Yvonne stayed for quite a while at Amy's house, and during that time, she discovered the profound sense of peace she felt away from the home where all her trauma had originated. After expressing her desire to move out from her former house to secure the peace her heart needed, Amy discussed it with her fiancÃĐ. He eagerly asked Amy to move in with him, allowing Yvonne to remain at Amy's apartment.Amy suggested that Yvonne should consider settling the paperwork of ownership with the building management after Amy's lease ended. Yvonne insisted she would only stay if she was allowed to pay Amy back, and finally, a decision was made after Amy reluctantly agreed.Yvonne now had a new apartment. Amy came regularly to take her personal belongings until the house was ready to be rearranged to Yvonne's liking. Aside from work, Yvonne procrastinated on decorating her new home and eagerly anticipated the day Lily and Jack would return. The nightly video chats with Lily made her evenings, affecti
Micheal coughed in embarrassment. The lengths his children would go to use him to impress their new friend were immeasurable.âI am very useful,â he echoed his son's words, and Yvonne couldnât help but burst into laughter.Micheal grew confused. âMy usefulness is funny to you, Miss Yvonne? Ha, Iâm glad,â he said sarcastically.âYou should see your expression, Mr. Langston. You look horrified,â Yvonne replied.She was sure Micheal would never help her unpack, and his expression confirmed her thoughts. Micheal looked as if he had swallowed an abomination. His lips twitched in obvious irritation but morphed into a forced smile when his kids turned around.It was simply hilarious.âHe looks grumpy, right?â Lily asked.Yvonne nodded, still smiling.âDonât worry. Heâll do it anyway,â Jack added, and with that, both kids dragged Yvonne toward the table set for their dining in the private room of the restaurant.Yvonne's and Lily's plates were packed full of food. Jack kept filling Yvonneâs
In the end, Yvonne found herself browsing a few interior decor magazines with Lily, who sat comfortably between her legs. The little darling looked extremely pleased where she was, and the same could be said about Yvonne. As Lily gave her suggestions like an adult, Yvonne subconsciously brushed her fingers through Lily's hair. Yvonne had initially hoped to paint the walls in her preferred colors and maybe set up a small office in a corner of the room that faced the balcony, providing a serene view of the sky. But with Lily acting so enthusiastically over the designs, she immediately changed her mind. She thought about Micheal being a driver, assuming he lived a modest life. The thought of bringing the little girl's fantasy to life made her heart swell with joy. Spending on that felt more fulfilling than dressing up and booking expensive restaurants to rebuild a relationship. She knew David still felt something for her, but after how he treated her that night, Yvonne regretted puttin
Finally, Micheal was done with his task. He looked around the room with a sense of pride. He had never bothered with such mundane tasks in his life. With enough money at his disposal, he had always had helpers to take care of these aspects. However, after spending over three years taking care of his children, it didn't feel as distant as it once had, and he was proud of the outcome.With his hands on his hips, Micheal glanced around the room with his lips pursed. Jack knew that was his father's pleased expression. He jumped down from his inspection stage and raised his hand to give his father a high five. Micheal bent his tall frame and lightly pressed his large palm to Jack's small one. Jack was proud of his father; he had done a good job impressing the woman he still strongly believed would be his mommy.âDo you want to go call her to have a look?â Micheal asked Jack, who eagerly nodded his head and ran outside the bedroom. Micheal took a quick glance around and quickly smoothed the
Yvonne had no idea how to respond and merely smiled to cover up the awkwardness. She understood that Micheal was doing everything he could for his children, but how did he feel personally? It was admirable that he did so much for his children's sake, but what about his own integrity? Was he upset that he had to touch a stranger's belongings?Yvonne wondered what thoughts roamed through his mind as he helped her unpack while she sat in the living room, scrolling through magazines. âThank you very much, Mr. Langston. Would you like a cup of water? Juice?â she asked.âWater will be fine. Daddy doesn't like juice,â Lily replied on Micheal's behalf. âThey are in charge,â Micheal gestured helplessly, which made Yvonne smile softly."Water it is, then,â Yvonne said, and they all walked back into the living room.Out of excitement, the kids suggested they watch a cartoon. Micheal was used to this routine, but it was a trigger for Yvonne, who had once purchased so many different types of car
In less than two hours, the children were fast asleep.Yvonne gestured to Micheal, asking him to help take the kids to her bedroom, but he shook his head and typed something on her phone.*"15 more minutes before you can move them, or they will wake up,"* read the message.When Yvonne saw the text, she nodded in agreement and continued to hold the kids close to her. Before the 15-minute mark, she had fallen asleep as well.Micheal was transfixed by the sight. Jack sat nestled against Yvonne, his head resting on her chest where it met Lily's head, which was nestled in between Yvonne's spread thighs. Yvonne held both children protectively, even as her head slumped back.He couldnât resist capturing the moment. He held up his phone and took a picture of the scene. The sudden click of the camera jolted Yvonne awake, but thankfully, her first instinct was to check on Lily and Jack to make sure they were alright. This gave Micheal the chance to quickly put his phone away.Yvonneâs half-clos
