The next morning, Michael decided to speak with Yvonne before his children could. He arrived at the kindergarten earlier than usual, hoping to catch her before class started. He found her setting up the classroom, her back turned to him. "Miss Yvonne," he called softly. She turned, surprised to see the tall, imposing figure of Michael behind her. He was dressed in a luxurious, customized suit that framed his athletic build perfectly. "Mr. Langston, is everything alright?" she asked, standing straight and tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, embarrassed by how striking he looked. Michael fought the urge to follow her hand movement and nodded, stepping closer. Despite her simple outfits, Yvonne's figure always brought out the beauty of whatever she wore—a fact Michael had noticed in their few meetings. But he pushed the thought aside, knowing it wouldn't matter if Yvonne turned out to be manipulative. Michael disliked people who schemed to get what they wanted. "Can we fin
Deep into the night, Yvonne lay curled in a fetal position in the middle of her bed. Sweat and tears soaked the mattress beneath her as her body burned with fever. The relentless scenes of the day she gave birth replayed in her head hundreds of times, each memory stabbing her with a fresh wave of pain. Earlier that day, an event had triggered her trauma, opening old wounds she thought had healed. Despite finding Michael's situation pitiful, she couldn't help but be amused until Lily and Jack settled into the classroom for the day's lecture and activities. The twins looked happier than Yvonne had ever seen them. They even ignored the teasing from students who found amusement in asking if their mommy would pick them up instead of some nanny. The twins kept smiling and waving at her, their innocence and joy palpable. It was adorable, but then things took a turn for the worse when they approached her after school. Some students still lingered, but Lily and Jack walked up to Yvonne an
As soon as David ended the call, Sammy slumped onto the bed and suddenly began to sob.David gritted his teeth in frustration before sitting next to her, attempting to hug her, but she pushed him away. “Don't touch me, David. You clearly still love her,” she accused.“Of course not. I stopped loving her three years ago, Sammy,” David said, his voice firm but gentle.Sammy looked up to gaze at him, then motioned at his phone with her reddened eyes. "Then what was that all about?”“I was worried. Her mental health is fragile,” David explained, his tone softening.Sammy rolled her eyes. “That was not the point, David. Did you see your face when you were receiving the call? That doesn't look like worry to me. You still care about her romantically. You nearly exposed the fact that you are still in town to her.”David sighed, his shoulders slumping. “What do you want me to do now?” he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.Sammy suddenly hugged him tightly and said, “Tell me you do not lov
A few days after her full recovery from depression and hallucinations, Yvonne was finally ready to return to school. As she stepped onto the school premises, the hurt in Lily and Jack's eyes surfaced in her mind, making her heart sink.Her thoughts drifted to her sessions with Amy. Amy had helped her realize that the children were essentially strangers. While she had the free will to love them, she shouldn't let them be a source of pain and torment. Amy also pointed out that the twins wouldn't be happy to know they had hurt their beloved teacher.Yvonne gulped, bracing herself to face the children, but to her relief, they weren't in class. At first, it was a comfort. The children chanted her name in excitement, pleased to see her return. However, as soon as they started discussing how the twins wouldn't be a reason for their sweet teacher to scold them anymore, Yvonne grew confused. She checked the children's records, only to realize that Lily and Jack had been absent since the day af
David had just registered at a gym in the district where he and his soon-to-be wife had recently bought their home. He walked with a content smile on his lips, savoring the life he had always craved. The area was filled with luxurious houses owned by wealthy individuals, a stark contrast to the small apartment he had shared with Yvonne. The difficult life he had endured to become what he currently was now seemed worth it. A man set for life, David no longer worried about money and held an unshakable position in the Langston Corporation. This prestigious position had been awarded to him by the Madam of the Langston group herself. Not even the CEO could remove him.In short, David was set for life. His next biggest move was to finally marry the woman who had been the brains behind his success. Yvonne had once been useful to him, but now, in his eyes, she was no longer valuable.Upon arriving at the gym, David easily socialized with the gym instructors and his neighbors. However, his sm
Yvonne had been preoccupied with her thoughts concerning Lily and Jack. She recalled when she had first arrived at the school.The children would arrive happy but leave in a sour mood. She became drawn to their demeanor, watching them intently when she had nothing important to do.The twins were remarkably smart for their age, and their intense moods made them a mystery to her until her curiosity led her to discover they were being bullied.It wasn't physical bullying because Jack never allowed that. When other kids taunted him, he would lower his head and walk away quickly. He was cool-headed and could overlook being poked or having his clothes pulled, enduring their laughter with remarkable composure.However, whenever Lily was present, Jack's demeanor changed. He would glare at the bullies, and if they tried to touch his sister, he would push them to the ground, making them fear him.One such incident led to a mother showing up at school to complain about a bruise her child suffere
