To Steal My Man's Heart

In a sleek modern villa within a lavish residential complex, the sound of laughter echoed through the air as a lively birthday was being held.

"Mommy! Come on and meet my friends!"

Aiyana's smile grew as the little hand tugged her along. She was very happy; her heart was full as her little daughter was about to take her to meet her friends. Even though she didn't give birth to this little angel, Aiyana loves Poppy so much. She couldn't imagine life without her.

Tonight was her daughter, Penelope Jasmine's, fifth birthday, and Matthew had decided to celebrate in their new house.

"Hello, my dear; nice to meet you all." Aiyana beamed with a friendly smile, but Poppy's friends just looked at her with puzzled looks. She was just about to ask if there was something wrong when suddenly a boy spilled raspberry juice from a glass he was carrying onto a little girl's dress.

"Ouch! Billy! You made my new dress dirty!" Whined the little girl loudly.

"This young miss works in your house, right, Penelope? So why do you call her mama?" The boy asked with a curious and innocent tone.

Penelope's other friends stared at Aiyana and Penelope in return. "I 'member she was your nanny when I came over last time."

"No. She is my mom. I got a mommy now," said Penelope with an embrace that made Aiyana smile gently and stroke her hair.

Aiyana lowered her body to be at eye level with the children. Fortunately, she was prepared for a moment like this, considering her marriage to Mr. Matthew Dario was private. "Penelope's mum here. But you're welcome to call me anything, okay? Let me help you clean your dress so it doesn't get sticky and attract ants."

Aiyana took Poppy's and the little girl's hands and headed to the bathroom. After helping the little girl wash her dress, Aiyana led them out of the bathroom. She was suddenly approached by three beautiful and elegant women.

They stared at Aiyana and then at the little girl.

"Oh my god, Keilani! How did you get your clothes so soaked?!" The woman in the knee-length navy gown, whom Aiyana assumed to be the little girl's mother, drew Keilani away from her. She then switched her gaze to Aiyana. "Can you tell me who you are? How did you with my daughter, and how did her clothes get wet?"

"They're just playing, and her friend accidentally spilled juice."

"Oh, Jesus! You'd be so sticky and stinky. Thanks for helping my daughter, Miss...?"

"I'm Aiyana." She smiled at the woman and took Poppy's hand in hers.

"Penelope's new nanny?" Asked the elegant woman, raising one eyebrow.

Before Aiyana could answer, another woman joined in. She's Margaret, the wife of Matthew's colleague.

"Brittany, this is Mrs. Dario, Matt's new wife. Yeah, I know, it's disappointing that he didn't invite us to his wedding, but it's his day, and if he wants to keep it intimate, we can't do anything about it. Aiyana, this is Brittany. She just got back from Paris and had no idea you were Matthew's wife."

Brittany was wide-eyed in disbelief. "What?! Matt got married again. And not with Ecclesia?" Then she immediately covered her mouth when she realized what she had blurted out.

Another woman, Esther, elbowed Brittany to signal that there were still children among them.

Brittany cleared her throat and said, "I'm sorry. It was nice meeting you, Aiyana. I hope we can become friends. I'm so sorry; I didn't know you were Matt's wife."

Aiyana nodded, and after she said it was okay, the three guests made their way back to the living room party. Aiyana held Poppy there when, not long after, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law arrived and found them.

"Aiyana, why aren't you with the others and here instead?" Asked Abigail Dario, Matthew's mother.

"Hello, sweetie! Auntie's got you! Do you miss me?" Genevieve, or Eve for short, Matthew's younger sister, took Poppy from Aiyana's arms and led her back to the living room. Leaving Aiyana alone with Abigail.

Aiyana sorted out the answer: "Poppy's friend spilled her drink, so I helped clean up."

"Why you? Why not an assistant?" Abigail inquired. "You know you need to mingle more with Matt's colleagues, right? At this rate, when will you settle into your new role?"

Aiyana swallowed. She remembered that Abigail had told her to get to know more about her husband's inner circle. She just forgot because she was busy preparing for the party. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"As the mother of my granddaughter now, you shouldn't be in the back during her birthday party; otherwise, the guests might assume that Matthew still treats you as his maid instead of his wife."

Aiyana apologized once more for her carelessness, which made the guests misunderstand her husband. Abigail immediately urged her to join the party. But not to accompany Poppy, as she was now being handled by Eve, it was time for Aiyana to find her husband and his colleagues who were invited tonight.

She goes to the outdoor living room, where they are chatting, accompanied by the gentle clinking of crystal wine glasses in their grasp. Matthew smiled a lot and looked happy while he was with his colleagues. And he also looks so handsome in his gray suit, which fits his tall body perfectly. Aiyana cannot shift her gaze from him; it is like a dream that she is his wife.

There were also the three ladies: Margarette, Esther, and Brittany. Each of them is with their husband, and they're so matching as partners.

That made Aiyana to instinctively double-check her appearance. Her husband got her the Chanel dress in ivory that she wore. Even though it was nice and cost a lot of money, she wasn't sure if it would make her look good enough to stand next to Matthew as those other women did next to their husbands.

She wasn't born into their social class. Aiyana realized. There was so much to fit in.

Just as Aiyana was about to go to them, a late guest came in through the front door. Behind her, a helper was carrying many gifts for Poppy. Aiyana narrowed her eyes as she saw Matthew recognize the woman. When Aiyana realized who she was, her heart sank.

The woman is tall and has a great body. Her blonde hair is smooth as silk. Her red lips pulled into a smile at the sight of Matthew and Poppy, and without hesitation, she strolled elegantly towards Matthew and his colleague ahead of Aiyana.

That woman was none other than Ecclesia Louise, the youngest daughter of the wealthy Louise family. Matthew's former flame, who's been chasin' him 'til now, is surely a better match for him in every sense of the word.