Micheal had been so engrossed in his work that he hadn't noticed the movements coming from Yvonne's room. She had woken up in the middle of the night, realizing she was still wearing the outfit from the dinner meeting. After changing into her pajamas, Yvonne searched for something more comfortable for the twins but found nothing suitable. Instead, she loosened their outfits to keep them as comfortable as possible. Her thoughts then drifted to Micheal, wondering how he was doing. It was strange having a man in her home who wasn't David, but she wasn't bothered by it. Micheal gave her a sense of assurance that he would never overstep his boundaries or cause problems for her, which was exactly what Yvonne needed as she navigated her new relationship with his kids.Expecting to see Micheal asleep on the couch, Yvonne was surprised to find him fully focused on his laptop screen. She approached him cautiously, stopping at a respectful distance before gaining his attention.Micheal closed
The next morning, Yvonne woke up to find that Micheal and the kids were already up. Despite their fatherâs refusal to allow them to bathe at her house, the kids had brushed their teeth and were ready for breakfast, which, surprisingly, Micheal had prepared.It was an omelet sandwichâsimple yet delicious. Yvonne ate her portion, dazed, under the curious gazes of Micheal and the kids. Apparently, Micheal had become a devoted participant in wooing her, with his childrenâs encouragement.Lily and Jack had suggested their father make their favorite sandwich so that their beloved Miss Yvonne would realize that cooking was another skill their daddy possessed. Yvonne, who was used to serving others all her life, was overwhelmed with emotion at being cooked for.She chewed with dazed and misty eyes, which made Micheal frown and Jack give his father a knowing look.Micheal then made up his mind to look into David. His curiosity had finally reached its peak.âDo you love it?â Lily asked.Yvonne
The house felt like a tomb. Silent, suffocating, and filled with ghosts of emotions Yvonne couldnât name.She had locked herself in for days, refusing contact with the outside world. The mere thought of facing reality made her sick to her stomachâliterally. Every meal her mother forced upon her barely made it past her throat before nausea clawed its way up, rejecting the sustenance she knew she needed.She was wasting away.Her reflection in the mirror had become a strangerâsunken eyes, hollow cheeks, a shadow of herself. And yet, she couldn't find it in her to care.Because how could she?How could she pretend to be okay when the one person she had given her trustâher safe placeâwas the very reason her world had collapsed?Michael.She had once whispered his name with reverence in her heart, with an aching sort of longing she never dared admit to him yet.Now?Now it felt like a curse.She should be grateful, right? Fate had played a cruel joke on her, but in the end, she hadnât los
A few hours after Davidâs arrestâoutside the police station.Sammy stood stiffly by the stationâs entrance, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched the doors swing open. David stepped out, his expression set in a tight scowl, flanked by his lawyer.She had done all she could. After failing to secure help from the companyâs legal team, she had arranged a private lawyer for him and stayed with him through the exhausting process. But it hadnât changed much.Yvonneâs father had opened a case against David, and while there wasnât enough physical evidence to detain him, the investigation was ongoing. David had been warnedâhe could be summoned at any time.Just as David took his first breath of fresh air, a furious voice cut through the tense atmosphere."You used my daughter."David barely had time to react before Yvonneâs father stormed toward him, each step fueled by pure rage. His cane tapped harshly against the pavement, his other hand pointing a trembling finger straight at
A lot had happened that day.Micheal had barely left the twinsâ room when he received an urgent call from his personal assistant, Sandra. The moment he answered, her voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief.âThereâs chaos at the company, sir. Something big happened early this morning.âMicheal frowned, gripping his phone tighter. âWhat kind of chaos?âSandra took a deep breath before delivering the bombshell.âItâs about DavidâĶ He was arrested.âFor a moment, Micheal said nothing, his mind processing the unexpected turn of events.Apparently, Yvonneâs father hadnât been able to stomach the full scope of what his daughter had suffered. And unlike beforeâwhen he had turned his back on herâthis time, he had taken action. He had wasted no time in seeking legal justice, making sure David paid for what he had put Yvonne through.The arrest had sent shockwaves through the company. Employees had been left speechless, watching in stunned silence as one of their highest-ranking executives
