Yvonne’s footsteps echoed against the quiet street as she stepped out of the estate gates, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. Her heart still pounded from the confrontation with her mother, the lingering pain in her scalp a reminder of the violent outburst. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but one thing was clear—she had to get out of there, away from the suffocating atmosphere of the Lawrence estate.Spotting a taxi, she waved it down, her hand trembling slightly. The driver pulled up, and she climbed inside with a quick breath."Where to, miss?" the driver asked, his voice gruff yet uninterested.Yvonne hesitated, patting her sides, searching for her bag. Her heart dropped when she realized it wasn’t with her. I left it in the dining room.She leaned forward slightly, trying to keep her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside her. "I need to get back to my place… but I left my wallet inside the estate. I can run up and get money for you once we arrive."The dr
The night air was still, thick with the weight of all that had been left unsaid. Yvonne sat at the bus stop, her knees hugged to her chest as she stared vacantly into the distance, the coolness of the evening seeping into her bones. The streetlights bathed her in a pale glow, casting shadows across her hollowed eyes and rigid posture.Micheal’s car screeched to a halt a few feet away from her, his heart pounding as he spotted her fragile figure. Without thinking, he threw open the door and rushed toward her. His legs carried him to her in a sprint, his breath heavy with both relief and dread."Yvonne," he called softly, crouching in front of her. His voice cracked, his hands trembling as he gently lifted her chin, tilting her face towards him. Her skin was icy under his touch, her cheeks pale except for the redness that marred her right side.Her eyes, dull and lifeless, barely registered his presence."Baby," he whispered, slipping his jacket off and wrapping it around her shoulders.
At the door to Micheal’s room, Yvonne paused, her back to him. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice strained. "Are the children asleep?"Micheal nodded, even though she wasn’t looking at him. "They are," he replied softly.Yvonne started toward her own room, but Micheal followed closely behind, unwilling to let her go so easily. When she reached the door, she turned to face him, her eyes filled with exhaustion and pain. "Go, Micheal," she said quietly, her voice firm but brittle. "I need to be alone."But Micheal shook his head, his chest tightening as he spoke. "No, I can’t leave you like this." His voice was thick with emotion, and for the first time, he refused to grant her the space she so often demanded. "I’m not letting you cry yourself to sleep tonight, Yvonne. Not alone. I want to be here for you, whether you want me here or not. Let me be with you through these moments of confusion.”“Guess who had contributed to that confusion, you!” She said with a cold ton
Yvonne lay curled on her bed, wrapped tightly in her thoughts, her head racing through possibilities. She couldn’t escape the whirlpool of emotions and betrayals that left her drained. The weight of Micheal's deceit, though now understood in parts, clung to her like a heavy fog. Her chest tightened with fear and sadness, but in the midst of it all, she remembered her breathing training with Lily.The last thing she wanted was to cause Lily another panic attack. The image of her precious children crying for her flashed in her mind, stirring her resolve. Yvonne had promised herself that she wouldn’t be the source of their worry again. She took in deep, steady breaths, slowly releasing them, the way she had taught Lily. It didn't erase the pain, but it grounded her, just enough to keep her from spiraling further.Tears streamed down her cheeks despite her efforts, but Yvonne kept her breathing even. She was hurt, so deeply hurt by Micheal’s lies. Yet, there was a part of her that underst
There was so much to eat as the things she saw on the table were just tips of the iceberg. Micheal asked in addition, setting in before her eyes the dining table could barely fit everything. She knew they wouldn't be able to finish everything in two days. There are so many varieties of things and according to the kids, Micheal had single handedly made everything. Yvonne love good food and perhaps because the trio knew how much of a big deal it was for her when Micheal assisted in making anything. She just loves seeing him in an apron and the attentiveness he puts into preparing food for them. She usually eats till her stomach screams at her to stop.Micheal was saying something about how she had woken at the perfect timing and other engaging topics, but she will cautiously ignore him and address an answer to his question into a sentence for the children and just like that, he brushes him off and avoids talking to him or meeting his eyes.Soon, Yvonne sat at the table, her gaze fixed
Yvonne froze for a moment, startled by the simple observation. She forced a smile, turning to Lily. “Oh, I just—” She faltered, feeling the weight of her daughter’s gaze, so innocent yet so piercing. “I forgot, sweetie. I’m sorry.”But even as she spoke, her hand moved to push more food from her plate onto Lily’s, as if by reflex. She couldn’t seem to bring herself to eat, her appetite drained by the tension she was trying so hard to ignore.Jack, always the more observant of the two, set down his fork, his small face serious. “Mommy,” he said quietly, “you didn’t eat Daddy’s food. You’re giving it to us.”Yvonne’s hand stilled again, caught mid-motion as she transferred a piece of chicken to Jack’s plate. Her heart skipped a beat at the quiet accusation in his tone, the innocent truth that cut through her like a knife.“You told us to always say thank you when someone is kind to us,” Jack continued, his voice steady and calm, “but you didn’t say it to Daddy this time. You’re not happ
Yvonne’s footsteps quickened as she tried to retreat into her room, her mind whirling with unresolved emotions. Her heart ached, not just from Micheal’s deception but from the thought that he, of all people, had kept something so essential from her."Yvonne, wait..." Micheal’s voice carried a mix of desperation and guilt.She stiffened, her hand already on the doorknob. "I don’t want to hear your excuses, Micheal. No explanation will change what you did," Yvonne said firmly, keeping her back to him. "You know how much transparency means to me... You knew, and yet you chose to hide who you are."The weight of her words hung in the air, raw and heavy. Yvonne had no intention of letting her walls crumble, not after what she had just learned. She felt trapped between her hurt and her love for him and the kids. It was suffocating.Micheal's hand reached out, gently but firmly, wrapping around her wrist before she could open the door. His voice, low and pained, made her heart falter. "Yvonn
Micheal shook his head, “You're going to lock the door like you did the previous night. Baby we have to discuss this.” he said with reluctance, unwilling to let the problem fester. “I will wait for you.” She said and he nodded before leaving the room to check on the twins who just as they had claimed were studying. “Daddy, did mommy forgive you?” Jack asked, their hopeful eyes staring up at their father. “She wants me to check up on you. I will go to her now and we will talk, so don't worry, okay?” Micheal said and the children nodded. Micheal kissed their foreheads before returning to Yvonne’s room. She had stepped into her room, but the door wasn't locked. He heaved a sigh of relief and immediately walked in. Yvonne’s thoughts were spinning as she stood before Micheal, her emotions tangled in a web of doubt, anger, and longing. The night before, lying in bed alone, she had tried to convince herself that she would be okay without him. But the truth was that she missed him—miss