(Ruby)Ever since the accident, the gossip columns and tabloids kept digging up stories about Lydia and Thomas.What was more, they had somehow learned about me as well. So, it was not just her that was under fire.Gallery to the Gossip Pages: Billionaire’s Ex and Her Sister, they read.Art Attack. Canvas Chaos.And the worst one so far … Billionaire Brats. That one was about the twins.I could not let Lydia find out about any of this. Nor, for that matter, could I confide in Thomas.The two of them had just begun a lovely reconciliation period after a trying time. Somehow, the press had gotten a hold of pictures of the twins. For Lydia to discover this would have been very distressful.I was actually concerned that her finding out would not only take a toll on her mental health but also wedge a rift between Thomas and her. So, I had been doing everything in my power to keep this news away from her.But, I had known that she would eventually find out. So, in my desperation, I had turn
(Thomas)I was driving over to the car mechanic. I had given him Lydia’s car a couple of weeks ago and he had called me today and told me that it was ready.“What’s wrong with it?” I had asked him when I handed it in, “The fuel tank light went on barely thirty minutes into the drive. It made no sense at all. We had gas.”The mechanic, Gustav, an old friend of mine, had leaned in and said, “Have you made any enemies recently, Mr. Lombardi?”I had scratched my head. “No?” I had said, “I don’t think so. Why?”“Well, someone damaged the gasoline pipe. It was clearly struck down on with great force, and not at an angle where it could have happened by accident.”I had gone pale. “Are you sure?” I had asked.“I’m positive, Mr. Lombardi,” he had said, “With my twenty years working with cars, I know when damage is intentional.”“Well, fix it up,” I had said. Gustav had nodded and gotten to work.***Now, as I thought about it, I had a horrible gut feeling that it was Sarah who had been behind
(Adeline)I walked down the dimly lit corridor, my heels clicking the stone floor. On both sides were black bars and prisoners in gray suits snored behind them. It was still very early on in the day; the sun had barely begun to climb.“Your recovery is going great,” the doctors had said, “your chemo appears to be very effective.”I had smiled and laughed. “It appears as though I’ve got a second shot at life.”I did not want to waste it.“You’re worthless!” he had said, hurling a fist at my eye. I had wept and sobbed, covering my bruising eye with both hands.“You’re a disgrace upon this earth!”“Why did you marry me then?” I had squealed, tears streaming down my cheeks and sobs escaping unbidden.He had narrowed his eyes and dropped his voice to a whisper. “Don’t talk back to me.”I shuddered at the memory. Lydia had always asked me why I had not run but I had a very simple answer. When I had been a little girl, my father used to beat my mother. When I had started growing up, he had
(Lydia)I placed my fingers on his lips, feeling his warm breath running through my hand.“Not yet,” I said to Thomas.“Why not?” he asked, wrapping his arms around me and tugging me closer.Every single atom in my body wanted to give in. I shut my eyes, embraced the feeling, and then looked up at him.“Because we still haven’t completed our new first date,” I said. There was a twinkle in my eye. I was giddy with happiness. And I had already forgiven him. After all, losing his memory had not been his fault. But that did not mean that I was going to make the journey back to me as simple as crossing the street.He needed to work hard for it and make up for everything that I had been through.“When do you want to do it?” Thomas said, “The first date?”I smiled and then looked back down at my cup of ice-cream. I scooped up a spoonful and put it in my mouth,I let the moment stretch out between us.“When I get well enough to resume work,” I said, “we can go out.”“And when is that?” Thomas
(Ruby)I blushed again. My heart was pounding. Lydia looked softly at me.We had barely touched our dinner. Throughout the night, I kept staring at Jack. His eyes were burning, too.“Let’s get out of here,” he had said. I had taken his hand and we had scrambled to his car, laughing.Once home, I had tip-toed my way to his bedroom, pressing my hand against my mouth to suppress the giggles. He pulled the other one.As soon as Jack shut the door behind me, he had pushed me against it. I had wrapped my arms around his back, feeling his strength. And then we had started making out.I had started unbuttoning his jacket and he had flung it away, leaving me to put my hand up under his shirt, tracing his firm abs with my fingers. Jack had started kissing my neck. He had hoisted me up in his arms and carried me over to his bed.Smiling and blushing, we had removed each other’s clothes with the same delight that children unwrap candy bars.Flinging my heels away, Jack had put a pillow under my h
(Lydia)It felt good to finally return to the theater. Everyone was so happy that I was back.“I’ve been practicing on my own while you were gone,” said Steve. He was very excited about Pride and Prejudice.I took a sip of my coffee and sat down with him in the lobby, discussing the script as well as some annotations that I had made. Steve had the kind of raw talent and inherent understanding of acting and theater that allowed me to talk to him about these things.It felt nice to be able to converse with a mentee about innovations that we could make in our characters in order to make them both blend in perfectly with the traditional character of the play while appearing fresh and modern.In a few minutes, Steve was joined by a young girl and a young boy.“Hello,” they said politely to me and sat down.“Hey,” I smiled back.“Lydia, these are Mary and George,” Steve said, “They’re new.”“Ah, that’s wonderful!” I exclaimed, pleased to see that I would be working with new people upon my r
(Lydia)“I’m Greg, miss,” said Greg, straightening up.“Oh,” I replied, “I’ve been told you’re clumsy.”I smiled. But, a pit formed in my stomach. Somewhere deep down, I could tell that something was not quite right.Was this the same man that I had seen that night outside the mansion? Or was that whole thing just a figment of my imagination?“Can I help you with anything, miss?” Greg asked hesitantly. He was visibly nervous. His small frame was shaking a little.“No, no,” I replied, shaking my head, “I just came here to check in on the noise, that’s all.”I turned around and walked all the way up to the lobby.***Thomas came to the theater.“Lydia!” he exclaimed, approaching me, “I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry with me.”I crossed my arms over my chest. I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t want to talk to you,” I sneered and turned to walk away.He grabbed my hand. “Listen to me, Lyddie,” he said. I turned my head and glared at him.“I didn’t mean it that way,” he pleaded, “I just w
(Jack)I was overjoyed these days. Ruby was beautiful, smart, sweet, gentle, and kind. And things just worked naturally between us.I wanted to pop the question but I was a little apprehensive of what Mama would say. And, besides, I had wasted so many years partying and flirting around the world on my adventures that, perhaps, now it was time to double down on my work.I had originally not wanted to be a businessman. That had always been Thomas’s dream.I had, instead, been interested in driving race cars.But my life was just naturally moving towards passion and my heart’s desires now.And, last night, when Ruby had been lying in my arms, I had talked to her about it.“What’s on your mind?” she had murmured, looking up at me.“It’s just…” I had said to her, “I see how passionate you are about your art and your work and you design such beautiful clothes. I’ve always been good at my work but it has never really felt as deeply satisfying as it should.”“And what feels satisfying to you?
(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.