(Ruby)I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. My ears were ringing, a telltale sign that I was panicking from the inside no matter how hard I tried not to show it outwardly.I can’t believe that I was doing this.Jack didn’t know. Hell, I didn’t even tell Lydia that I had decided to do this.I thought about it and I kept thinking about it until nothing made sense except for the feeling that this was something that I should be doing.Standing in front of the mansion though, I felt like chickening out and leaving but I knew that I shouldn’t.I wanted to fight for Jack the way he was fighting for me in his own way. I knew being mad at him over something that wasn’t his idea was exactly what Margaret was trying to do.She was thinking and probably hoping that her demands drive a wedge between us naturally. Instead of that happening, I should be sticking by Jack’s side because I loved him more than any words could tell you.After visiting Margaret, I would go to Jack and make him underst
(Lydia)I got ready for the photoshoot with a heavy heart. I knew Nathan would be there. I wasn't too keen about spending time with him after what I had just learned.Still, it was my job to be at the venue in time so I got myself ready and met with Josh at the front of the hotel where a car was waiting for us.“So, you’ll be in the makeup chair for almost an hour before the photoshoot begins and we’ll go through four outfits. The base looks will be the same but in between the fit change we’ll need to do some makeup touches, just the eyeshades and lips I think,” Josh prattled on as he scrolled through his phone, then he let out a little scoff, “It’s already started.”He showed me the screen of his phone where a gossip page was open and a celebrity blind was shared. It said that an actor and his model ex-girlfriend got back together, making the actor's co-star jealous. Josh scrolled through the comments and I could see many people sharing Nathan’s and Clara’s names, however, in some of
(Jack)I was sitting in the spot mother had vacated, head in my hands as I tried to come to terms with what had just happened.I was coming back home to talk to mother.After spending last night getting drunk and then puking my guts out in the morning, I decided to take a day off to get over the hangover. However, with nothing else to do, I kept thinking about what Ruby said.If I go to mother and talk to her about how all of this was affecting me, would she give up all of this and let me be with Ruby?I thought about it so much that I made myself believe that this was the only option. Yet, when I reached the mansion, Ruby was already there.“I’m sorry you had to see that,” mother said as she sat beside me.I really didn’t know what to say to her. Yes, Ruby shouldn’t have come here to talk to her alone and by herself, but what choice did mother even give her?I hated having to tell her to leave, but I knew that wasn’t the right moment to talk about all the things that had become messe
(Lydia)“Goodbye, Mommy!!!” Mabel said, rubbing her eyes sleepily.“Mommy, bubye!” Miles mumbled, eyes already half-closed.There were sounds of murmuring coming from the other end and then a door shut close before Thomas’ tired but happy face entered the screen.“Now that the call with the kids is done, will you tell me about what’s bothering you?” Thomas asked, looking at me meaningfully through the screen.The fact that he could still read me so easily through the screen was proof that he was still the same guy I had once been married to.“How can you tell?’ I asked him, just to stall the conversation.“There’s a tightness around your mouth even as you’re smiling at the kids, which must mean something is on your mind otherwise they have your full attention and affection,” he said without any hesitation.I sighed, “There has been something bothering me lately, but I’m not so sure about it,” I bit on my lower lip as I thought about what to say. “If I have something concrete, then I’l
(Jack)After talking with mother, I spent some more time at the mansion. Actually, it was because mother wanted me to stay since I had been living at the apartment for more than a week now.According to her, I had lost a substantial amount of weight and had dark circles under my eyes. I had hoped that she would realize that it was because I worried too much and she was the cause of my worries.I had texted Ruby that I would come to visit the house and to wait for me there, but when I went there, Ruby’s Mama opened the door, a weak smile on her features.“She’s not home is she?” I had asked her with a pained smile on my face.She had shaken her head, looking like she wanted to say more but had likely held herself back because Ruby probably told her to do so.Now, sitting in the living room of my empty apartment once again, I tried calling Ruby but there was no reply. All my texts were going unread as well. I had apologized to her for sending her away so harshly, but there was still no
