(Lydia)As I settled into the comforting embrace of the small but cozy bed, exhaustion swept over me like a heavy blanket. I felt the warmth of Thomas’s body beside me on the chair, his steady presence a balm to the chaos that had filled my life just hours before. The doctor had left, and I was grateful for his quick assessment, but more than that, I was grateful for Thomas. Just knowing he was here made me feel like I could breathe again.My mind, however, kept drifting. I wanted to see Mabel and Miles. I wanted to hold them in my arms, to feel their little bodies pressed against mine, to breathe in their familiar scents of crayons and cookies. I knew Thomas had told them I was away at work, and I felt a mix of relief and guilt over that. They didn’t need to be burdened with the truth, not after everything they’d already been through. The idea of them worrying about me made my heart ache, but I was thankful that Thomas had been able to shield them from the harsh realities of what h
(Lydia)Morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I blinked awake, the familiar surroundings of my bedroom wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. But as the memories of the past couple of days flooded back, I felt the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me. I had escaped Nathan’s grasp, but the aftermath lingered like a shadow, a constant reminder of the darkness I had just endured.I sat up slowly, the ache in my muscles reminding me of the tension I had held for far too long. Thomas had been so focused on finding me, and now that I was safe, I felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. What would come next?I could hear the muffled laughter of Mabel and Miles from the kitchen, their joyous voices a melody I had missed so dearly. A smile tugged at my lips, and I rose from the bed. The air felt lighter, almost buoyant, as I stepped into the hallway.As I made my way downstairs, I found Thomas in the kitchen, flipping p
(Thomas)The news broke like a storm across every screen, radio, and social media platform. I could hardly believe it myself as I sat in my office, the glow of my laptop illuminating the dread that hung heavy in the air. Nathan’s arrest had been announced, but it was the details that sent shockwaves through me. The media had caught wind of everything, the kidnapping, the assault, and the lives he had taken. It felt surreal, the kind of thing you read in thrillers or see in movies, not something that happened in real life, not to my family.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself against the wave of emotions crashing over me. I had fought so hard to keep Lydia safe, to protect her from the consequences of Nathan’s wrath. Yet here we were, thrust into the spotlight again, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. It was the same feeling that had gnawed at me since the moment Nathan threatened her, since the moment I had let my guard down, thinking we were out of reach.As I
(Lydia)I sat in the living room, the walls still adorned with familiar family photos. It was a safe haven, a stark contrast to the hell I had endured. Yet, even surrounded by all this love, a heavy weight settled in my chest, threatening to crush me. I should have felt relieved, grateful to be home after everything, but there was a gnawing feeling in my gut that wouldn’t let me rest.When Thomas walked in, his expression was drawn, shadows lingering under his eyes. He’d been so focused on keeping me safe, so determined to shield me from the worst of it. But in doing so, I sensed he was hiding something, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something significant.“Thomas,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “Can we talk?”He nodded, but the way he hesitated at the threshold made my heart race. I could feel the tension coiling between us, and I wasn’t sure if I was prepared for what he might say. But I needed to know, to understand what had happened while I was gone.“Is
(Ruby)Sitting on the plush carpet of the living room, surrounded by the vibrant colors of the kids’ toys, I felt a bittersweet pang in my heart. Mabel and Miles, with their bright eyes and innocent laughter, had taken over my thoughts since the day Lydia returned home. I loved being here with them, but it was clear that my time in the mansion was coming to an end.“Ruby, will you leave?” Mabel asked, her small hands clutching a stuffed bunny tightly to her chest. Her big brown eyes were wide with worry, and I felt my heart ache at the sight of her.“I have to, sweetie,” I replied gently, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear, “I need to focus on my boutique and figure some things out for myself.”“But we want you to stay,” Miles chimed in, his lower lip poking out in a small pout. He was always the more emotional of the two, and seeing him upset made it even harder to explain, “Remember when you lived with us? It was so much fun!”“Yeah, we used to play dress-up and bake cook
(Jack)The morning light spilled through the office windows as I walked into the building, the familiar smell of coffee and polished wood greeting me like an old friend. Yet, today, it felt more like an echo of the chaos that had unfolded over the past few weeks. My thoughts immediately drifted to Ruby, her laughter still resonating in my ears from yesterday. I couldn’t shake the feeling of regret, how I had let things slip away between us. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see her smile and the way her eyes sparkled with mischief, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that had surrounded us recently.As I moved through the hallway, my mind was racing with a blend of emotions, anger, sadness, and a yearning to reconnect with Ruby. But I knew I had to focus. Nathan was behind bars, and there was still a lot to clean up in the aftermath of his chaos. I pushed open the door to my office, ready to tackle the day, but the sight before me gave me pause.Amanda was already there, si
(Lydia)The pounding on the gates started just as the afternoon sun dipped behind the hills. At first, it was just faint shouting. Angry voices echoing off the iron fences. I brushed it off, focusing on folding the kids’ laundry in the living room while they colored in their favorite books nearby. But the shouting didn’t stop. Instead, it grew louder, angrier, like a storm brewing just outside our walls.“Mabel, Miles,” I called softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why don’t we go into the playroom? I have a new game we can try.” I kept my voice light and cheerful, but they could sense the tension, Mabel’s wide-eyed gaze meeting mine with that uncanny, perceptive look only a child can have.I led them down the hallway and closed the playroom door. As the voices outside grew louder, I forced myself to keep smiling, crouching down so I could look at both of them at their eye level.“Listen, kids, there are some people outside who are just being silly,” I said, feeling my heart twist
