(Lydia)The children’s birthday party was being held at the mansion. This was the first time in a long time that the whole family would be gathered together: the twins, Ruby, Jack, Mama, Margaret, Thomas, and I.I had also invited Adam over to the party, seeing as how he had practically raised the children for the first three years of their lives.“Are you excited about turning four?” I asked Miles through the FaceTime screen.“Yes!” he exclaimed, “And because I am four, I will have four cars!”“Four cars?” I raised my brows in surprise.“Yes,” he said, showing me a grin.“Hey,” said Nathan as he walked past, “Did I hear something about a birthday?”I nodded. “Yeah, we’re holding the twins’ birthday party tonight.”“Really?” he said.“Yeah,” I nodded, ‘Would you like to come?”“Of course!” Nathan said.“Mommy,” Miles said through the phone, “Is that Uncle Nathan?”“Yes, love,” I said to him. Behind him, I felt Thomas shift uncomfortably, shaking the camera that he was holding.“Hey, b
(Lydia)“Come now, everyone,” I announced, “Let’s cut the cake.”Mama, Margaret, Ruby, Jack, Adam, and Nathan gathered round the table. Thomas walked up, brushed past Nathan and made his way to stand next to the children. Nathan blinked at him, confused.“Alright,” I said, smiling brightly to cover up the awkwardness and tension, “Let’s start!”“Happy birthday to you,” I began, “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Mabel and Miles. Happy birthday to you.”Everyone sang along and clapped with me except for Thomas, who was helping the twins dive the butter knife in through the cake.The three of them were having their own private moment of joy as the twins clapped and giggled.“Mommy!” Mabel said, “I made a wish at the candle that you and –““Shush, honey,” I said laughing. I bent down. “You’re not supposed to tell anyone your wish,” I said.“Really, Mommy?” she asked me.“Yes,” I said, “Because if you tell anyone, it doesn’t come true.”My daughter shut her eyes and quietly bega
(Lydia)Adam met me for coffee the following week. I stared at him as he sat opposite me in the café, slowly stirring my vanilla latte. “I’m kind of worried about you, Lydia,” Adam said.I frowned and put my spoon down.“Why would you be worried about me?” I asked. I picked up my cup and took a small sip.“It’s been a year since this whole push and pull between you and Thomas is going on,” he said, “The two of you need to sort out your issues. I can tell that this separation is hurting you deep down on the inside.”I shook my head, dismissing my feelings.“Can we talk about something else?’ I asked.“Sure,” Adam said, shrugging slightly.“So, tell me,” he said, looking into my eyes, “What’s been up?”Adam’s face showed deep concern. And I unraveled immediately.I began shaking and sobbing as I told Adam everything – from how Thomas had still not proposed to me to what I had discovered about Sarah recently.Adam put his hands on top of mine.“It’s okay, Lydia,” he said, “It’s okay to f
(Lydia)In this way, time went on. I continued to shoot for the movie and act in the theater while Thomas continued to stay distant from me. It was though there was some insurmountable gap between us and neither of us knew how to approach it.However, the fact still remained that I was deeply in love with Thomas and did not want to lose him – not now, not ever. I wanted him back in my life. I really did.So much so that I found little pockets of quiet and privacy during the day simply to think about him. Sometimes, I would break down during these moments.It occurred to me that I was waiting for him … that I had always been waiting for him – from the minute that he woke up from amnesia after that horrible car crash all those years ago. In all this time, patiently holding on and waiting for him to come and fill the space in my heart that was reserved for him and him alone had become second nature. But a hint of fear had also settled into my heart – like cobwebs or like dust.I would no
(Thomas)I was at my wit's end.It didn’t matter how much I proved to Lydia that I was serious about her – she did not seem to believe me.Was this it for us?No, it couldn’t be. We have two beautiful children together whom I love with all my heart. We will be connected with each other throughout our whole lives, then how could she not feel the way I feel for her?Did she stop loving me?The doubts swirling in my mind made it difficult for me to go to sleep. I twisted and turned in my bed for the whole night before giving up just before daybreak.The twins were with Lydia but she will be dropping them off at the mansion before leaving for doing interviews. She would be promoting her new film for the rest of the month, which meant the kids would see her less. I would also see her less and I cannot take it.The need to always be in her presence consumes me these days. Ever since I have my memories back, I feel regret coursing through me every time I am away from her or the kids.But wh
(Lydia)“Yes,” I murmured through the phone, trying not to have the kid’s attention on me as they munched their pancakes happily.Jonathan Nilson had called me just as I had finished making breakfast for the twins to talk about the promotional interviews that I have lined up now that the filming of the movies is completed.“We are spreading our promotional tours to LA, New York, and Washington. I need you to be available for the next month. Is that a problem?” he asked over the line.I bit my lips hard.I have been through so much these past few days that the thought of leaving my children behind fills me with utter dread. I do not want to do this but I also signed a contract where I agreed to promote the film. If only I had known everything that would follow afterward, perhaps I would have thought about all the clauses more.A knot formed in my stomach as my silence ran loud and clear.Jonathan sighed from the other end, “The contract you signed-”“Give me a day,” I cut him off, “Gi
