Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Aivan had completely caught everyone off guard with his early retirement from professional racing, and when asked why, he had simply said he wanted to devote more time to his wife. Since then, the Internet had dubbed Aivan ‘the world’s most devoted husband’, and this reputation of his had only grown into legendary proportions in the past several months.
“Did you see the video that went viral last week?”
Carlito’s question drew Luigi out of his thoughts. “No, what about it?”
Instead of answering, the boy handed his phone to Luigi, and his lips twitched as he watched a grim-looking Aivan literally carrying Sienah away, and all because a journalist had stood too close to his wife during an interview.
“Twenty million views and counting, boss,” Carlito said with a shake of his head. “Is he really that in love with his wife?”
Luigi glanced back at Aivan, whose expression had turned forbidding upon noting the way a kid mechanic was now talking to Sienah with an infatuated expression on his face.
“Sit back and watch,” Luigi advised Carlito with a grin, “and you’ll see the answer for yourself soon enough.”
SIENAH COULD ONLY SHAKE her head when she remembered the scene from earlier. It was just so ridiculous (but also secretly adorable), with how Aivan had become so possessive toward her. Perhaps for some women, such possessiveness might feel stifling. Maybe in time, she would find it a concern as well, and one worth discussing with Aivan.
In time.
But for now, and for someone like her who used to think of herself as invisible?
His occasional (well, okay, it was more like frequent) display of jealousy made her feel cherished and seen, and well...
These things will work itself out in God’s perfect time, Sienah thought contentedly. If there was one thing she and Aivan had learned from that brief time they were separated, it was how God never stopped working even when their lives had hit rock bottom. It was basically Romans 8:28 at work, and it was actually this thought that served as her inspiration for the new program she had established through Aivan’s foundation.
Speaking of which...
“Ready to share your performance evaluation report?” Adriano asked.
Tomorrow would mark the first month of Call 828 being in operation, and Adriano and Shayla had volunteered to help Sienah as she rehearsed her presentation before the board members of Aivan’s foundation.
Sienah flashed a thumbs-up sign.
“Go ahead then.”
Aivan slipped into the conference room while Sienah was still in the middle of her presentation. He had hoped he would make in time for Sienah’s rehearsal, and he listened in quiet pride as his wife spoke of Call 828’s mission, which was to offer counseling, therapy, and conflict resolution to any married couple working in the racing industry. In some cases, the program would cover daycare expenses while a couple worked out their differences with a local pastor. Other times, it would sponsor events and gift participating couples with their first family Bible.
“The way God has worked through Call 828 is nothing short of amazing.”
With Sienah still facing the projected screen, she missed the way her husband’s lips curved at how a note of exuberance had entered her voice—
“But just as incredible is how God has also worked behind the scenes. Toby Knowles, for instance...”
And after that, she also missed the way her husband’s expression turned glacial the moment she made mention of the other man’s name.
“He was such a huge help with the tax exemption paperwork,” Sienah continued, unable to keep the gratitude from her voice. “I honestly don’t know how we would have managed without him. He was so thorough, so dedicated. The way he went through every single document, checking and double-checking everything...”
Shayla bit her lip as she glanced at her husband. She’s so dead.
Adriano’s expression turned pained. I know.
And since they were both lawyers who preferred to be neither accessories nor witnesses to murder—
Sienah finally turned to face her “audience” when she was done with her presentation...but had the shock of her life instead when Adriano and Shayla were nowhere to be found, and in their place instead was her husband who was smiling at her rather...
Um...
Could a smile be pleasant and terrifying at the same time?
“Tell me, tesoro.”
Sienah’s worries instantly faded upon hearing her husband’s term of endearment.
“Was Knowles truly...fast at getting you what you needed?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Sienah assured him. “I’ve never seen anyone work through legal paperwork like that. The way his hands moved over those documents? Just incredible speed and precision. Papa mentioned he’d never seen a lawyer work with such dedication.”
Aivan tried to keep it together as his wife went on and on about another man’s professional...stamina. But his own brain seemed to be working against him, with how it had now pulled up a memory from just a few weeks back, and he had been in a conversation with Miguel and Olivio.