EZEKIELThe party that my mother and father planned for my kids was about to start, and I could feel the energy buzzing all around. Guests were already arriving, and I knew in a few minutes, all eyes would be on us, especially on Vince and Vera. They both stood beside me, looking perfect—like they’d just stepped out of a fairy tale. Vera was wearing her flowing light blue dress which made her look like a little princess. That was also the case with her twin brother. Vince looked every bit like a prince in his tailored suit."Alright, you two," I said, crouching down to their level as I tried to calm them before things really kicked off. "It’s going to be a big night, okay? Lots of people are going to be watching you, so just remember to smile and be polite."Vera gave me a wide grin. "I can do that! Easy!" she said, her eyes sparkling as she twirled in her dress. Vince, on the other hand, looked a little less sure. "Do we really have to talk to everyone, Dad?" he asked, pulling at
“GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.” Emily took the microphone to get everyone’s attention. Beside her was Leonardo as they stood at the center of the stage. This was the party she was most looking forward to. She and her husband had everything prepared just for this night. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate this special day with us. As many of you know, our family has been through a lot over the years,” Emily continued. “Ezekiel and Vivienne’s marriage didn’t turn out the way we had hoped back then. But after everything, we are happy and grateful for the greatest gifts that came from that marriage—our grandchildren, Vince and Vera.”There was a round of polite applause when Vince and Vera walked to the stage. They stood beside Emily and Leonardo. Emily gave a brief smile before continuing. “We also want to say that these two wonderful children will be the future of our family. They will be the ones to carry on Ezekiel’s legacy, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”Leonardo stepped for
VINCE AND VERA noticed that something was wrong when they saw their mom leave the party quickly after what Caroline said and their father followed her. No other people seemed to notice it but they did. With that, they looked at each other as they worried about their parents. Since they still needed to be on stage and accept gifts from other guests, they made a silent agreement. "We need to find them later," Vince whispered to Vera. Vera nodded. "Let’s split up. I’ll check outside, and you go inside."When finally, their grandmother took the spotlight again, they took that chance to secretly leave the venue and look for their mom and dad. Vince hurried off toward the mansion. He knew where the security room was and thought he could use the cameras to find their parents. As he sneaked into the security room, he was relieved to find it empty. He sat down in front of the screens, trying to figure out how to work the system. He started clicking through the cameras but wasn’t sure what
VIVIENNE I tried to blink away the tears that welled up in my eyes but they fell anyway. They blurred my vision. I walked faster, not wanting anyone to see me like this, not wanting anyone to know how much I hurt. It was too much. I couldn’t believe Caroline had said all that in front of everyone. As I rushed to get away, someone suddenly grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks. I froze and turned, only to see Ezekiel standing there. I quickly wiped at my tears, trying to hide them, but I knew he’d already seen them. His face was full of concern. “Vienne, wait,” he said softly. “I need to explain.” “There’s no need,” I said using my shaky voice. I didn’t want to hear more. I didn’t want to get into this right now. But Ezekiel didn’t let go of my hand. “Just let me explain, please,” he pleaded. I sighed and looked away. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this conversation, but something in his tone made me stop and listen. “What Caroline said… it’s not entirely true,” he
VIVIENNETears filled my eyes as I stared at Ezekiel kneeling before me. His green eyes were looking up, waiting for me to say something. The promise ring he held was small, but the weight of the moment felt so big. My heart was throbbing so fast, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. Everyone was watching us. I could feel their eyes, but right now, all I saw was Ezekiel.I glanced up, trying to clear my mind. My parents were standing nearby. They both looked shocked, but there was something else in their faces—pride, maybe? I was not sure. My father raised his eyebrows slightly, while my mother smiled softly. I wasn’t so sure of what to expect from them, but seeing that small sign of support helped ease my nerves.Then, I saw Vince and Vera. They were standing at the back, watching closely. Vince had his arms crossed with his usual unreadable face, but Vera looked so happy. Her eyes were wide, and her smile was the biggest I’d seen in a long time. Seeing them there reminded me th
EMILY SAT AT the back of the crowd with her face tightening as she watched Ezekiel kneeling before Vivienne on the stage. The promise ring glinted in the spotlight as he slid it onto Vivienne's finger. Her heart burned with fury. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing—her son, so strong and capable, kneeling like a fool before that woman. The applause from the guests around her only made it worse. She organized the party and wanted to be the center of it aside from her grandchildren but because of what her son did, all the attention was transferred to her son’s ex-wife. She clenched her fists, barely able to control her anger.From the very beginning, Emily had never liked Vivienne. She remembered the day Ezekiel first introduced her, so quiet and unsure of herself. "Not the right one," Emily had thought instantly. Vivienne wasn’t what she had in mind for her son. She wanted someone more elegant, someone with status. She had hoped Ezekiel would end up with Caroline, his childhoo
VIVIENNE“In fairness, he has good taste, huh?” Piper said as she grabbed my hand, lifting it slightly so the ring on my finger caught the light. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “You have to admit, Viv, that ring is gorgeous.”I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, it is,” I agreed, looking at the ring again. Ezekiel did choose well. The band was simple but elegant, with a diamond that wasn’t too flashy. It was just right—just like him, I thought. Not too much, not too little. It felt surreal to have this on my finger.“So,” Piper leaned in with a mischievous grin on her face. “How did Ezekiel’s parents react when he knelt down for you in front of everyone? I bet Emily lost it.”I couldn’t help but laugh at her eagerness. I knew Piper loved some juicy gossip, and this was exactly the kind of tea she wanted. “Oh, they didn’t even stick around,” I said, shaking my head. “As soon as Ezekiel got down on one knee, Emily and Leonardo just walked out. They didn’t even say a word. It was like they
EZEKIELThe house was quiet now. The kids were sound asleep in their rooms, and I had decided to stay for the night. It just felt right being here. Vivienne and I were sitting on the couch. I glanced over at her, watching the way her fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of the cushion. She looked peaceful, but I could tell she was thinking about something. Maybe the ring, or maybe everything that’s happened lately. “So,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “Do you like the ring?”Her eyes flicked to mine, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yes, I do. It’s beautiful, Zeke.”I felt a wave of relief wash over me. “I’m glad,” I said softly, reaching for her hand, gently rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. For some reason, I was nervous, even though she’d already accepted it. Maybe it was because so much was riding on this—on us.Vivienne turned to face me more fully, her brow furrowing slightly as she asked, “When did you get it, though? I didn’t even know you were planning thi
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