EZEKIELI woke up from a dream, with Vivienne's voice still clear in my mind. "I can't believe this. After everything... I was just a substitute." My heart was pounding, and I stared at the ceiling, trying to push the dream away. It was always the same—Vivienne's sad desperate eyes, looking at me, full of pain.Since our divorce, sleep had been hard to find for me. Every night, I lay awake, thinking about Vivienne and the hurt I caused. Her words from the dream felt so real and recent, like she was right there, reminding me of my mistakes.I rubbed my face, feeling tired and old. It had been years, but I couldn't forget the way she looked at me that last day, as if I had broken her heart.How did I let things get so bad? How did I not see what I was doing to her?The divorce was supposed to make things better, but instead, it trapped me in a cycle of regret. Every night, I was reminded of the woman I pushed away, the woman I lost. I gritted my teeth, trying to focus on today. Tonig
EZEKIELIt was definitely Vivienne. I’m sure of it! How could I forget someone I once married? I gritted my teeth as I watched Viatrix, whom I was sure was Vivienne, be at the center of the crowd, entertaining people who were amazed by her masterpieces. She had been the center of attention for what felt like forever. Fortunately, I finally found a chance to talk to her in private after. The crowd had scattered a bit, giving me the opening I needed. The event was held in a luxurious hotel in Paris, with grand chandeliers casting a warm glow over the marble floors and fancy decor. As I approached Vivienne, I couldn't help but notice how different she looked. She was wearing a stunning evening gown that hugged her figure perfectly, the deep emerald green silk making her stand out even more. The dress had beautiful details, showing off her design skills. Her hair was styled elegantly in a bun—her favorite hairstyle that I never appreciated before because I wanted her to look just like
VIVIENNE GRITTED her teeth as she halted in her walk, Ezekiel's question lingering in the air. How had she been all these years? The audacity of him to ask such a thing after everything they had been through made her blood boil. She turned to face him, her expression cold and distant."It's none of your business, Ezekiel," she said, her voice as icy as her gaze.Vivienne met Ezekiel's green eyes, looking genuinely interested. Still, she refused to let herself believe him. Ezekiel's question irritated her that after everything he had done to her before, he had the nerve to look regretful and concerned. She knew he was just acting to get her to agree to the collaboration and she wasn't about to let his fake concern fool her.Ezekiel wouldn't let her go that easily. "Vivienne, wait—"Just then, Alex appeared, her eyes narrowing as she saw them together. "Kiel, there you are," she said, her voice strained with forced cheerfulness. "What’s going on here?"Alex walked towards Ezekiel and
EZEKIEL STEPPED OUT of the crowded party, needing a moment to unwind after the drama with Vivienne and Alex. The fresh air was a relief as he walked away from the noise and tension. He had left Alex inside, chatting with the guests, and found himself a quiet corner near the garden. As he stood there to take deep breaths, he noticed a little girl standing alone by a fountain. She wore a cute gown that looked a bit too formal for her small frame. Something about her struck a chord in him. He felt a sense of familiarity and connection between him and the girl. The girl looked lost, her eyes wide and searching.Ezekiel approached her gently, not wanting to scare her. “Hey there, are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft and kind.The girl looked up at him, her eyes brightening. “I’m lost, Sir,” she admitted using her cute voice. “I can’t find my brother or my mom.”He knelt down to her level, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll find them. What’s your name?”“I’m Vera,” she s
VIVIENNEPiper visited me at my studio the next morning, curiosity written all over her face. The studio, with its high ceilings and bright windows, was my sanctuary. Whether it was my studio in New York or here in Paris. My studio was where I poured my heart into my designs, where I felt most in control. But today, it was also where I would have to face the reality of the previous night."So, Viv, what happened at the party?" Piper asked, settling into a chair by my desk. She looked around at the sketches and fabric swatches scattered everywhere, but her focus remained on me.As usual, she felt at home in my studio. I sighed, setting down my pencil and halting on designing a purple outfit for Vera’s new doll which she requested. "It was a mess, Piper. If only you were there. Ezekiel and Alex were present, and of course, drama followed,” I said. Piper’s eyes widened with concern. "What did your ex-husband do?""He had the nerve to ask how I’ve been all these years, as if he cares,"
IN VIVIENNE’S HEAD, Piper’s question still echoed even though she was all alone. She had been avoiding thinking about when she would tell Ezekiel about Vera and Vince but now, she was reminded that it was inevitable. Vivienne stood on the balcony of her room in the hotel. It was night, and the Eiffel Tower sparkled brilliantly in the distance. The sight was beautiful, almost magical. As she looked down, she saw couples walking hand in hand, enjoying the evening. One couple with two kids caught her eye and made her feel a pang of bitterness crept within her. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if things had been different for her and Ezekiel.She finally let her guard down, allowing herself to feel the fear and uncertainty that had been haunting her. She was afraid of the moment she would have to introduce Ezekiel to the kids as their father. What if he denied them again? What if the kids got hurt? These thoughts plagued her, making her feel vulnerable and anxious.Viv
