(Lydia)Mama was in the ICU. She had been there for the past three days. I could not believe that she would have risked her life like that. She was too old and feeble to take glaring risks such as these. The police had caught my father’s companion but there had been no trace of my father yet.It appeared as though he had vanished into thin air.“I’ve got the intelligence on his tail,” Thomas had told me firmly, “There is absolutely no way that he is going to get away with harming our children.”Mabel and Miles had been very shaken after the incident. It pained me to no end. I had spent the entirety of their lives trying to ensure that the environment around them was always safe, comfortable, and free from drama.And, yet, they had endured something as gruesome and morbid as a kidnapping.The thought kept shattering my heart to pieces. Ruby had been trying her best to revive the children. Jack had brought them an entire basket full of toys and kept bringing in new flavors of ice cream
(Thomas)Sarah was still in the hospital but it was not her that I was here for every day. I came here for my baby girl. Mabel needed extensive psychological care in order to be able to overcome her trauma.When I walked over to Lydia and the others today, she was crying into Adam’s arms.I clenched my fist. Why was he here again?I did not want Adam to be around Lydia but understood that she needed him as a friend right now. After all, he had been there throughout the years that I had not. He had been there to support and help her through the first three years of raising her children.Still, it infuriated me that now that I was here, Adam was still around.I could have hurled a fist at his face. But now was neither the time nor the place.Lydia looked up at me, red eyed, when I walked towards her. “Thomas!” she sobbed, running up to me.“What is it, Lydia?” I frowned.The next words that she spoke tore my universe apart and sent me off into the most reeling rage that I had ever expe
(Lydia)“How could you do this?!” I raged at him. My father raised a brow. His mouth had become bloody and, disgustingly, he swallowed it.“What did you expect of me, girl?” he inquired.I wanted to smack that stupid grin off his face.“I’m going to make you pay,” I fumed, raising a finger at him, “You had better be certain of that!”“What are you going to do?” he shrugged, “Put me in jail? You’ve already done that.”I could not believe this man – at the complete lack of remorse that he felt. Suddenly, my head began to throb.“YOUR PARTNER MOLESTED YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER!” I screeched, “HAVE YOU NO HEART?!”My father paused for a second. Then, he leered again. “John only likes little girls,” he said, “But, relax. Nothing happened.”He winked.Thomas flung another fist at him. I heard a crunch. My father looked up at us again. A streak of blood began pouring from his nostril.“We think that he’s under heavy influence,” said Anders, “It was in a casino that we found him.”I gazed at my fath
(Lydia)I rolled my eyes at her. “What do you want now?” I groaned.Sarah grinned. “What a precious child!” she exclaimed, extending a hand towards Mabel. I swatted it away. She looked at me, stunned.“If you’ll excuse us,” I said through gritted teeth, “My daughter has an appointment with her doctor.”“Oh, so she’s in the same hospital as I!” Sarah batted her lashes at me.“I don’t have time for this,” I said, leaning for the doorknob.She grabbed my wrist.“I thought that I told you to back off!” she snarled, the corners of her eyes curling as she sneered.I shook Sarah’s hand off and opened the door to the doctor’s office.“You’re pathetic,” I murmured to her before I took Mabel inside.***“She’s deranged,” Thomas shook his head. We were back at my house and Mabel was building a tower of blocks with her brother.Ruby had taken Mama to the park. It was just the four of us here.“My only concern,” I said to Thomas, “is that my child should not witness her crazy behavior. It doesn’t
(Thomas)My blood had boiled at seeing Adam at her house again. I could tell that he cared for Lydia. But it was over my dead body that he would ever get together with her!Lydia had said that my engagement with Sarah was enough to keep us apart. So, I would have to end the engagement.I wanted to do that myself. But Mother had been so insistent about my marriage to her. She was right about the potential for scandal that underlined this whole situation. The bloggers and news reporters would have a field day out of it.And my company was not performing so well in the international market at the moment. I could not afford to have it drop a few more points.But … spending the rest of my life with Sarah? During the time that I had spent with her at the hospital, I had come to see her for what she truly was: petulant, needy, childish, and immature.The very act of trying to hurt herself and the baby, was in and of itself, sufficient grounds for Mother to have understood that she was not fi
(Lydia)I was baking a cake: sponge with meringue and almonds and a delicious custard filling. Mama used to bake it for Ruby and I when we were little. It was a difficult task, putting it all together, but that only made me realize how much love Mama had poured into us while she had dealt with an abusive husband.I had spent so long resenting Mama for everything that I had forgotten all of the good memories. After the incredible sacrifice that she had made in an effort to help the police catch my father – he had still escaped but that did not mean Mama had not tried her best – I wanted to dedicate an entire evening to her.So, I had asked Ruby to take Mama to the park while I made the preparations at home. I had also brought home some knitting equipment – Ruby had acquired that skill from Mama – as well as a whole lot of art paraphernalia.I wanted Mama to return to art. She was so incredibly gifted that it made no sense for her to stay away from this line of work. I had already depos
(Thomas)Mother’s eyes widened for a second. Then, she regained her composure and set her iPad aside. She removed her spectacles and raised her brows.“And why is that?” she asked.I was still overcome with emotion. “That woman is indecent, rude, and tacky. She is in no way fit to be my wife!” I exclaimed all in one breath. I was panting.Mother looked quizzically at me. “And what about the child?” she asked.“I’ll raise it!” I declared.My heart was pounding. I was overwhelmed. But this had to be done.Mother got up from her seat. She slowly turned her figure.“I know,” she grimaced, “That you have feelings for Lydia, my son. But there is absolutely no way that I will allow this to happen.”I gazed at her, stunned. “What?--”“Our shares are dropping every day,” she said, “The board has called a meeting.”Mother looked up at me and stepped forward.“I understand how you feel, my child,” she murmured, “And, if I’m speaking the truth, I no longer have any particular affinity towards Sar
(Sarah)I did not want to look fat, even if that meant putting off wearing the cushioned band that I had bought for myself. Surprisingly, it had been Lydia’s theater where I had picked it up. And that is what had given me the idea. Actors pretend to be all sorts of things. Why couldn’t I pretend to be pregnant?It would get rid of that awful Lydia. It would get me the man of my dreams.The man of my dreams. I smiled as I looked into the mirror.Thomas may not have feelings for me at this time – he had rushed out of my house yesterday – but I knew that he was a man of honor. He would not let me have a child outside of wedlock.So I had patiently endured his rude behavior. After all, he would have no choice but to come back to me!I tucked away the ultrasound reports back into their original files. Both folders lay on the table before me: one, now empty and one now full. The former said, “Sarah Winchester” –me! And the latter … it said Rebecca Waters.Rebecca had charged me a hefty sum
(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.