(Lydia)“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Mabel’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.Thomas had dropped us off at the mansion a couple of hours ago. I hadn’t wanted him to leave but I knew that he was taking care of a lot of matters.I looked down at Mabel with a bright smile, “My baby’s hungry, huh? Come on, let’s make something to eat,” I took her hands in mine and turned to Miles who was playing with some building blocks, “You coming, bud?”With both of my kids holding my hands, we went down the stairs and into the kitchen.Through the kitchen window, I could see that it was already dark outside. I shuddered at the unwanted thoughts of an unknown burglar and turned to my children, “What would my babies like for dinner?” I asked them, sitting on my knees to come at their level, “Mac and cheese?” I listed, “Chicken wings?” I hummed thoughtfully, “Or…pizza?!”They both jumped at the mention of pizza. I wasn’t in the mood to order and I know there must be a ready-made pizza dough in the house to
(Lydia)The storybook I was reading wasn’t even halfway finished when the children were both fast asleep. I spent some time with them, watching over their sleep, cherishing the few quiet moments I had with them before I had to go again.In the back of my mind, I was aware of the fact that I had to leave and talk to Margaret like she had asked.As the clock struck 10 o'clock, I got up from the bed with a sigh.Quietly closing the door behind me, I made my way through the hallways until I reached Margaret’s room. I hesitated only a moment before knocking on the door, wanting this conversation to get done and over with already.“Come in,” Margaret’s voice filtered through the door.I did as she asked and the door opened up to a spacious room. On one side there was the bed and on the other side, there was a glass wall with curtains covering them and an L-shaped couch.One corner was already taken by Margaret so I took the other end and faced her head-on.“What did you want to talk about?”
(Thomas)I was at Jack’s apartment, sitting inside his home office, looking over at the arrangements he had made for the company’s golden jubilee.I had been so distracted the last few weeks that I didn’t even know so much had already been planned. Well, there was only a week left.“Masquerade, huh?” I chuckled lightly, “Only you could come up with something like this for a golden jubilee.”“People are bored, Thomas. Can you believe that board of ancient people actually did not mind it?” Jack replied, surprise apparent on his face.“Their grandkids are getting older now and a company’s golden jubilee is the best place for connections. Gotta have something to make them interested in a work event,” I mused, my eyes flying over the pages of the expense sheet.After a moment of silence, Jack spoke, “Thomas?”“Hm?” I called back distractedly.“Why are you not going home?” he asked, looking at me curiously.I placed the file back on the table between us and leaned back in the chair, my hand
(Lydia)I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but when I finally stirred awake, it felt like I was moving.Now, I’ve never been a sleepwalker so this new development came as quite a shock for me. When the feeling in my entire body returned, I realized that I was being carried by someone.My eyes flew open and I let out a sharp gasp, about to scream bloody murder that someone was about to kidnap me.“It’s me,” a warm and slightly raspy voice whispered to me.Only then did I realize that I was being carried by Thomas in my sleep.I blinked a couple of times until my eyes focused on my surroundings.We entered the room I had placed my clothes in and Thomas gently laid me down on the bed.“When did you get home?” I asked, trying to hold back a yawn but being unsuccessful at it.I looked up to see Thomas staring down at me with a look in his eyes that was so familiar, yet it felt like he had never looked at me like that before.His expression was tender as one of his hands came up to tuck a st
(Thomas)After Lydia accidentally slept in the bathtub, I carefully picked her up, placed a bath robe around her shoulders, and took her to bed once again.I opened the wardrobe to take out one of her night gown and after drying her with a towel, I helped her in wearing the gown. She woke up in the middle, mumbling something about the kids but did not fully wake up.I wanted her to have a great night’s sleep because the last time she had taken a nap, she woke up disturbed because of the nightmare.I hope the walls of my mansion were enough to make her feel safe. I truly hoped to take all of her worries away, though sometimes it felt like they kept on piling up.As Lydia lay there sound asleep, I envisioned a future where this would be the norm. I would happily help her shower after she had a long day and cuddle up next to her by the end of the night.Right now, I wanted to do just that but I don’t know if Lydia would appreciate that. If she were awake and asked me to join, I would do
(Ruby)Living in an apartment with Jack was something I didn’t think I would have to do any time soon.But here I was, living in his apartment while he was off to work. I had brought my current works with me to finish them off while we were living in this limbo of not knowing where to go from here.Lydia was truly freaked out by what had happened. I mean what had happened was weird for sure, but I have a feeling that it had also triggered Lydia and her fears.It was sad to see my sister so down and hopeless. I wish I could have done more to support her.I had thought about going to look for places for the boutique but this sudden blip in our lives had made me postpone it even further. Not to mention Jack was busy with the company event that is being held at the end of this week.One thing that bothered me was that Jack had not asked for me to accompany him at this event. But when Amanda was here while they prepared for a party, she knew everything about the event and how Jack had been
(Ruby)As evening approached, I started to get ready for the date Jack had set for us. But before changing into any clothes, I texted him asking what I should wear since I didn’t bring all of my clothes from the house.After a few minutes, I got a reply from Jack.Jack: Wear something nice, we’re going to a club.We’re going to a club? I thought Jack had asked me out on a date at a restaurant. Well, it could still be a date. I don’t think I’ve ever gone on a date at a club before but there was a first time for everything.To make sure I didn’t stand out too much in the club, I wore a v-neck maroon dress that came just to my knees. I paired it up with black sandals and decided to put my red hair down. I was fortunate not to have as curly hair as Lydia, but they were still high maintenance. I parted them midway and let them fall on my shoulders.By the time I was done with my makeup, Jack was waiting for me downstairs. I locked up the apartment and went down through the elevator.Jack w
(Lydia)I’m not going to lie, I really did not want to leave for L.A.I wanted to remain at home, spend time with the kids, and forget about everything that was waiting for me here.But I knew I had work. I knew this was something I was passionate about and I also knew that there was someone who needed my help even when they were not ready to admit it.Throughout the flight, the only thing that had been going through my mind was how to go about helping Clara.I had distracted myself from everything that happened back home that I had completely forgotten about the image of bruises down her arms. Now, they came back to me very vividly and I wanted to get my hands on the person who did that.All fingers led to Nathan and no one else. Only if I was able to make Clara say it, just once would also be enough for me to confirm.When I landed at L.A.X., Thomas had told me that there was a bodyguard waiting for me with my name on a board.Sure enough, at the front of the waiting line, there was
(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