AZ: Votes and comments are highly appreciated!
VIVIENNE ARRIVED AT the ballroom, and immediately, all eyes turned to her. She was wearing a stunning, elegant dress that highlighted her natural grace. The room was filled with whispers and admiration as she made her way through the crowd. Even the most famous fashion designer in the world, Aton, noticed her.Aton, known for his discerning eye and impeccable taste, approached Vivienne with a warm smile. "Vivienne, or should I say, Viatrix? It's an honor to finally meet you in person."Vivienne smiled back, a bit surprised that someone like him knew her but pleased. "Thank you, Aton. It's an honor to meet you as well. I've always admired your work."Aton nodded, his eyes twinkling with genuine admiration. "Your rise in the industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. Your designs are fresh, innovative, and inspiring. The way you've captured the core of modern fashion is commendable."Vivienne blushed slightly, feeling both flattered and humbled. "That means a lot coming from yo
VIVIENNEFuck! I don’t know how to swim! My mind raced as I thrashed helplessly in the water. Not only that. I think I fell at the deepest part of the pool. My feet couldn’t reach the floor and it was making me even more anxious. Every second felt like an eternity. The more I struggled, the more I felt myself sinking. Panic surged through me, making it hard to breathe. I could hear muffled screams and shouts from the poolside, but they felt distant and unreal. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, cursing myself for never learning to swim and fearing I wouldn’t make it out. “Vivienne!”"Help her!""Someone get Viatrix!"I flailed, trying to stay afloat, but the water seemed to be pulling me under. Suddenly, I heard the sound of splashes growing closer. Before I could fully register what was happening, I felt strong hands grab my waist, lifting me up.I clung desperately to the one who saved me with my arms wrapping tightly around his neck. The terror slowly started to fade away as I fe
EZEKIELI saw everything unfold in what felt like slow motion. And it was fucking irritating to me that I knew from the start, Albert would cause no good yet I didn’t do anything about that earlier. I saw it. I saw how Albert calculated his steps. I saw the way that motherfucking asshole purposely bumped into Vivienne, causing her to lose her balance and fall into the pool. My heart pounded as I watched Vivienne struggle in the water earlier. So, without a second thought, I dove in, reaching her just in time. The relief of feeling her cling to me, knowing she was safe, was overwhelming.But now, as she stood there, accepting Jeremy's help, my frustration boiled over. I was worried sick for her, and seeing her in that situation, helpless and vulnerable, ignited something protective and fierce within me. After the commotion died down, I couldn't stand by any longer. I need to Alex. I have a feeling that she knows something that I don’t. "Alex, we need to talk," I said, my voice low
AT THE LANCASTER Paris Hotel, Vera and Vince were practically bouncing with excitement. They had just arrived with their grandfather, Ronaldo Lancaster. Vera, in particular, was eager to see her mother. She clutched a small piece of paper in her hand, decorated with gold stars from dance school.“Grandpa, I really want to show Mom my stars! Like right now!” Vera exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with pride.Ronaldo, who always had a soft spot for his grandchildren, smiled warmly. “Of course, sweetheart. Let's go find your mom,” he said to his grandchild while holding each one of their hands. Without hesitation, Ronaldo decided to take them to where Vivienne was. After all, he owned the hotel, and nothing was off-limits to him or his beloved grandchildren.As they made their way through the grand lobby, Vera couldn't contain her excitement any longer. “Let’s play, Vince! Whoever finds Mom first, gets to decide what to eat for dinner!” she called out, darting off down the corridor. “I s
IN A QUIET corner of The Lancaster Paris Hotel, Alex found Albert and immediately confronted him. Her face was flushed with anger and her eyes were blazing especially after what Ezekiel said to her earlier. Alex's mind raced. This was not what she had planned. She only wanted Vivienne out of their lives. But now, everything was a mess. Albert messed up and now, Ezekiel was mad at her. She never thought it would turn out like this."What were you thinking, Albert? Your actions were so obvious! You made us fail in our plans!" she hissed, her voice low but filled with fury.Albert looked down, guilt written all over his face. "I... I thought it would work, Alex. I'm sorry.""Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it!" Alex spat. "You’re useless! I never should have asked for your help in the first place."Albert's face crumpled, and he took a step towards her. "Please, Alex, don’t be mad. I didn't mean to mess things up," he pleaded, his voice trembling.Alex turned on her heel, ready to leave him
VIVIENNE"I had no idea you are the mom Vera has been talking about." Ezekiel looked at me, his eyes softening. I had no idea you’d been talking to her either. I felt the urge to say that but I stopped myself. My cheeks warmed, and I didn't know how to respond to that. I turned to Vera instead."Sweetie, where’s your brother? Do you know where he is?" I asked. Vera looked up at me, a bit worried. "I don't know where Vince is, Mom. We played a game, and whoever found you first would win,” she said. "Alright, we need to find Vince."This would be a perfect opportunity to leave Ezekiel too. So finally, I turned to Ezekiel to say goodbye. “Uh… we’ll go find my son for a moment.”But then, as the dumb person that he was, he didn’t take the hint. Instead, he even offered, "I'll help you look for him."I shook my head immediately. "It's okay, Ezekiel. We can manage,” I said while silently praying for him to give up. But he insisted, his voice firm. "No, I want to help. Let's find
THE GUESTS WHISPERED among themselves, the atmosphere thick with shock and disbelief. Alex's grand party had turned into a scandal. Designers and attendees murmured their opinions, their once-enthusiastic conversations now replaced by disapproval and concern.Aton shook his head in disappointment. "I can't believe an adult like Alex would hurt a child. It's disgraceful,” he said. Others nodded in agreement, siding with Vivienne. "She did the right thing," one guest said. "No one should tolerate such behavior."Ezekiel, witnessing all of these, approached Alex. Alex was standing alone in the corner, clearly shaken by the events. "Come on, I'll drive you home," he said quietly. She nodded, unable to meet his eyes, and they walked out of the hotel together.As they left, the guests continued to discuss the incident, their sympathy firmly with Vivienne and her family. The party, intended to be a glamorous event, had ended in an unexpected and dramatic twist, with Alex's reputation se
VIVIENNEWhen we got home, the kids settled into the living room while I tried to process everything that happened.The whole party scene made the news, which must have been so embarrassing for Alex. Somehow, it was also embarrassing for me but I didn’t let it get on my nerves. I shouldn’t give a fuck. Yeah. I shouldn’t even after Ezekiel saw what I did to his girlfriend. Even after the other designers were watching. I sat on the couch, and Vera climbed up beside me, looking at me with wide, curious eyes.Vince was already in his room. As much as I wanted to check on him, he wanted to be alone. And my heart couldn’t help but ache as I imagined the trauma that Alex gave him. That bitch still infuriated me whenever I thought of her! "Mom, why did you slap Alex?" Vera asked innocently. Somehow, bitterness crept within me. I didn’t care who saw me snapped earlier but my kids? I knew I shouldn’t have shown them that side of mine. I sighed, trying to find the right words. "Sweetie, I d
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