(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
(Lydia)The reception was everything I had dreamed of and more. The air was filled with the sound of laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. The venue, bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights, felt magical, as though we were all living in a dream. Thomas and I had just shared our vows, but now the celebration was in full swing, and the joy in the air was palpable.Mabel and Miles were the stars of the evening, as expected. They had barely left the dance floor since the music started, their little feet moving in uncoordinated yet adorable ways. Miles was trying to spin in circles, his arms flailing around as Mabel, ever the perfectionist, tried to keep him in check. They were a sight to behold, so carefree and full of life. Their giggles and shouts of “Look at me!” filled the room, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with them.Thomas was by my side, his hand gently resting on my back as we watched our children steal the show. The evening felt like it was slipping by in the most
(Thomas)The day had finally arrived. Our wedding day.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie for the fifth time, trying to focus on the simple task instead of the rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I couldn’t stop the memories from creeping in, images of Lydia in a wedding dress years ago, her radiant smile lighting up the room, and the way my heart had soared knowing she was about to become my wife.And then, the accident. The chaos, the pain, the years we spent finding our way back to each other.Today wasn’t just about vows or rings. It was about us. About the journey we had taken, the battles we had fought, and the love that had carried us through it all.A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Jack stepped in, looking sharp in his suit, his usual easygoing expression replaced by something softer.“You doing okay?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.I nodded, though my reflection betrayed me. “Just...a lot to process.”Jack walked over, clapping
(Lydia)With only a week left until the wedding, the house felt like a beehive, everyone buzzing with purpose, energy, and, occasionally, a touch of chaos. I stood in the middle of it all, both exhilarated and slightly overwhelmed.Ruby was in the corner of Mama’s room, hunched over her sewing machine, her brow furrowed in concentration. My wedding dress hung on a nearby mannequin, almost complete but still needing those final, intricate touches that only Ruby could master. She was doing this here because if she needed to know any adjustments, I would just be a few rooms away.She was holed up in Mama’s room because she didn’t want Thomas to get a glimpse of the wedding dress, not until the day of the wedding as I walked down the aisle.“Are you sure you don’t need a break?” I asked, holding out a cup of tea for her.Ruby looked up, her eyes tired but determined. “Not until this hem is perfect. You’re going to look stunning, Lydia. Just trust me.”“I do,” I said softly, setting the te
(Thomas)The moment we pulled up to the venue, I felt a mix of anticipation and pride. The sprawling garden, framed by blooming flowers and soft sunlight, looked like something out of a dream. This was it, the place where Lydia and I would officially start the next chapter of our lives.Mabel and Miles were already buzzing with excitement, craning their necks to get a better look as the car slowed to a stop.“Is that where we’re going to walk with the flowers?” Mabel asked, pointing to the long stone pathway that led to the main garden.“It is,” I said, glancing at Lydia, who was smiling softly.“It’s so pretty!” Miles added, practically bouncing in his seat.Once we were out of the car, the kids ran ahead, their laughter echoing in the crisp air. Lydia and I followed at a slower pace, her hand tucked into mine.“Can you believe it’s almost here?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.I shook my head. “It feels surreal. But seeing this place again...it makes it all feel real.”T
(Lydia)Sitting at the dining table with Thomas, a notebook in front of me and a pen in hand, I felt an odd mix of excitement and dread. Finalizing the guest list for our wedding should have been a straightforward task, but when Margaret got involved, nothing ever stayed simple for long.I glanced at Thomas, who was scrolling through his phone, cross-checking names. He looked calm, but I knew better. We were both bracing ourselves for the inevitable drama.“Are we really going to put up with Margaret’s list of distant cousins and relatives we’ve never met?” I asked, my voice low but pointed.Thomas sighed and set his phone down. “You know how mother is. She thinks a wedding is a chance to show off family connections.”“Well, it’s not her wedding,” I said firmly. “It’s ours, and I want it to feel personal, not like some society gala.”Thomas reached over and squeezed my hand. “I agree with you. But let’s try to handle this delicately. You know how she can get.”Before I could respond,
(Thomas)The house was alive with energy, and it all revolved around two very determined little people: Mabel and Miles. Ever since we’d told them they were going to be the flower girl and flower boy at the wedding, their excitement had reached a whole new level. They were taking their roles very seriously, perhaps even more seriously than Lydia and I were taking the rest of the wedding planning.This morning, the focus was on their outfits. Lydia and I had arranged for a tailor to come to the house to ensure everything fit perfectly. Mabel was already dressed in a soft pink dress with layers of tulle that made her look like a little princess. She twirled in front of the mirror, her curls bouncing with every spin.“Do you think I need a tiara, Daddy?” she asked, her big brown eyes wide with sincerity.I crouched down to her level, brushing a stray curl from her face. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are, sweetheart. But if you really want a tiara, we can look for one.”Mabel c
(Lydia)The morning sun streamed through the windows as I parked outside Ruby’s boutique. My heart fluttered with a mix of nerves and excitement. In just two weeks, I would be walking down the aisle to marry Thomas, the man who had stood by me through everything. But today, all I could think about was my first fitting for the wedding dress Ruby had been tirelessly designing.As I stepped into the boutique, the soft chime of the bell announced my arrival. Ruby appeared from the back room, her face lighting up with a smile that instantly put me at ease.“You’re here!” she said, walking over to hug me. “I’ve been waiting for this all week.”“I’ve been counting down the days,” I admitted, hugging her back. “I’m nervous, though. What if the dress doesn’t feel right? What if-”Ruby placed her hands on my shoulders, her expression firm but kind. “Stop right there. This dress is going to be perfect because it’s made for you, by me. Trust me, Lydia.”I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I t
(Lydia)The sunlight poured down as I stepped out of the car, grocery list in hand. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder or scanning the parking lot for anything suspicious. Ben, my personal bodyguard, walked a few paces behind me, his presence a quiet reassurance. But today, I didn’t feel like I needed him as much as I had in the past.The air felt lighter, and so did I. It was as if the dark cloud that had loomed over my life for so long had finally dissipated. Nathan was gone, Lucien was behind bars, and the world was moving on. So was I.Inside the grocery store, I grabbed a cart and started down the aisles. It felt good to do something as ordinary as picking out apples and comparing cereal brands. For so long, I’d avoided public places, afraid of the whispers and stares. But today, there were none. People walked past me, absorbed in their own lives, and it was blissfully normal.I paused by the bakery section, tempted by the scent of fre
(Lydia)The sleek glass doors of the event management company slid open, and Thomas and I stepped inside. The lobby was stunning, a perfect balance of elegance and modernity. Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of chandelier lights, and a gentle floral scent wafted through the air. A cheerful receptionist greeted us, offering sparkling water while we waited for our meeting.Thomas leaned toward me, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. “This place screams ‘perfect wedding,’ doesn’t it?”I smiled, squeezing his arm. “Let’s see if they can live up to the hype.”It was Margaret who had given us the name of this event management company after making her calls and asking around for suggestions. And as far as I could tell, the place looked like the sort of company I would have chosen for myself.Moments later, a tall, impeccably dressed man approached us with a wide smile. His tailored navy suit and silk pocket square spoke volumes about his attention to detail.