(Ruby)I looked at Adam sitting in front of me as he clicked the call off. I was chewing my nails out at what had just happened.Would Jack be angry at that?Well, he had no right to be.Instead of defending me in front of his mother and being on my side, he childishly sent me away.“I don’t know anymore,” I said shakily, “It feels like I’m losing my mind.”“You’re not,” Adam replied shortly, “You have the right to stand up for yourself and your relationship. If Jack doesn’t accept that and believe that, then I don’t think you guys were a good match at all.”Hearing the words felt like piercing myself with a sharp object. The thing was, I had asked Adam out as a way to escape my own thoughts and to also be realistic after I had told him about every detail.Lydia had been busy today and Mama’s fatigue made her sleep more often than not. I didn’t know who to go to so that I could rant about Jack all I wanted.Adam popped into my mind like a great option. He had been there for us during
(Lydia)It had been another testing morning and afternoon. I had given my first sets of interviews and most of them went smoothly. I got asked to talk about movies and my inspirations in acting and I was to follow through with well thought out answers.I did my homework on the interviewers as well and realized they asked a familiar set of questions with most actors they interviewed. I’m not going to lie, doing so helped me a lot even though I had to lose a few hours of sleep at night.The busy schedule had kept me thinking about anything or thinking much at all. I preferred it that way because sooner rather than later, my thoughts would make me spiral.I was noticing every single person and how they acted around me then comparing it to Nathan. There wasn’t much of a difference though, but what bugged me was that everyone else treated me uniformly, while with Nathan it felt like we were buddies one moment and then almost strangers the next.This up and down was making me feel confused
(Lydia)The ice cream tastes flavorless in my mouth. Now that I was here anyway, there was no point in trying to get out of it. The photographers had probably gotten a great shot of Nathan kissing my forehead and were well on their way now to publish whatever drivel they wanted to.I looked across from me at Nathan suspiciously.“Did you plan this?” I asked him outright. I wasn’t scared of him because I had faced a lot worse than the likes of Nathan who merely wanted attention.He looked back at me in shock. “No, how could you even say that?”“Well,” I drawled, sitting back, “You’re not exactly sad that your girlfriend did not make it here. I did instead.”Nathan scoffed, “What girlfriend?”I was taken aback. “The one at your arm for the past like three days?” I said, looking at him like he had lost his mind.“Clara is not my girlfriend,” he stated seriously, “She was just a last-minute addition.”Last minute addition? Who talked about anyone like that?Clara might be a lot but she wa
(Ruby)I stood outside Jack’s apartment door, my hand hesitating over the knocker. I shouldn’t be here. I’d already done more than enough, stitched him up, watching him avoid my questions like he always did. But despite every logical reason to stay away, I was here. Because this wasn’t just anyone, it was Jack. The Jack who had once made me laugh so hard I cried, who had shared countless quiet evenings with me in this very apartment. The Jack who, despite all the hurt and chaos, still managed to make my heart skip a beat when I thought of him. I pressed my lips together, pushing the memories aside. This wasn’t about rekindling anything; it was about making sure he was okay. He had shown up at my door injured and vulnerable, and no matter how much time had passed or how complicated things had gotten, I couldn’t ignore that. Taking a deep breath, I knocked. When Jack opened the door, his surprise was clear, though he quickly masked it with that practiced cool demeanor of his.
(Jack)I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at the bandage on my side, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The family doctor had left about an hour ago after re-dressing my wound. He was efficient and professional, as always, and I appreciated the care. But damn it, why hadn’t I thought to call him in the first place? The moment I got injured, my instincts hadn’t pointed me toward practicality or logic. No, instead, I’d ended up at Ruby’s apartment, bloodied and in desperate need of stitches. I didn’t even remember the exact route I’d taken to get there, just that I had. Like my brain had been hardwired to seek her out, even when it made no sense. It embarrassed me now. Ruby had been nothing but calm and steady as she stitched me up, but I could tell how unsettled she was underneath that brave exterior. And I’d put her in that position, dragged her into something she had no business being
(Lydia)The drive back to the mansion felt electric, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Thomas’s hand rested on my thigh as he navigated the quiet streets, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Neither of us said much; the connection between us was palpable without needing words. By the time we reached the house and stepped through the door, it was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation. Ruby had left a note on the counter saying the kids were asleep and she’d see us tomorrow. I smiled, grateful for her support, but my focus was entirely on Thomas. As soon as the door to our bedroom clicked shut behind us, it was like a dam broke. His lips were on mine in an instant, hot and urgent, pulling me into him as if the space between us was unbearable. My hands found their way to his shoulders, then his hair, as I pressed closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. “Lydia,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire. I didn’t
(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