EZEKIELThe digital clock on my desk continued to tick away the seconds as I sat in my office, each one seeming to drag on longer than the last. My team had been putting in a lot of effort to track down the hacker who was interfering with us, but we had not been successful in doing so. About the deleted files, luckily, we had backups. Still, it was a must to hunt that hacker. I massaged my temples, trying to dismiss the growing headache.“Any updates on the hacker?” I asked, looking at my head of cybersecurity, Mark.He shook his head, looking as frustrated as I felt. “Nothing concrete yet, Sir. Whoever this is, they’re good. The ‘V’ mark is the only consistent clue we have, but it’s not enough to trace them. We’re doing everything we can.”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Keep at it. We need to get this under control.”Mark nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I couldn’t shake the feeling of worry that had settled in my chest since this hacker had star
VIVIENNEI couldn't believe what Alex had said! She hopes my gamble pays off? With the way she said it, it seemed like she couldn’t wait for this collaboration to fail! It was irritating! Her comments echoed in my mind, causing me to feel under pressure that I didn't want to admit. I tried not to lose my cool, to look unfazed and calm, but on the inside, I was boiling. Alex always had a way of getting under my skin and making things more difficult than they needed to be. Alright. Calm down, Vivienne. You should be happy Even so, I couldn't help but sense the annoyance that was brewing beneath my cool surface.I tried to hide my irritation as I said goodbye to Ezekiel and fake a smile as I left his office. However, Ezekiel insisted on walking me to the parking lot before I could leave.He said, "Vivienne, let me walk you to your car."I looked at him and then at Alex, who was standing close by, and hesitated for a second. “It’s really not necessary, Ezekiel. I’ll be fine.”“I insist
EZEKIEL NEVER THOUGHT he’d feel so nervous, yet here he was. He couldn’t help but pace back and forth in the hospital room while Vivienne lay on the bed, breathing deeply as another contraction hit. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing so damn fast. He couldn’t even sit down for a second. This was nothing like the business meetings, nothing like the deals he’d spent his life preparing for. This was something else. He’d missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldn’t miss a second of this moment with Vivienne.He’d missed the birth of the twins, and he knew he couldn’t miss a second of this moment with Vivienne. Back then, he hadn’t been there to hold her hand, to see the twins take their first breaths. This time, he’d promised himself he’d be present, no matter how terrifying it felt. Vivienne noticed his restless pacing and reached out to catch his hand, tugging gently. “Zeke, calm down,” she said, chuckling despite her pain.He stopped, looking down at her, his
VINCE WAS SITTING alone in the school canteen while he was lost in his own thoughts. Unlike his twin sister, he wasn’t worried at all about having a new sibling. In fact, he was excited. He couldn’t wait to have someone younger around to teach things to, especially about computers and coding. He’d already planned it out in his head that he’d show their new sibling all the basics, and someday, they’d be able to talk about complex stuff too. Just the thought of it made him smile.As he stared into space while planning all the lessons he’d someday teach, someone placed a small box in front of him. Vince blinked when his train of thought was interrupted. He looked down at the box, noticing it was wrapped neatly with a bow on top. Then he looked up and saw Maesei, the little girl he, Vera, and Genesis had helped when she was being bullied a while back.Maesei was standing there, looking shy and nervous. Her cheeks were red and she avoided his gaze, looking down at the table instead.Vin
GENESIS SPOTTED VERA sitting alone on the bleachers, looking lost in thought as she watched Vince at his soccer practice. She was unusually quiet, her small frame slumped forward, and her chin rested on her hands. Genesis found this strange. Usually, Vera was energetic and loud, always cheering for her brother or chatting away.With a grin, Genesis walked over and sat down beside her. “Hey,” he said, nudging her gently. “Why do you look so sad? Thinking too hard?”To his surprise, Vera’s lip started to tremble, and before he knew it, tears spilled down her cheeks. She let out a small, choked sob, and then it came—all the tears she had held back, spilling out in big, messy drops.Genesis's eyes widened and he instantly panicked. “Whoa, hey, hey—what’s wrong, Vera?” He fumbled, trying to figure out what to do. He’d never seen her cry like this before. “Did something happen?”Vera shook her head but kept crying, covering her face with her hands. Feeling helpless, Genesis reached over
