(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
(Lydia)When I came back home, I gave Mama the biggest hug. When I got to know her decision, I cried my eyes out not because of the prospect of Mama shaving her head, but by the fact that I knew how much this had been affecting her.I saw the way she had started to cover her head with a beanie at home or a scarf when she was going out. I did not know how to talk to her about this so I just sort of glossed over that it was actually happening.Thomas dropped me off but he dawdled at the front door, unwilling to leave. I know the kids and he had gotten a lot closer and he had already slept here once so I blurted out, “You can take up my room, if you want. I mean, it’s already so late and you’ll be here in the morning, right? So what’s the point of going back anyway?”“I would need to change my clothes,” Thomas mumbled but he did not make a move to leave.I sighed at the hopeless sight that Thomas cut and chuckled, “Come on, Thomas, we can just stop by your mention on our way to whatever
(Ruby)When the children were here, the house was filled with laughter and the sound of running feet. Now, it was devoid of all those noises, making me think too much of my own predicament.Was this it for the two of us?I had started my relationship with Jack with hopes of building a future with him. Now all of my thoughts lay tattered inside my mind and it feels like I have nowhere else to go.I was sewing a brochure onto a dress, and I could not even focus on this small and simple task. When I finally ended up stabbing myself with the sewing needle, I let out a frustrated groan and slammed my current work onto the bed.I wandered out of my room, went downstairs, and made myself some coffee before going back upstairs but this time I entered Mama’s room where she had been resting.Thomas and Lydia had taken the kids out somewhere and all the distractions I had were put on hold.Quietly, I climbed into Mama’s bed and tucked myself into her comforter. I realized that I had been doing t
(Thomas)I knew that when Lydia came back, she would want to spend a lot of time with the kids. I know we talked about going on more dates and the whole “getting to know each other better” bit, but Lydia was spending multiple days away from Mabel and Miles.Even though they talked on the phone every day, it was just not the same. Hence, I knew she would like to spend time with them as much as possible so I prepared an outing for all of us keeping that in mind.The city was a great place where kids and adults alike could go and participate in fun activities and bond together.When the kids saw the entrance to the Jumpoline Park, their eyes went wide and they shrieked in unison.“Daddy, look at that!” Mabel pointed out to me. My heart warmed when she called me her dad. I was still not used to it and when Lydia heard it, her eyes went wide and she turned to look at the kids with pride shining in her eyes.“It’s so many colors,” Miles whispered in awe.I looked at what they pointed out to
(Lydia)I looked at Thomas open-mouthed.To be honest, I was expecting a reaction completely opposite to the one I had gotten. His eyes were shining with a protectiveness that had been missing from him all this time.My lips trembled with an unspoken emotion and I wanted to throw my arms around him to pull him closer but we were outside, and the kids were just a few feet away.Thomas Lombardi’s future wife.Those words went round and round in my head until I was flushed from head to toe.Why did I love him saying that?All the stress of what I had found out melted away from my body, replaced by a warm feeling that only Thomas had given me. I felt like twirling my hair in my hands and batting my lashes with the smoldering look he was giving me.For the moment, I merely breathed out and stared at him, my entire focus was arrested by him as he continued to talk.“I don’t care who it is, your co-workers, your management team, or any random person on the sidewalk. If they’re messing with y
(Ruby)Talking with Mama made me realize that wasting time would not make the problem go away.The more I ignored Jack, the more the distance between us would grow. And I didn’t want that to happen.Just the thought of losing Jack was enough to make me get up from the bed and get ready to go see him.This bridge that had been created between us through Margaret’s keen planning was not going to be an obstacle to our love. I wouldn’t let it be.However, the more distance I passed, the more I became aware of the fact that it had been days since we last talked. The last time Jack called, Adam had picked it up before I could stop him.Well, I would just have to clear up that misunderstanding later on.Speaking of Adam, there were messages from him in my notifications but I left them all unread. I had asked him to go see listings with me but I was purposefully procrastinating because I wanted to go see those listings with Jack, as I had originally planned.I took a deep breath as I stood in
(Lydia)“Mama?” I questioned as I opened the glass back door and walked inside, Thomas following me close behind, “What happened? Who was it?”Thomas immediately went to check into the front door to look for any signs of forced entry. The vase by the entrance was broken, however, everything else remained unharmed.“My kids!” I gasped and ran past Mama to go check in on them. Once I was satisfied that they were still soundly sleeping after a day filled with various activities, I rechecked their window locks and made my way back to Mama.I held her by the shoulders and asked, “What happened? Are you okay, Mama?”She was trembling and my heart hurt at the scared look on her face. I knew that scared look, I had seen it often during my childhood when my father went and let his anger out on her. She would get this same dazed look on her face that used to come back to me in my nightmares.My heart thudded inside of my chest as I took her by her shoulders and shook her lightly, “Mama, who did
(Thomas)I hated seeing Lydia like this. All I wanted for her was to remain happy and feel safe and protected in my presence.Today, it felt like I failed in doing so.Everything was going so perfectly. I had Lydia so close to me that I couldn’t tell which breath was hers and which was mine. It was like we were one, and then reality crashed in.I had only ever seen Lydia this panicked when our children had gotten kidnapped and I had vowed to myself then that I would never let that expression come over her face ever again.I immediately ran to check the perimeters but it felt like whoever was in the house had vanished into thin air.However, I followed my intuition and remained outside to check if anything was out of place.It was.The pot was crooked and I immediately knew the source of the break-in.Lydia was still in my arms as I leaned against the kitchen counter. One cursory glance over the house was enough for me to know that nothing of consequence had been taken. The only damage
(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