Yvonne stood in front of a luxurious brand store that had recently opened a branch in her country. She had saved up a lot of money since David no longer needed her assistance after securing a job at the Langston Group.Taking a deep breath, Yvonne stepped inside. She was immediately surrounded by beautiful clothes and classy customers who casually pointed at dresses without checking the prices.Unaccustomed to such luxury, Yvonne's heart leaped when she saw one of the price tags. "$7,500!"She panicked. Her monthly salary wasn't even close to that amount. Then, she noticed a young lady with two friends squealing in delight over a dress and adding it to her collection without hesitation.Yvonne felt out of place. Doubt crept in as she considered the price. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but the thought of spending so much on a dress she would rarely wear made her reluctant.Just as she was about to leave, she spotted a row of dresses at a distant corner of the store, marked wi
“Miss Yvonne?” Micheal's words came out more like a question.Yvonne smiled softly and nodded. “It’s me,” she said.Micheal was surprised to see her all dolled up and wearing such a revealing dress. Her long slender legs were in full display. She looked like a totally different version of herself.For some reason, he imagined her previous persona had been fake all along. He had planned to still befriend her for his children's sake, but now he felt the need to study her more before making that decision.Even though Lily and Jack claimed they no longer liked Yvonne, they weren't happy as the days passed by. They resisted their urge to return to school and see her. He could read them like an open book. The kids often brought up her betrayal just to motivate themselves not to give in to the temptation of seeing her again.“Nice to see you again,” Micheal said in a passive tone, noticing Yvonne staring at Sandra beside him.He cleared his throat and said, “This is my boss. I drove her arou
Yvonne’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she drove, her thoughts tumbling over one another in a chaotic spiral. Rebecca’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, each revelation a fresh jab at her sanity. Her mother-in-law’s scheming mentality, the involvement of Sammy, and Rebecca’s initial role in the plot — it was too much to bear.Her stomach churned violently, nausea clawing at her insides. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she struggled to maintain her composure. She took a shaky breath, but the bile rising in her throat was impossible to suppress.Spotting an empty stretch of road, Yvonne veered her car to the side and flung the door open. She leaned out just in time as her stomach revolted, expelling everything inside. Her body trembled as the wave of nausea subsided, leaving her weak and disoriented. She sat there for a moment, head resting against the steering wheel, trying to steady her ragged breathing."You fool! You idiot!" she muttered through gritted teeth,
The soft chime of his phone disrupted Micheal’s focus. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing as he read the message from one of the guards stationed at home:Something happened between Rebecca and Yvonne. She doesn’t look well.Micheal’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. A wave of unease washed over him, and he leaned back in his chair, staring at the text. Had he made a mistake? She could still recall Yvonne’s fear from the previous night.He had allowed Yvonne to have her way, insisting Rebecca should be given a chance to integrate into their lives for the children’s sake. Micheal had been reluctant, sensing the complexities of Rebecca’s intentions, but Yvonne’s kindhearted nature had won out.Now, he wondered if his trust had been misplaced.Without wasting another moment, he dialed the guard’s number. The line clicked, and the guard answered immediately.“What happened?” Micheal’s tone was sharp, leaving no room for ambiguity.The guard hesitated briefly. “Sir
The weight of Rebecca’s revelation hung heavily in the air, leaving Yvonne utterly speechless.Her mind swirled with questions, each one louder than the last. What baffled her most was the audacity of Rebecca’s confession. Why would she admit this so confidently? Did she not realize that Yvonne held the power to banish her from their lives entirely?Yvonne’s lips parted, a shaky breath escaping as she tried to gather her thoughts. Finally, she managed to stammer, “What are... are you saying?” Her voice trembled, her wide eyes searching Rebecca’s face for clarity.Rebecca exhaled deeply, her gaze flicking toward the kitchen door as if she expected someone to burst in. “It’s a long story,” she murmured, her tone steady but tinged with weariness. “And it’s not fair to keep the kids waiting.”Her eyes returned to Yvonne, filled with an unexpected vulnerability. “I told you this because I can’t do it anymore, Yvonne. I can’t laugh with the children, play the part of their loving aunt, know