THE AFTER-PARTY was winding down and Piper was more than a little tipsy. She leaned heavily on Jeremy, her bubbly personality even more vibrant after a few too many glasses of champagne. Jeremy sighed, his arm steady around her as he led her through the crowded room.“Come on, Piper,” he said while rying to sound patient. “Let’s get you home.”Piper let out a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, Jeremy, you’re so lame! Why didn’t you drink anything tonight? There were bottles of wine that cost more than you’d make in a month! You could’ve at least had one!”Jeremy shook his head, guiding her carefully through the doorway. “I don’t drink much. Besides, someone had to be responsible for you,” he said in a calm voice. She threw him a mock offended look, then smirked. “Oh, please. Responsible? You’re missing out! Once-in-a-blue-moon kind of party, and you’re just standing there, drinking water. So boring.”He just nodded, too tired to argue. He knew she was half-joking, half-serious, but
EZEKIELForgiving isn’t easy. It’s one of the hardest things you can do, especially when the person who hurt you is someone you once trusted, someone you loved deeply. I’d always respected people who could forgive the ones who wronged them, who could find it in their hearts to let go of pain and bitterness. And tonight, watching Vivienne, I felt my admiration for her grow even more.I thought I’d reached the limit of how much I could love her, but seeing her forgive my mother—that changed things. Vivienne had already forgiven me before, a forgiveness I never thought I deserved but clung to, knowing how lucky I was to have it. And now, she was doing the same for my mother. I looked at Vivienne, her calm expression, her steady gaze, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful. She was truly incredible, a woman who could forgive despite the hurt, and in that moment, I knew I was the luckiest man alive.After my mother’s apology, we found a quieter spot away from everyone else. I turned to V
VIVIENNEIt was never too late to rise up again after you’ve hit rock bottom. I’d learned that lesson over and over, but standing here now, it finally felt real. So many times, I thought that scandal with Aton would destroy everything I’d worked for. I worried people would only ever see me as the woman caught up in a messy scheme, but here I was, with a new chapter in front of me. This was my second chance—not just to clear my name, but to make it stronger than ever. Viatrix. That name still had power, still had life.I looked around the room, taking in all the smiles and congratulatory handshakes. Ezekiel and I had just launched our fashion line that we had been working on, and the event couldn’t have gone any better. Everywhere I turned, there were people celebrating with us, praising the collection, the designs, the way we had merged our ideas and brought something beautiful to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly proud of myself and what I had accomplished ag
EZEKIELIt was never too late to change. I knew that now. I wouldn’t deny to myself or to anyone else that I had made mistakes before. Too many to count, honestly. I’d been an ass. I didn’t know what I really wanted back then. I wasn’t sure of what the right thing was or how to treat Vivienne the way she deserved. I’d lost sight of things, caught up in my own mess, letting my insecurities and past hold me back. But now, standing here in Switzerland, away from the noise and all the misunderstandings, I felt something I’d never felt before—a clear sense of certainty. I loved her. I loved Vivienne in a way that was different, in a way that wasn’t clouded by doubt or fear. She was the woman I wanted to spend my life with, and I’d failed to see that in the past. But I had the chance to make it right, and I wasn’t going to let it slip by.The soft breeze carried the scent of lilies as I stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for Vivienne. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tears gather
VIVIENNEBefore, I was just dreaming of a good husband. A husband who would love me, who would prioritize me, who would stand by my side no matter what. It felt like a faraway wish, something I’d only imagine late at night. When I first married Ezekiel, it wasn’t like that at all. He only married me because he felt he had to; it was a shotgun marriage after all, coming right after the surprise of my pregnancy.Back then, Ezekiel couldn’t even get over his ex, Alex. I knew it. Everyone knew it. I always felt like a stand-in, a shadow, never really the one he wanted. I was just a substitute. But now, looking at him today—seeing him boldly defend me, even against his own parents—I can’t ignore how deeply he’s changed. Before, Ezekiel always followed his parents’ words without question, like he was bound by some invisible chain. They had such a hold over him, and I’d come to accept that their influence would always come first. So now, seeing him stand up to them—for my sake, no less—fe
EZEKIELMy fists balled as I scanned through each line of conversation on Vince’s laptop. Each word felt like a punch. And I gritted my teeth, trying to contain the anger boiling within me. Genesis had been right. It was real that the contents from Aton’s phone had transferred over. Everything was here—messages, plans, and schemes that Aton and my own fucking father had discussed. Each message was worse than the last, detailing how they intended to bring down Vivienne and tarnish everything she’d worked for. I could feel Alice and Ronaldo leaning in, reading over my shoulder. Alice gasped, covering her mouth as her face turned pale. She shook her head. “I can’t believe they could plan something so evil,” she whispered, horrified.Ronaldo’s expression darkened, his eyes sharp and filled with rage. “This won’t slide,” he said firmly, his voice low and steady. “I won’t let them get away with this.”His words fueled my resolve. I nodded, swallowing hard, though my mind was racing. Ju