(Thomas)“Is there anything else that needs my attention?” I asked Robert, my executive assistant.“No, sir, not today. You do have lunch tomorrow with the executives of a start-up, I believe,” he said, sliding the glasses up his nose as he concentrated on my schedule.“Cancel it. I have lunch with the kids tomorrow,” I told him, getting up and fixing my dress shirt.“Isn’t that today, sir?” he said hesitantly.“Well, it's tomorrow as well,” I replied to him, “rescheduled the lunch for next week.”“Very well, sir,” he nodded dutifully.“I really do appreciate you, Robert. You know that, right?” I tell him with a sheepish smile.Robert chuckled, “Yes, sir.”Robert truly has been a big help. I file it in my mind to give him a bonus at year-end because he truly has been a big help in managing the tasks in times when I have been distracted.Now that things were moving forward, my full concentration was on work. Although I can always cancel lunches to focus on my kids.I have missed so man
(Lydia)I left Thomas standing there with a beautiful bouquet of daffodils in his hand.I felt bad but I had also just come to the decision that I would take some time to gather my own thoughts before letting Thomas in again once and for all.But then again, does Thomas want that at all?The flowers were a nice gesture, and I really appreciated it, but when I told him that I would be leaving, he was enthusiastic about that. He did not seem sad at the prospect of me leaving.Was I perhaps thinking about it too much?Maybe he was happy about this new experience I was going to have and was utterly devastated at the thought of being away from me yet, still put a smile on his face to make it seem like everything was okay.My head hurt by thinking of all these things as I climbed up the steps in the mansion. I didn’t see the kids downstairs so they must be in their room with Margaret.I knocked lightly on the door before popping my head in to see that Margaret had put them to bed and was no
(Lydia)When I woke up in the morning, I felt completely refreshed. Today was special. Thomas and I had a date planned, just the two of us. It had been far too long since we’d had an evening to ourselves, and the thought of spending uninterrupted time with him filled me with excitement. Thomas was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed as he adjusted his tie. His usual morning routine was precise, and I admired how calm and collected he looked, even when I knew his day would be busy. “Good morning,” I murmured, leaning up on my elbows. He turned, smiling warmly, “Good morning, love. Sleep well?” I nodded, sliding closer to him, “You’re leaving early today.” “Lots to do before tonight,” he said with a wink. I couldn’t help but smile at the playful glint in his eyes. Recently, he had been waking up looking like he didn’t get much sleep the night before. But today, he looked like he rested well. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him passionately, savoring the
(Thomas)The drive back to the mansion was quiet, the city lights a blur as they passed by the windows. My mind replayed the events of the day, the chaos with that one candidate, the interviews that went nowhere, and then Jack. That wound, the tension in his voice, the possibility of Marco being involved, it all left a sour taste in my mouth. But I pushed it aside for now. I didn’t want to bring that storm home with me.By the time I pulled into the driveway, the mansion was bathed in soft light, welcoming and warm. I exhaled deeply, the weight of the day slowly lifting as I reminded myself of what mattered most, my family.Inside, the familiar sounds of home greeted me. Miles and Mabel’s laughter echoed from the living room, where they were playing with a set of blocks. Lydia sat nearby, her eyes flicking between them and her phone. When she looked up and saw me, her face brightened in a way that made the tension in my chest ease instantly.“Daddy!” Miles and Mabel shouted in unison
(Thomas)The hallways of the office were unusually quiet as I left the disaster of the last interview behind me. My steps echoed faintly as I made my way toward Jack’s office, needing a moment to vent about the absurdity of the day. Jack always had a way of grounding me, even when the world felt like it was spiraling out of control.But when I arrived at his office, it was empty. The blinds were drawn, the desk cleared except for a mug of cold coffee. I frowned, pulling out my phone to call him.He picked up after a few rings. His voice was low and somewhat strained when he spoke, “Thomas?”“Jack,” I said, glancing at my watch, “Where are you? I just came by your office.”“I’m at my apartment,” he replied, his tone clipped. “At your apartment?” I repeated, my frown deepening, “It’s the middle of the day, Jack. What’s going on?”There was a pause, long enough to make me suspicious. “I had to step out for a bit,” he finally said, “I’ll be back soon.”“Jack-”“Thomas, I’m fine,” he int
