ALICE' POVI had just finished applying my mud mask when Todd called. I answered, curious about what was so urgent.“Ma'am, you won’t believe what just happened,” Todd said, his voice frantic.“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice as I adjusted the mask.“Well, the building caretaker stopped by Sylvia’s apartment and mentioned to her that the landlord wasn’t going to renew her lease. He overheard the whole conversation,” Todd explained.I sat up, my interest piqued. “Really? And?”“Here’s the gag—Grayson showed up just as this was happening. Sylvia and her kids were there with their bags packed, and now Grayson’s taken them somewhere. I don’t know where, but it sounds like he’s handling the situation.”My mind raced with frustration and curiosity. “So, Grayson’s intervened, but where does that leave us?”Todd sighed. “It’s hard to say. But it’s definitely something we need to keep an eye on. There’s a lot more going on than we initially thought.”I n
SYLVIA'S POVI stepped out of the car and looked up at the Lockwood mansion, taking in its grandeur. It had been six and a half months since I’d last been here, and it was just as magnificent as I remembered. The large garden, the elegant fountain, and the impressive walls of the mansion seemed untouched by time. Everything about the house exuded a timeless charm.As I admired the view, the kids tumbled out of the car, their eyes wide with wonder. “Mom, it’s so beautiful!” they exclaimed, running around the garden.Grayson, went to the trunks of the car. He called out to Paul, asking him to help with the bags. “Paul, can you give me a hand?” Grayson said, gesturing towards the trunk.Paul came over, and together, they began unloading the bags. I watched as the kids continued to explore, their excitement palpable. It felt good to be back, surrounded by the familiar comfort of the Lockwood mansion.I called out to the kids as they came running toward me. We walked together to the front
SYLVIA'S POVI woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I took a deep breath and smiled, still marveling at the grandeur of the Lockwood mansion. Sitting up, I glanced around the unfamiliar room, taking in the luxurious decor. It felt surreal to be here.Quietly, I slipped out of bed and made my way to the door connecting to the rooms where Zenith and Zendaya were still asleep. I peeked in and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of them curled up, peaceful and content.I walked back to my room and entered the bathroom. I turned on the sink and splashed some cold water on my face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The familiar routine of my old life seemed like a distant memory now.Just as I was about to head back to the bedroom, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Who is it?” I called out.“It’s the maid,” came the response.I recognized the voice immediately. “Dora?” I asked, a bit surprised.“Yes,
SYLVIA'S POVI walked back to my room from the front porch of the Lockwood mansion, feeling the cool breeze on my face. As I entered, I noticed Dora still busy with her cleaning. I gave her a friendly smile before making my way to the adjoining room where I heard the cheerful sound of laughter.Curious, I approached the slightly ajar door and peeked inside. To my delight, I saw Grayson sitting with Zenith and Zendaya. They were all laughing and enjoying his jokes, their faces lit up with genuine amusement. Grayson’s presence seemed to bring out a side of them I hadn't seen before.I leaned against the doorframe, a smile spreading across my face as I watched the scene unfold. In that moment, it was clear how much of an impact Grayson’s presence had on my kids. It was different from what they had with Raymond. Yes, they loved Raymond, but the bond they shared with Grayson felt more profound, more natural. It was as if Grayson effortlessly stepped into the role of a father, and my childr
SYLVIA'S POVAs I approached the scene, my heart raced and my breaths came in shallow gasps. “Oh god, oh god,” I whispered, trying to steady myself as I took in the chaos.Zenith and Zendaya were still sobbing uncontrollably, their faces flushed with fear. I spotted Dora, who was standing there, her expression frozen in shock. “Dora, get my kids out of here!” I shouted, but she didn’t seem to respond. I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. “Dora, get them out and bring my phone. We need to call the cops!” I insisted.Dora blinked, her hands trembling, as she picked up Zenith and Zendaya. I watched her stumble out of the bathroom with my children, my mind racing. “And call Paul and Rex to come help!” I added, desperate for support.Turning back to the bathroom, I knelt beside Grayson, who was lying on the floor, a pool of blood and water around him. The sight of him in such a state made my stomach churn. He must have slipped on the wet floor and hit his head on the sink. The cu
SYLVIA'S POVI walked back to my bed after watching from the window as Grayson was being carried to the car by Rex and Paul. "Hm," she muttered nonchalantly, then flopped onto my bed and grabbed the TV remote. Flipping to *Love Island US*, she settled in to catch up on the latest episodes.A knock on the door interrupted my. "Mom, it's me. Open up," William's voice called from the otmy side."Come in," I responded without taking my eyes off the screen.William entered the room, looking concerned. "Grayson just had an accident. The maid, Dora, said he slipped in the bathroom because of the wet floor from Sylvia's kids."I barely glanced up, still focused on the TV. "Mm hmm."William frowned, noticing my lack of concern. "Mom, aren't you gonna say something?"I remained fixated on my show. "What I’m going to do is finish binge-watching several episodes of *Love Island* that I missed."William looked puzzled. "This is an opportunity, Mom. What have I always told you?"I paused the TV and
SYLVIA'S POVPresent day----------I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and looked up to see Paul standing there with a container of takeout. "You should eat, ma'am. It's getting late," he said, offering me the food. I rubbed my eyes, bleary from exhaustion, and glanced out the hospital window. It was already well past daylight."Uh, thank you," I said, taking the container from him. As I settled into the chair, I couldn’t help but ask, "How long has it been?"Paul glanced at his watch. "It's been 12 hours already. The doctors needed to do a blood transfusion, so they had to find the right type."Tears welled up again, and I blinked them away. Paul patted my back reassuringly. "He will be fine," he said softly.I took a deep breath and looked around the stark, clinical room. "I've always hated hospitals," I admitted. "I was sick a lot as a child. My parents used to bring me here all the time, and then they died in a hospital. I almost died giving birth to my kids. I thought I was going
SYLVIA'S POV“Don’t worry about that, ma’am. Let them talk shit if they want,” Paul said, trying to ease my discomfort as I glanced at the TV screen in the hospital waiting room.I shrugged and replied, “It doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m used to it by now.” I walked over to a chair outside the operating room, and Paul followed me. I pulled out my takeaway food and started eating again, trying to distract myself.Paul took a seat next to me. “I didn’t meet you when Grayson and I were together. You must have started working for him after I left,” I said.“Yeah, I came on board shortly after you two separated,” Paul replied. “But I did hear about you.”I almost choked on my food. “Me? You heard about me?”“Yeah, quite a lot, actually,” Paul said. “Grayson talked about you all the time after I started. At first, he was drinking heavily, depressed, and heartbroken. He’d curse your name when he was drunk, then call out for you like he longed for you. Your name seemed to haunt the halls of t