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 AND VIVIENNE walked together through the school gates, carrying papers for the kids’ enrollment. It was a busy day, with parents and children everywhere, ready for the start of the new school year. Vivienne glanced at Ezekiel. “Looks like we’re not the only ones who waited until the last minute to enroll the kids,” she said with a small smile.Ezekiel chuckled. “Yeah, seems like it. But it’s kind of nice, though. Maybe Vince and Vera will make some friends before school starts.”Vivienne nodded, looking at the other children around. “That would be great. They could really use some new friends. I think they’re both a little nervous about starting school here.”“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Ezekiel reassured her. “Maybe we’ll meet some parents too. It might be good for us to have some new people around.”Vivienne laughed lightly. “True. Maybe we should look more approachable if we want to make friends,” she joked.They walked toward the registration area, keeping an eye on Vinc
“THAT WENT FASTER than I expected,” Ezekiel said, trying to ease the silence. The process had gone smoothly—papers signed, fees paid, and everything set for the twins to begin their studies.Vivienne nodded, her gaze shifting around as she scanned the area. "Yeah, but where's Vince?" she asked, realizing only Vera was by her side. Vera, always full of energy, perked up. “I’ll go find him!” she said excitedly, already dashing off before her parents could respond.Vivienne sighed softly, giving Ezekiel a small smile. “I guess we should’ve expected that.”Ezekiel chuckled and nodded, “We’ll give them a few minutes. Vince will turn up.”Meanwhile, Vera weaved her way through the school grounds, her eyes sharp as she looked for her twin brother. She was halfway down the courtyard when she saw someone familiar standing by the school fountain. It was Genesis, the boy she had met at her dad's party. He seemed to be waiting for someone, and when their eyes met, he gave her a small wave.
IT WAS THE first day of the twins’ school. Vera and Vince were sitting in their new classroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive. Everything felt a little strange. The kids were chatting around them. Vince, as usual, kept to himself, while Vera looked around curiously, hoping to make friends.When the door opened, a boy walked in, and Vera and Vince immediately recognized him. It was Genesis—the same boy who had previously crossed paths with Vince at the school. Vince’s face instantly tensed, while Vera’s eyes lit up in recognition.Genesis walked over and smiled at them. “Hey, looks like we’re in the same class,” he said, looking more at Vince than Vera. Vera smiled back. “Yeah! What a surprise!” she said cheerfully. “This is going to be fun.”Vince, on the other hand, wasn’t as excited. He crossed his arms and glanced at Genesis, remembering their little competition from last time. “Great,” he muttered under his breath, already feeling competitive.“Okay, kids. Good morning.” Th
VIVIENNEAs I stood outside the school with Ezekiel, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. It was the kids' first day of school, and I was anxious to hear how it went. I spotted Vera first. Her bright smile was the first thing I saw as she came running toward us, her pigtails bouncing with each step.“Mom! Dad!” Vera called out, practically flying into my arms. Her excitement was contagious, and I found myself grinning just watching her.“Hey, sweetie!” I said, giving her a big hug. “How was your first day of school?”“It was amazing!” she beamed, pulling away to show me her hand. “Look! I got two stars on my quiz!” She showed off the stamps proudly. “Can I get a reward? I want a new doll!” she added, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at Ezekiel.Ezekiel chuckled and gave her a playful wink. “A doll, huh? Well, you did work hard for those two stars,” he said, teasing her a bit before nodding. “Alright, we can get you a new doll.”Vera squealed as she kept jumping up and dow
VIVIENNEI sat in the office, sorting through fabrics and design sketches for our upcoming fashion collaboration. Ezekiel was sitting across from me, going through some papers. Since the kids started their new school year, I finally had the chance to return to work, but I carefully balanced everything. I only stay at the office while they’re at school and always head home when they do. I just can’t bring myself to leave them alone again after what happened with the kidnapping. It’s still fresh in my mind, and I want them to feel safe and know that I’m there for them. Either Ezekiel or I make sure one of us is always present, no matter how busy we get. Their security and happiness come first now.Ezekiel and I had been working on this project for a few weeks now, and I had to admit, it felt good to be back in the creative flow. “Hey,” Ezekiel suddenly called out, pulling me from my thoughts.I glanced up, and he was leaning back in his chair with that familiar playful smile on his f
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