The sunlight streaming through the curtains felt warmer than usual, but Yvonne barely noticed it. The house was silent except for the soft padding of her feet down the hallway. Micheal was already gone for work—something he always did on the mornings Rebecca visited. It wasn’t a coincidence, Yvonne knew that much. He loathed being around Rebecca, but his absence meant Yvonne had to deal with her. Today was one of the days Rebecca will come to their house. Yvonne reached the twins’ room, her frustration tempered by the sight of Jack and Lily sleeping soundly. She knelt beside Lily, brushing a stray curl from her face. “Good morning, sweetheart,” she whispered, kissing her temple. Lily stirred, her eyes fluttering open as a small smile stretched across her lips. “Good morning, Mommy.” Jack woke up next, rubbing his eyes groggily. Yvonne pulled him into a brief hug, pressing a kiss to his forehead before helping them both out of bed. She guided them to the bathroom, assisting them a
Yvonne woke up the next morning, her mind tangled with remnants of last night’s conversation with Micheal. She lay still, watching the sunlight filter through the curtains, trying to convince herself that all was well. Micheal’s words had been so reassuring, yet a flicker of doubt still tugged at her. She thought of Rebecca’s presence in their lives. Was it truly harmless, as Micheal had suggested, or was there something more beneath her growing closeness to the kids? Micheal’s confidence had left her feeling comforted, yet it didn’t fully quiet the lingering worry that Rebecca’s bond with Jack and Lily might, over time, change things in ways she hadn’t anticipated. With a sigh, Yvonne reached for her phone. Maybe I’m overthinking this, she thought, dialing Amy’s number. Amy always had a way of seeing things clearly, and even if it was a small thing, Yvonne needed her perspective. Amy picked up after the second ring, her voice warm. “Good morning, Yvonne! You’re up early.” Yvonne g
After spending 20 more minutes to honor Amy, Micheal was signaling to Yvonne that it is time to leave, which Amy caught and teased him with.However she understood that they lived far from her place. If they wait till her husband returns home, they will have to travel late into the night.The family of four bid their farewell and soon they arrived at home.When it was finally time for bed, Yvonne tucked the twins in, their sleepy faces lighting up at her presence. She kissed each of them goodnight, lingering a little longer with Jack, who whispered, “Are you going to tell us more stories tomorrow?”“Of course,” Yvonne replied softly, her heart aching. She turned off the light and closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath to steady herself.Once the children were settled, she joined Micheal in their room. The atmosphere was calm, but Yvonne couldn’t shake her worries. She could feel the tension still lingering between them, and Micheal sensed it too.“Yvonne,” he said softly, mo
The afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow over Yvonne and Amy as they prepared a light meal. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread and ripe strawberries, and the sound of laughter echoed from the kids’ playroom. Jack and Lily were busy crafting their imaginary worlds, their giggles a sweet melody that made Yvonne’s heart swell.“Can you believe your graduation is just around the corner?” Amy said, glancing up from chopping vegetables, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’ve worked so hard for this, Yvonne. It’s such a big deal!”Yvonne smiled, a mix of pride and anxiety churning within her. “I know! It feels surreal. After everything, I’m finally going to walk across that stage.” She paused, her gaze drifting to the children’s laughter. “But it’s also intimidating. What’s next for me? I want to make sure I don’t let anyone down, especially Micheal and the kids.”“Oh, come on,” Amy said, waving her knife playfully. “
Amy’s grip on Yvonne’s hand tightened, her gaze steady as she continued, “Look, I’m not saying it’ll be easy. The kids already like her, which makes it more complicated. But you have to set boundaries. You can’t let her keep weaving herself in, Yvonne.”Yvonne took a shaky breath, the weight of Amy’s words pressing on her. “You’re right. I was so focused on what was best for Jack and Lily that I forgot… I have a place in this family too. I’ve built this with them, with Micheal.” She paused, feeling a new determination fill her. “Maybe it’s time I start acting like it.”Amy’s expression softened as she nodded. “Exactly. I know how much the kids mean to you, and I understand your instinct to want them happy, but there’s a line. You can still protect what you’ve built with them without being super kind or allowing someone in unnecessarily. You don’t owe anyone access to your family if it makes you uncomfortable.”Yvonne’s shoulders relaxed slightly, feeling the weight shift from her ches
Yvonne stepped out of the car with a faint smile, holding Jack and Lily’s hands as they made their way up to Amy’s front door. It had been too long since they’d had a real conversation. Today was meant to be light-hearted, just a simple visit, but a persistent weight had settled over Yvonne’s heart, one she knew she’d eventually need to unburden to Amy.When the door swung open, Amy’s face immediately lit up with delight as she supported her baby bump with her left hand. “There they are! My favorite little troublemakers,” she grinned, crouching down to greet Jack and Lily with open arms. The twins broke into bright smiles, rushing forward for hugs as they babbled eagerly about their latest adventures and mischief.“Aunt Amy!” Jack exclaimed, eyes twinkling. “Guess what? I learned to ride my bike without training wheels!”“Oh, is that so?” Amy raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. “Next thing I know, you’ll be driving cars! And what about you, Lily? What amazing things have you done this