The Twins' Innocent ConfrontationAs soon as Micheal left the twins' room, Rebecca took a deep breath, regaining her composure. Now that she knew the truth, her purpose had shiftedâthis wasnât just about being a temporary nanny anymore. She was genuinely ready to care for the children in Yvonneâs absence.With renewed confidence, she approached the twins, a warm smile gracing her lips."Letâs get you two ready for school."But the moment her words left her mouth, she noticed a familiar exchange of glances between Jack and Lilyâsilent yet unmistakably purposeful, like they were communicating without speaking.Then Jack turned his gaze to her, his small brows furrowed. His voice, though soft, carried an unmistakable weight of accusation."Why did you lie to Mommy?"Rebecca's heart skipped a beat. The innocent yet mature expression on their faces made her falter, the sheer seriousness of their demeanor contrasting with their adorable features.She swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed unde
A Father's RedemptionThe embrace lingered for a few precious moments, a silent exchange of love and reassurance before Micheal kissed the twins' foreheads. He pulled back gently, his hands cupping their small faces as he gazed into their wide, trusting eyes. Before speaking, he subtly wiped away the remnants of his tears, determined to steady himself."What I want you two to know is that your mother loves you so much," Micheal said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. "She was super sad and sick when she thought she lost you two. So, have it in mind that she would never, under any circumstances, leave you again."Jack and Lily nodded, their tiny faces etched with a seriousness that melted Michealâs heart. He would have smiled at their cuteness if not for the crushing despair that lingered in his chest. What he was about to say next mattered more than anything.He took a deep breath. "So, what I want to say isâĶ if you two want to go to her now, she wonât say no. But
The Weight of Truth The morning light filtering through the curtains should have felt warm, comforting even, but it did nothing to ease the cold tension hanging in the room. Rebeccaâs finger hovered over the call button, her pulse quickening as she struggled to think of another way to handle the childrenâs sudden withdrawal. The silence from the twins was suffocating, their usual bright energy drained into something distant and unreadable. Just as she was about to press the dial, a deep, weary voice stopped her. "Donât call her." Rebecca jolted, her grip on the phone tightening. She turned swiftly, her gaze landing on Micheal, who stood at the doorway, his face shadowed with exhaustion. His usually sharp eyes were dim, weighed down by sleeplessness and something much deeperâregret. Without another word, Rebecca ended the call, slipping the phone into her pocket as she stepped aside. She recognized the authority in Michealâs voice; this was a conversation meant only for him and his
The night stretched on, thick with unease, shadows pressing against the walls of Michealâs home. He sat in his dimly lit study, the amber glow of his whiskey swirling in the glass he hadnât taken a sip from. His hands clenched the armrests of his chair, knuckles white from the pressure.He was drowning in emotions too intense, too suffocating.Anger, at the sheer audacity of David and Sammyâthe realization that Yvonneâs misery had been orchestrated for a business deal.Confusion, at how he had been placed at the centre of it all without his knowledge.And above all elseâfear.Fear of what this truth meant. Fear of the possibility that he had unknowingly been the reason Yvonneâs life had unravelled. The woman he loved. The woman he had vowed to protect.Was he her nightmare?He wanted to reject it, to push the thoughts away, but they wrapped around his mind like chains, dragging him deeper into torment.He needed answers.If his mother had orchestrated this, then she was not above lyin
The room was thick with silenceâso heavy it felt suffocating. The air itself seemed to pause, unwilling to carry the weight of Yvonneâs confession any further.Yvonne had just summarised everything she had been through, leaving out the fact that Micheal happened to be the man who had been the catalyst of her horror. The man had unknowingly become a tool to ruin her life.Across from her, her parents sat frozen, their expressions carved from pure shock. Her motherâs lips trembled, her eyes wide and unblinking, while her fatherâs face had lost all its color, drained of warmth, of disbelief, of every ounce of composure he once held.Two minutes passed. Not a single word was spoken.Then, like a fragile thread snapping under unbearable tension, her mother let out a heart-wrenching sob. She clutched her chest, shaking her head as if she could somehow will away the truth. Tears streamed down her face, and with a broken cry, she lurched toward Yvonne, wrapping her in the fiercest, most despe
The moment Yvonne stepped through the grand gates of her familyâs estate, a heavy weight settled onto her chest, pressing down like an invisible force threatening to suffocate her. The sight of the familiar stone pathways, the towering oak trees lining the driveway, and the grand house standing against the twilight skyâall of it should have been comforting. But instead, it shattered her. This was home. The place where she had once felt safe, loved, untouchable. And yet, it had also been the place where she had been cast aside, left to fend for herself in a world that had swallowed her whole. Her legs barely carried her as she stepped into the house, the familiar scent of lavender and aged wood filling her lungs. The warmth of the golden lights did nothing to chase away the chill in her bones. She was trembling, her hands clutching her coat as if it could shield her from the memories clawing at the edges of her mind. Her mother was the first to see her. âYvonne?â The voice was s