Matthew Anderson.The last month and a half has been chaotic and everything has become confusing, with Steph returning to my life. I understand I can no longer have her back as my wife, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to know the truth.It cannot be that the girls are the same age, the same date of birth as Chris and that they are Vicenzo’s daughters. At least, it’s something I don’t want to believe, because that would mean that Stephanie was unfaithful to me with him, before the trap they set for me.But even so, the dates don’t add up. No, there’s something else here. Determined, I picked up the phone and called Taylor.“Yes, Mr. Anderson?”“Taylor, I need you to come to my office now.”“I’ll be right away, sir.”I cut off the phone and took something I stole from Steph’s house from my safe: a glass. The girls were drinking hot chocolate when I arrived to pick up Chris, and in the shock of Steph fainting, I took it with no one noticing.The door to my office opens and I see Taylo
Stephanie Toussaint.After dinner I had with Tom and Raul last week, I decided it was time Matt learned the truth. Enzo doesn’t agree, but understands that when it comes to this, he just has to support me.I sit on the bed with my cell phone in my hand. A bubbling is felt in my belly while stress invades me. Sighing, I gather the courage to do what I have to do.As I dial Matt’s number, which rings twice until I hear his voice saying, “Stephanie? How are you?”I see he is in a good mood. “Am okay. Thanks Matt.”“How do you feel? The last time I saw you, you were vomiting your insides into that poor plant.”I feel my cheeks blush at hearing him say that. In a whisper, I say. “I’m sorry.”“Why? There’s nothing wrong with what happened, Steph. No need to apologize. Alright?”“Alright.”“Good. Now tell me. To what do I owe the honor of your calling?”I clear my throat as I say, “Do you have time now? I need to talk to you, but I don’t want it to be on the phone. It is important. Could be?
Stephanie Toussaint.I stared at Matt in absolute shock. I can’t believe he already knows the girls are his, and he’s not mad. Actually, I cannot believe it. All this time, I formed an idea in my head that Matt was so immature and manipulative that he would do anything to do his bidding. It’s... a pleasant surprise, to tell the truth.I clear my throat and say, “Are you okay?”“Why wouldn’t I be? That’s wonderful news, Steph! I promise I will be the best dad the girls will ever have.”I sigh and tell him, “Matt, Enzo has been their dad all these years. They adore him. Don’t go against that because the girls are... stubborn. Imagine, they are our daughters.”I see him laugh as he says, “I can imagine how stubborn they can be. And I know Vicenzo has taken care of them. I promise I won’t get in the way of their relationship. I just want to meet them. Do they know about me?”“They know that they have a biological father, and they have their daddy, Vicenzo. The difference in how to name yo
Matthew Anderson.Having Stephanie so close to me made my heart race. She fainted in my arms and instead of asking for help, I wanted to keep her with me for a moment. I snuggled her in my lap while still stroking her hair and skin. I smell her scent, remembering how intoxicating it is.Having her so close to me makes me remember my life with her and how lucky I was to have her to myself for so many years. It’s funny to realize what you had until you lose it. I’ve always known how wonderful she is, but not being able to have her with me anymore only made me miss her even more. I am deeply in love with her! And most likely I will die loving her.But honestly, I don’t care. I’ve tried to rebuild my life in the arms of another woman and look how that turned out. Antonella wanted to kill Chris. And even if she denies it and there is no conclusive evidence against her, there will always be doubt. Apart from the fact that she left him forgotten in the park. All of this only makes the situat
Antonella Lombardo. Living under the shadow of a memory is as painful as being aware, every day, that you will never be the first. It’s frustrating to fall in love with a man who only sees you as his second choice. But that’s the way I love Matt. It may sound pathetic, I know. If my friends told me they would prefer to stay with the man despite knowing that their love is not returned, I would tell them they are idiots without self-love. Maybe it’s obsession or maybe it’s the prevailing desire not to fail, but I knew exactly what I was getting into when I accepted that drink the night we met. I knew that when he slept with me; he imagined he was with her. One night when we were in bed, he called me by her name. That was a low blow. Very low. I always wanted to meet him. Envy consumed me as I saw her radiant with happiness, planning her marriage with the man I knew was meant to be mine while browsing through the magazines. I was born to be Mrs. Anderson, not Stephanie. I drop my pen
Stephanie Toussaint.After the conversation I had with Matt, about what almost happened to him, and adding the stupid pregnancy hormones to that, I felt more confused than ever. It’s as if the years had not passed and the butterflies that I feel every time he is around have been reactivated.After I got home, I went out with Enzo to have our love affair. And as always, it was great. However, the little voice in the back of my head kept telling me how much I would like to feel Matt’s lips on mine again. What? What the fuck am I thinking? Get out of there, Stephanie! It’s just the hormones making me hornier than usual.I sigh, thinking about all this, as I look out the car window. “Babe, we’re here.” Enzo’s husky and velvety voice interrupts my thoughts.I look around and realize that we are indeed already at Saint George’s School. We get off. Enzo takes my hand, and we enter the building.It has ancient architecture, with fine finishes. In the hallways, you can see some children from a
Stephanie Toussaint.Christian’s question stuck in my soul. Damn kids! I forgot how cruel they can be to those who are different from them. Thank God, I have never had these types of problems with the girls, since they know how to defend themselves. Most likely, if they were here, they would take revenge on the children who made Christian suffer.I hug him tighter, protecting him against my chest. I look up and tell Enzo, “Call Matt. He has to know this.”He sighs, nods silently, takes out his cell phone and calls Matt. The director quickly approaches me, saying, “But Mrs. Toussaint, there is no need to bother Matt with this.”I frown, enraged, as I say, “Are you serious? You, being an educator, don’t you consider this to be serious? That children tell him this is not childish or something about age. This makes up school abuse. I presume you have protocols to address these types of situations. Right?”The director widens his eyes and stammers a “Yes.”“Do you mind explaining them to m
Matthew Anderson.Two weeks later.After a week of intense searching, Stephanie and I found the perfect school for the three children. In honor of me being able to get close to the girls, we agreed that we’ll take turns picking them up so I can spend time with them without scaring them away.A few days ago, Stephanie mentioned to me she wanted to go back to work, but Enzo got furious with her for telling me. Honestly, I don’t know what problems they both have, but I’m secretly glad they do. It may sound selfish, but my love for her has not diminished at all in all these years. It has only increased.Every day that I can spend a few minutes with her, talk to her, or just see her smile makes my day considerably better. I find myself smiling more and being nicer to everyone. She makes me be and want to be a better person.“Matt?”I shake my head, turn my chair and there I see her. Radiant, beautiful and perfect, stopped at the door with her smile on her face and her bright green eyes, lo