(Thomas)The scene outside our home had calmed, but the air was still thick with tension. I watched the last of the protesters disperse, guards ushering them away from the property with final, stern gestures. The police had finally shown up, although I’d already been on the phone with them for half an hour, demanding more serious protection. Today, a crowd had managed to breach the gate. Tomorrow, who knew what they might try? It felt like we were living in a pressure cooker, with no way to predict when the next explosion would come.My phone vibrated in my pocket. I glanced down to see Jack’s name flashing on the screen. He’d called earlier when he heard about the incident, but I hadn’t had time to talk yet. I took a deep breath and answered, my mind already racing with what we needed to do next.“Hey, Jack,” I said, keeping my voice low as I paced the living room, glancing at the door to the playroom where Lydia was keeping the kids occupied.“Thomas, I heard about what happened. A
(Thomas)The last time I saw Jack, he was deflecting my questions about what had happened to leave him injured and refusing any professional help. Typical Jack, always shielding others from his chaos, carrying the weight of his decisions like a stubborn mule. I knocked firmly on his apartment door, which was closed this time, knowing he’d hear the sound even through the thick, industrial-style door. After a moment, the door creaked open. Jack stood there, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his side. He looked tired but not beaten. That was my brother, gritty, relentless, and unyielding even when life knocked him down.“Thomas,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to let me in, “Didn’t expect you to drop by.”“Clearly,” I replied, gesturing to his appearance, “You could’ve at least put on a shirt for the occasion.”He smirked faintly, closing the door behind me. Jack’s apartment was neat but lived-in, a mix of modern decor and personal touches that reflected Jack’s no-nonsen
(Lydia)The morning passed quietly, but my mind was anything but still. Talking to Mama in the garden earlier had eased some of the heaviness pressing down on my chest, but it hadn’t erased it entirely. It felt like smoothing a wrinkle in fabric only to have another one pop up. There were so many reasons for my hesitance, and the biggest one gnawed at me: I hadn’t told Thomas. I could still see his face from last night, relaxed and content, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled at me over dinner. It had been a perfect evening, something we hadn’t shared in a long time. I hadn’t wanted to taint it with this...complication. But now, the silence I’d kept about Clara weighed on me like a stone. I stirred my coffee absently at the kitchen counter, staring out at the bright day outside. Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chatter missing from the house, leaving it quieter than usual. Thomas had kissed me on the forehead before leaving for work, his expression one of
(Thomas)The faint hum of my office phone was drowned out by the stack of emails I had been working through since the moment I arrived at work. The buzz of productivity was always welcome, a way to focus my mind, especially after the whirlwind of emotions from last night. The date with Lydia had been everything I hoped it would be, a moment of calm amid the chaos. I found myself smiling as I clicked through a report, her laughter from last night still echoing in my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen her truly happy, her guard down, and it reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect what we had built together. My cell phone vibrated on the desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Aiden. That name always brought a mix of feelings. Reassurance, because he was a solid ally, and apprehension, because his calls often came with heavy news. I picked up, leaning back in my chair, "Aiden, what’s the update?" His voice was steady but carried an edge, like a surgeon
(Adeline)The front garden was always my favorite place to sit, especially in the morning. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like nature’s whisper of reassurance. Today, I felt lighter, less weighed down by the fog of fatigue that had wrapped around me since the surgery. A week had passed, and though I knew there was still a long road ahead, scans, radiotherapy, and who knew what else, I was grateful for small mercies like this. Lydia sat beside me, her posture relaxed but her eyes distant. She should have been glowing after her date with Thomas last night; I’d seen her excitement all day leading up to it. Yet, there was something off about her today, a subtle undercurrent of worry she couldn’t quite hide. I reached over and patted her hand, drawing her out of her thoughts, “You seem troubled, my dear. What’s on your mind?” She blinked, then gave me a soft smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Nothing to worry about, Mama. Just…think
(Margaret)The mansion was quiet, its grand halls and rooms bathed in moonlight, but I was still awake, as I often was these days. Sleep came sparingly. I’d taken to wandering the mansion late at night, a habit born of restlessness and regret. Tonight, I found myself seated in the parlor, nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, when I heard the faint creak of the front door. Ruby. Her steps were light but purposeful, and as she crossed into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of her face. She looked lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something about her expression that tugged at me, a pang I couldn’t quite place but that settled uncomfortably in my chest. “Ruby,” I called gently, my voice cutting through the stillness. She froze for a moment, her back to me, before turning slightly, her posture tense. Her eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them, before she resumed her stride, heading toward the staircase.
(Jack)The room was bathed in the muted glow of the television, the credits of the movie rolling silently on the screen. Ruby lay beside me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, her breathing slow and even as she slept. I didn’t dare move. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her, taking in the soft lines of her face, the way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest. Her hair framed her face, catching the dim light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. I shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t let myself get caught up in the illusion. But in that moment, it felt impossible not to. For years, this apartment had been a space I’d tried to keep void of emotion, a place where I could compartmentalize my life, separate work from personal chaos. But Ruby had changed that. When she’d been here, this place had felt alive, warm. And now, with her asleep beside me, it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.My mind wandered back to the few
(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