VIVIENNEI sat by the pool, looking at the calm water in front of us. The sides of the pool had blue LED lights, making the pool seem tempting to me. “I think I want to go swimming,” I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else.Since I didn't take a swim earlier in the beach, I wanted to do it now. Actually I planned on doing it. Under my clothes, I wore a swimsuit. Ezekiel, sitting nearby, stood up right away. “I’ll join you,” he said, walking toward the pool. He dipped his toes into the water and smiled. “The water’s nice.”Vera, sitting with her feet already in the pool, started laughing. “Mom! Dad’s gonna swim with you! This is going to be fun!” she teased, clapping her hands. “Go, Dad!”I laughed softly at her excitement. “You really believe your dad can do everything, huh?”“He can!” Vera cheered, giggling again.Meanwhile, Vince was yawning. He looked sleepy, not paying attention to what was happening. “I’m going to the tent soon,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.“That’
EZEKIELI watched Vivienne in the pool, her face slightly flushed as we floated in the calm water. It was nice, this quiet moment between us. I couldn’t help but smile, realizing I might be the reason for the blush on her cheeks. Vivienne, the woman who always kept her guard up, was showing a hint of vulnerability, and I liked the idea that I could still make her feel butterflies like she made me feel.She turned to look at the kids lounging on the chairs. “The kids look like they’re asleep,” she said softly, trying to break the silence between us. “Maybe we should carry them to the tent.”I knew she was changing the subject, probably because of the moment we were having, but I didn’t mind. Her eyes kept darting to the kids, and I followed her gaze. Vince was out cold, completely knocked out on the lounge chair, but Vera—well, I knew my daughter better than that. She wasn’t fooling anyone.I chuckled to myself, shaking my head slightly. “Yeah, Vince is definitely asleep,” I said,
EZEKIEL“Whiskey and swimming? That’s a dangerous combination,” Vivienne laughed and it sounded heaven in my ears. “Only if you can’t handle it,” I teased, walking over to where my resort’s staff had stashed drinks earlier. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and two small glasses, raising them in her direction. “Come on, just a sip while we float around.”She hesitated for a second. Then she shrugged while still smiling. “Alright, why not?”We walked over to the pool, the cool night air brushing against our skin. I poured a small amount of whiskey into each glass and handed one to her. We clinked our glasses together with a soft “cheers,” and both took a sip. The whiskey burned a little, but it felt good, warming me from the inside out.“Back to the pool then?” I asked, motioning toward the water.Vivienne took another sip of her drink and nodded. “Let’s do it.”We stepped into the pool, and the water was cool against our skin but not too cold. I floated over to Vivienne, keeping a pla
VIVIENNE“Stop your moans or the kids will hear us,” I remembered Ezekiel whispering to me last night. I was trying hard not to but the sensation he was giving me was too much to bear!We created waves in the pool as he thrust in and out of me while we were still in the water. My fingers unconsciously dug into his masculine back as I hugged him for support. When I neared my climax, I arched my back as I bit my lower lip even more. I closed my eyes and waited to cum. I convulsed when I reached my climax. I couldn't help but catch my breath because of how intense that was. "Mom!" Vera’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked and turned my head to look at her.Oh gosh, Vivienne! Stop remembering what happened last night!"Y-Yes, sweetheart?" I asked, trying to sound normal, even though my mind had been far from the moment.We were currently sitting on the couch, flipping through the pictures we had taken during our vacation, but my mind kept wandering back to last night. I c
EZEKIELWhen I got home after a drive and turned off my car's engine in the driveway my mind was filled with memories of the vacation I had with Vivienne and the kids. That trip was truly unforgettable. I wasn’t sure where things would go from here, but I didn’t want to think about that just yet.As I opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of home greeted me. But something felt off. I heard voices coming from the living room, and my stomach tightened. My parents were here. I wasn’t expecting them. “Ezekiel,” my mother, Emily, called out as soon as she spotted me. She was sitting on the couch, looking as prim and proper as ever, sipping tea like she always did when she was about to say something critical. My father, Leonardo, sat beside her, more relaxed but with that same serious look in his eyes.“Mom, Dad,” I greeted them, forcing a smile. I already had a feeling where this conversation was going.“We’ve been waiting for you,” Mom said using her sharp yet calm
EZEKIEL"My parents want to throw a party for the kids," I said, watching Vivienne’s reaction closely. I sat down across from her while taking a deep breath. I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation, but I had to tell her. "They want to formally introduce Vince and Vera to our family’s friends, you know, as my kids,” I continued. Vivienne’s expression changed immediately. She frowned, clearly not liking the sound of it. “I don’t like that idea, Ezekiel,” she said using her firm voice. “The kids don’t need to be put on display for your parents’ friends. They’re just kids.”I nodded, expecting her response but still feeling caught between two worlds. “I get that,” I said. “But my parents... they want to get to know the kids more. They want to introduce them to their world, their friends, their business partners. They think it’s important for Vince and Vera to be part of the family, you know, publicly.”Vivienne sighed deeply, crossing her arms as she looked away. “I don’
VIVIENNE“Vince, Vera, come here,” I called out. The kids came running down the hallway, already dressed and excited for their stay at their dad’s.I already made sure that Vince and Vera’s bags were packed and ready for their stay at Ezekiel’s house. I double-checked everything—clothes, toothbrushes, books, gadgets, and their favorite toys. I didn’t want them missing anything, especially since they’d be staying for a few days. I could already feel the slight anxiety bothering me, even though I knew they’d be fine. It was just hard to let them go, even if it was just to their father’s house. They always had different views about these kinds of things—Vera being excited about the experience, while Vince was more hesitant. Still, they had agreed to it, and I had to trust that everything would go smoothly.“Now, listen,” I started, crouching down to their level. “I want you both to be on your best behavior when you’re with your dad and your grandparents. Don’t be stubborn, okay?”Vera
AS THE CAR rolled down the road, Emily glanced back at Vince and Vera. Her eyes scanned their small frames. "You two look so thin," she commented using her voice that was filled with concern. "Are you sure you're eating enough? Maybe we should stop and get some food before we go to your father’s house."Leonardo, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement. “Vivienne’s probably not making you eat properly. You need to eat more, so you can grow strong,” he seconded. Vera, sitting beside her brother, looked up innocently. “We eat a lot, Grandma. Mommy makes sure of that.”Vince, ever the observant one, chimed in. “It’s just our body type. Both Mom and Dad have slim builds, so it’s probably genetics.” He said the last part confidently, as if he had given the topic some thought.Emily and Leonardo exchanged a quick glance, unsure how to respond. They hadn’t expected Vince to give such a logical, science-based answer. Emily cleared her throat but said nothing more.After a few minutes of s
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