SYLVIA'S POVAfter unlocking the door and stepping inside, I headed straight to the kitchen to drop off the groceries. The familiar hum of the refrigerator and the cozy atmosphere of the apartment greeted me, a stark contrast to the tension and drama of the courtroom. I quickly checked the time on my phone, wondering if I could whip up lunch before Zenith and Zendaya got home from school. Realizing I couldn't risk the timing, I decided to get a head start by prepping the meal instead.I began by cutting vegetables and marinating the chicken, enjoying the rhythmic chopping and the fragrant smell of the spices. The simple act of cooking was a soothing balm after the chaotic weeks I’d endured. Once everything was prepped and ready, I set it aside for later.Feeling the need to wash off the day's stress, I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water was refreshing, and I allowed myself a few moments to simply breathe and relax. After drying off, I slipped into a comfortable
SYLVIA'S POVAs we drove home, the car was filled with the joyful sound of our voices singing along to the radio. Zenith and Zendaya belted out the lyrics with enthusiasm, and I couldn’t help but join in, laughing as we tried to hit the high notes together.“Mom, turn it up! This is our favorite song!” Zenith shouted over the music.I cranked up the volume and we all sang even louder, the car vibrating with our energy. The stress of the past few weeks seemed to melt away with each verse.When we finally pulled into the driveway, I felt a wave of relief. We hurried inside, and the kids quickly changed out of their uniforms, tossing them into the laundry basket."Alright, who wants to help me cook?" I asked, rolling up my sleeves."Me, me!" Zenith and Zendaya chorused, racing each other to the kitchen."Zenith, you can help me chop the vegetables," I said, handing him a small cutting board and a safe knife. "And Zendaya, why don't you help me stir the sauce?""Got it, Mom!" Zendaya said
JOCELIA'S POVAfter Davenport released me, I stood up, wiping my mouth and hands with a tissue. I glared at him, feeling a mix of disgust and anger. “Now you’ll do it?” I asked, my voice cold.Davenport looked at me with a smirk and waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll call my friend today and tell him to begin the process of evicting her company from his building. I’ll also send Sylvia a quick notice on her apartment.”“Good,” I said curtly, turning to leave.Just as I was about to step out, Davenport called out, “Jocelia, this was good. We should do this more often.”I glared at him, my eyes burning with hatred. “You wish,” I hissed before storming out. His laughter echoed behind me, each chuckle a slap to my pride. My bowels turned with anger and humiliation as I walked away, feeling degraded for agreeing to his ultimatum. This was a new low, even for me.As I got back into my car, I cranked up the radio, turning the volume up to drown out the shame gnawing at me. The lou
SYLVIA'S POVAfter we finished our meal, I took Zenith and Zendaya to the bathroom for their nightly bath. Filling the tub with warm water, lather, rubber ducks, and other toys, I began to bathe them. As I gently scrubbed their backs, Zenith looked up at me and asked, "Mom, why doesn't Grayson pick us up from school anymore?"The question took me by surprise. I paused for a moment before responding, "He's been very busy lately, sweetie.""I miss him," Zenith said, his little face full of sadness.I was dumbfounded to find that Zenith felt this way about Grayson. I turned to Zendaya and asked, "Do you feel the same way, honey?"She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Yes, Mom. I miss him too."Their expressions turned gloomy, and I felt a pang of guilt and sadness. I tried to think of something to cheer them up, but their longing for Grayson was palpable."Alright how about icecrwam to cheer you up" i says knowubg how much they love icecream, "no mum we want Grayson" Zenith begged.I
RAYMOND'S POVComing back to my apartment after the courthouse, I realized just how empty it was. No food, no groceries—everything was gone, thanks to my time away in Paris. The fridge hummed quietly, a stark reminder of my negligence.I grabbed my phone and pulled up the list my modeling agency had sent me. They were strict about my diet, especially now that I was their top face. The list was full of organic, unprocessed foods—nothing fun, but necessary to stay in shape.Sighing, I knew I needed to go grocery shopping. I couldn't put it off any longer. I double-checked the list: kale, quinoa, wild-caught salmon, organic chicken breast, fresh berries, and a variety of vegetables. No shortcuts allowed.As I headed out the door, I made a mental note to hit the gym later. The demands of my career were relentless, but I was determined to keep up. Stepping into the bustling streets of Manhattan, I felt a mix of exhaustion and resolve. Paris had been incredible, but it was good to be back.
SYLVIA'S POVI woke up to tiny hands gently patting my face. Opening my eyes, I saw Zenith's bright, smiling face inches from mine. I couldn't help but smile back."Good morning, Mommy!" Zenith chirped."Good morning, sweetheart," I replied, rolling over to the edge of the bed. Last night, I'd let Zenith and Zendaya sleep in my bed. They'd had a bit of a rough day, and I wanted them to feel close and safe.I looked over at Zendaya, still sound asleep, her small form nestled comfortably in the blankets. I brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead gently."Did you sleep well?" I asked Zenith."Yeah! But I'm hungry now," Zenith said, rubbing his tummy dramatically."Alright, let's get some breakfast started," I said, climbing out of bed. "But first, let's let your sister sleep a bit longer, okay?"Zenith nodded enthusiastically and slid off the bed, ready to follow me to the kitchen. I glanced back at Zendaya one more time before heading out, feeling grateful for the
JOCELIA'S POVI woke up from my nap to find several messages from my father, each one more urgent than the last: "Call me ASAP." My anxiety spiked as I read them. Failing to win against Sylvia in court through Julia had already put me on edge. I needed something solid to present to my father, something that showed I was still in control.I hoped that by getting Sylvia kicked out of her apartment and her company evicted from their rented space, I'd score a significant victory. It might be enough to make Sylvia leave Grayson and New York altogether. Davenport just needed to stick to his end of the deal.I quickly checked my phone for any updates from Davenport, hoping he hadn't let me down. No messages yet. I sighed, trying to calm my nerves. This had to work. I couldn't afford another failure.I got up and made my way to the bathroom sink, splashing cold water on my face. It felt refreshing, snapping me out of the grogginess from my nap. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, taking
SYLVIA'S POV As I reached back home, I started getting ready for work. My phone buzzed, and I saw it was Lisa calling. I picked up and greeted her, "Hey, Lisa, what's up?" "Hey, Ma'am. We've been getting a bunch of calls from new clients this morning," Lisa said, sounding excited. "That's great news!" I replied, feeling a bit of my own excitement rise. "Can you take their requests and get the basics down? I'll be coming in a bit later today." "Sure thing, I'll handle it," Lisa assured me. "Is everything okay? You sound a bit off." "Yeah, I'm fine. I just need some time alone to think things over," I explained. I want to sort out where I stand with Grayson in my mind. Maybe I should forgive him for the past six years, or at least speak to him and thank him for looking out for me during the trial, I thought Lisa's tone softened. "ok ma'am. Take all the time you need. You've been through a lot, and it's important to get some clarity." "Thanks, Lisa. I'll be there soon, I jus