(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
(Thomas)If someone told me I would once again be nervous about going to school again I would laugh in their faces but as I stood in front of the mirror, ready to take Mabel and Miles to their preschool, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.Today was parent’s day and I was about to accompany my kids to their school, something I wouldn’t have thought possible a year ago.I wanted to scream and shout from happiness that I felt flowing inside of me.I remembered Lydia’s expression when I told her last night how the kids had asked me to come to their school. At first, I was hesitant because I didn’t want her to feel left out, but I really wanted to share my happiness with someone, so I shared the news.***Lydia was telling me about something funny that occurred during one of her interviews. I could still see that she was bothered by something but as she said, she would tell me when the time was right and I trusted her wholeheartedly.When she fell silent, I took this as my chance.“Hey, Lyd
(Jack)Once again, I was standing in front of Ruby’s house.There was no car in the driveway and I knew if I went up to knock on the door, Ruby would not answer.She had been ignoring my calls, messages and voicemails for two days now.I was spiraling. I had gone out with Amanda and her friends to a club and got smashed pretty much as soon as we got there. I don’t even remember the rest of the night.My phone started ringing. It was Adrian, my assistant.I picked it up and said, “It’s my lunch break, Adrian.”Adrian cleared his throat, “Yes, sir, and that is very well, but the meeting of the board of directors just got rescheduled and it’s by 3 pm today. The topic of discussion is the upcoming golden jubilee of the company.”“Ah,” I whispered. It had completely slipped my mind. Since Thomas was busy these days, it had become my responsibility to handle all the celebrations for the company celebrating its 50th year.This company was started by our grandfather and it reached its peak wh
(Lydia)It was the last day of promotions in New York before I would be going back home for the weekend. I was so glad that I had made the decision to return.It’s not like I was missing anything. It would just be a couple of red carpets and those were not the priority in my life. Josh moaned about the fact that he would have loved to style me for a few red carpets, but I confidently told him that he would have the chance to do that later.I was sitting in the lobby of the hotel when I saw a flash of blonde in my peripheral vision. The figure that had caught my attention was covered from head to toe, even wearing gloves, a hat, and a pair of dark glasses.But I knew the gait. It was a model’s gate and there was only a model with that height and hair that I knew about. I checked my watch to see that there was still time before I had to leave, so I got up from my chair and tried to follow the figure as conspicuously as possible.Clara did not take the elevators, instead she entered the
(Margaret)Charlotte and I had been friends for a long time.We met up in university and met our husbands who were also best friends.The two of our families were very close growing up and once upon a time, we had dreamt about how our children would get married and we would go from friends to finally being one family.I cannot believe that our thoughts almost became reality when Jack started to date her daughter, Amanda.I was over the moon at that time but I never let it show because I knew how much it meant that my sons made their own decision because soon they would have to take over their father’s company.Tragedy had struck though, making the two of them separate, so when I saw that Amanda was back in town, I did not waste the opportunity to meet her.If there was anyone who could change Jack’s mind, it was his first love because no matter what, boys always remember their first love.It was a plus that Amanda was a lovely girl full of drive and came from a family of good standing
(Adeline)I was back at the place where it felt like a dark cloud was always present.There were days where the ward got happy news as well, like when someone is cancer-free after months of fighting. They get to ring a bell signifying the end of their treatment.I always wonder if I would be one of those people who get to walk out of the doors to the oncology ward with happiness and relief filling their chest.When Dr. Roberts told me he would be increasing my dosage, I didn’t know that this change would affect me so much, but it did. I didn’t tell this to Lydia or Ruby but the simple fact of climbing the stairs to get to my room feels like a chore.I know that if I told them, one of the rooms on the ground floor would be emptied for me, but that’s what I didn’t want.If I lived on the ground floor, I would never have the chance to go up the stairs again and I always wanted to push myself, to make sure that I am always up and running.This seems to be awfully hard recently though. I d
(Lydia)I did not sleep well last night. I kept waking up over and over, feeling like someone was lurking around. I don’t know why I was feeling that way but after seeing Clara, I was scared to even face Nathan let alone talk with him during interviews.Fortunately, the last ones I did were solo interviews that went well enough. I was also glad that I would be returning for the weekend.I couldn’t help but be excited about spending time with twins before I had to leave them again.I missed them terribly.Apart from that, I would also get the time to contemplate what to do about Clara’s situation. My eyes had seen proof that she was struggling and I could not look away from that.I had not expected Nathan to be abusive when I had met him first. However, this just eluded the fact that you can never really know someone just because you spend ample amounts of time with them.We will be in L.A. next week and I would have to acknowledge Nathan. There were more interviews lined up for the tw
(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