story shattered after it finishes will remain available on Wattpad for all of you to enjoy. It will always be my free story available on Wattpad. 

I started Needs some two weeks ago and that story will be taken behind the paywall on the booknet.com somewhere at the end of May and start of June.

But

Just as I kept shattered for free. After shattered finishes, I will start a story. That will be kept free until the very end of the story. And, that book, after it finishes will remain on Wattpad for free and will join Shattered as my free works available on Wattpad. 

Now to Needs

The chapters updated between this time period (from now to until it goes to sales) will remain free over Wattpad. Roughly it will be the first 20 chapters for free.

All the people, interesting in purchasing keep in mind that from the day the book will go to the sales. It will be sold for a far less price for a month, and then the price will get back to 2.99 USD after a month of the launch. And, will remain available at this price. 

Again, as for Contract Marriage 2, I will run giveaways for Needs too, every month. 

So, every month five readers will get access to Contract Marriage 2, and 5 readers will get access to Needs. 

10 winners every month.

Giveaway of April 

I will be running a giveaway for Contract Marriage 2 in a few hours ( 8 maybe). All of you will be notified when I make the announcement on my Wattpad profile. 

Please participate, there was no tough competition last time. Only 40 people participated. 

I always make a post on my official Facebook page. I never ask you to like the post and share it because I know it is an erotica story and most of us don't want our peers to know in what kind of stuff we are. So, all you got to do is comment on the post, and you are considered for the raffle.

Whenever I will start a story in two weeks all of you will be notified if the story is going to be free or not. But I do have a very sizzling story and there is no way I can take it from all of you. So, it will be free and I will be starting it soon after I finish Shattered.