(Lydia)As we pulled into the driveway of the mansion, I couldn’t help but glance at Ruby in the passenger seat. Her face was calm, her usual cool composure firmly in place, but I could tell she was exhausted. Whatever had happened earlier was still playing in the back of my mind, but I didn’t press her further. Ruby had always been good at deflecting, and I knew better than to push when she wasn’t ready to share. The front door opened before we even reached it, and there stood Mama, smiling weakly but genuinely. She leaned on her cane, her movements slower since the surgery, but her spirit was intact. Ruby was by her side in a flash, steadying her and guiding her gently back into the living room. “Ruby, you didn’t have to come all the way here if the boutique was busy,” Mama said softly, though her eyes betrayed how much she appreciated the gesture. “I wanted to,” Ruby replied simply, her voice steady, “And you know me, I don’t trust anyone else to make sure you’re properly ta
(Thomas)The office felt unusually stifling today, as if the walls were closing in on me. My desk was piled with documents, but my attention was split. Half of my mind churned through what would happen when I met Nathan again.I had not seen him face to face since the last time, the night I found Lydia after he had kidnapped her. My blood boiled just thinking about that moment. I would have made a rash decision if it wasn’t for Lydia’s hand in mind and the thought of our kids, their smiling faces flashing through my mind.They had already spent so much time without me, their dad, I wasn’t going to make a horrible decision by harming Nathan and landing myself behind bars.I was glad that I hadn’t acted out of emotion, but that was also due to the fact that Lydia was right in front of me, looking relatively unharmed. If he had done something to her…then I would have taken it into my hands.Apart from this, there was also the added stress of finding another personal assistant for myself.
(Lydia)By the time I reached Ruby’s apartment, I could hardly breathe. My legs burned from climbing the stairs two at a time, but I didn’t care. My mind was racing, filled with every worst-case scenario I could imagine. Ruby’s phone going unanswered and her not showing up at the mansion had sent my thoughts spiraling into dark territory.I pounded on her door, my fist landing hard against the wood.“Ruby? Open up! It’s me!”The hallway was eerily silent, my frantic knocks echoing off the walls. I pressed my ear to the door, hoping to catch even the faintest sound of movement inside.“Ruby, please! Are you okay?”The seconds stretched unbearably. Then, finally, I heard the muffled shuffle of footsteps. Relief surged through me, but it was fleeting.The door opened just a crack, and Ruby appeared, peeking through the gap. Her face was calm, but her eyes held a flicker of something…annoyance? Discomfort?“Lydia,” she said, her voice carefully even, “What are you doing here?”I pushed th
(Lydia)I spent the car ride back home in relative silence, my thoughts consumed by everything that had happened in the past few months. The whirlwind of Nathan’s threats, Jack’s complicated relationship with Ruby, and Mama’s illness. It felt like I was constantly running a marathon with no finish line in sight.Now, as I crossed the threshold into the house, a surge of relief washed over me. At least for a few hours, I could breathe.My speech in the Assembly Hall had been well-received and I was grateful for that. What I had done was a long time coming because I had been worried about Mabel and Miles’ school for quite some time. Ever since they came home one day and told me what the kids were talking about, I had a thought in the back of my mind that this was going to be a problem moving forwards. And it was.Well, I hope all of that was settled now. As I walked into the living room, I saw Mama sitting in a recliner, bundled in a blanket despite the warmth of the room.“Back alread
(Ruby)I left the boutique in the afternoon to go to my apartment. I had some chores to do and I knew the apartment was probably a mess. When I reached there, I immediately started to do laundry. It took time, but I got it done just in time.As I folded the last of the laundry, I couldn’t help but think about what to eat since I’d planned to grab a quick bite before heading to the mansion to look after Mama. One of my workers was closing the boutique for me today, a rare reprieve I desperately needed. I had just gathered my things when a knock at the door startled me. I paused, glancing at the clock. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Peering through the peephole, I saw nothing but the empty corridor. My first thought was that it might be another bouquet. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the door. What I saw made me gasp so loudly I nearly dropped my bag. “Jack!” He was on his knees, his face pale and sweaty, twisted in pain. Blood stained his shirt and pants, and his han
(Jack)The tension had been building inside me all morning, a storm of frustration and unanswered questions I couldn’t shake. Thomas’s decision to meet with Nathan still gnawed at me. It wasn’t just the secrecy of it, though that alone was bad enough, it was the recklessness. The risk. But as much as that boiled my blood, there was another matter weighing heavily on my mind, and this one had a name: Marco.By midday, I’d had enough. I wasn’t going to get anything productive done sitting in my office, stewing over things I couldn’t control. I grabbed my jacket, told my assistant I’d be out for the rest of the day, and headed for Amanda’s apartment. If anyone could give me answers about Marco, it was her. When I reached her apartment, Amanda opened the door, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she asked, “Jack? What are you doing here?” “We need to talk,” I said, stepping inside before she could protest. She frowned but didn’t argue, closing the door behind me. Her apartme