ALICE'S POVAs I drove away from Sylvia's obnoxious press conference, I couldn't help but feel a mix of satisfaction and irritation. I had come there to get in her head, to make her stumble over her words, but she had held her own. I glanced at my rearview mirror, seeing the busted lip Sylvia had given me with that slap. I smiled at her supposed confidence.I wasn't even mad at her for hitting me. In her shoes, I might have done the same. In a way, I admired her tenacity. But admiration didn't change the fact that she was a threat. She had picked the wrong turf to try and conquer—my turf, the Lockwood empire.As I drove through the bustling city streets, my mind wandered to the decades of work I had put into building and maintaining our family empire. If I allowed Sylvia to stay, if I allowed her to gain even a foothold, everything I had worked for could be jeopardized. She wasn't someone I could control, and that made her dangerous.I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, the smil
SLYVIA'S POV Sitting in my chair, I glanced up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Had I made a mistake coming back to New York? Should I have stayed in LA? But I’m helping people here, which is my primary reason for even doing this. Still, doubts crept in. I wished my parents were here. I wished I wasn't an orphan. I wished I still had my mom to talk to. I wished... I wished Grayson was here with me. No, no... no, no, I shouldn’t think about him. I shook my head, trying to banish the thoughts. I wished Raymond was here. I wished my kids wouldn’t have to go through all this. The weight of it all felt crushing, and I couldn’t help but worry about how Zenith and Zendaya were holding up. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The thought of my kids enduring this turmoil made my heart ache. I wondered if they would be okay during all this. Their innocent faces flashed in my mind, and a pang of guilt hit me hard. They didn’t deserve any of this. I had come to New York to make a differen
SLYVIA'S POVAs we drove home, I glanced back at Zenith and Zendaya in the rearview mirror. "So, how was school today?" I asked, hoping to distract myself from the day's stress.The kids immediately launched into excited chatter, their voices overlapping. "Mommy, Ms. Beverly did this amazing science experiment today!" Zendaya exclaimed."Yeah, and we got to make volcanoes!" Zenith added, his eyes wide with excitement.Their joy was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile, my heart swelling with pride and relief. Despite everything happening, they were having a good time and enjoying school. That was all I ever wanted—for them to live a happy, carefree life, something I had wished for myself growing up.A tear slipped down my cheek as I listened to their animated recounting of the day. Zenith noticed it first. "Mommy, are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.I quickly wiped the tear away, smiling at them through the mirror. "Yes, sweethearts, I'm okay. These are tears
GRAYSON'S POVMy phone buzzed, and I saw Paul's name flash on the screen. I picked up quickly. "Hey, Paul. What's up?""Sir, my brother's agreed to meet with you about the job," Paul said, sounding relieved."Great. Tell him to bring his résumé and meet me at my office tomorrow," I instructed."Yes, sir. He’s looking forward to it," Paul replied before ending the call.I leaned back in my chair, feeling a mix of anticipation and determination. This was a critical step in ensuring Zenith and Zendaya’s safety. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that they might still be in danger, and having someone reliable watching over them would bring some peace of mind.SLYVIA'S POVAfter I finished the laundry, I realized it was already getting dark. I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, enjoying the brief moment of calm. As I chopped vegetables, my phone rang. Seeing Raymond's name on the screen brought a smile to my face."Hey, Raymond," I answered, feeling a wave of relief wash over me."H
SLYVIA'S POVI woke up feeling a bit better than last night. It was Saturday, and I had plans to meet Beverly for drinks later in the day. I wanted to make sure everything was in order before the babysitter arrived, so I started tackling some house chores. Sweeping and cleaning the whole house felt therapeutic, like I was clearing away more than just the dust.As the morning went by and I was cleaning the windows, I noticed a truck pulling up outside. It was a moving company. I watched for a moment, curious. "Guess the new neighbors are settling in almost immediately," I thought to myself.The kids stirred awake, their footsteps padding softly towards the kitchen. "Good morning, my loves!" I greeted them with a smile."Morning, Mommy!" Zenith and Zendaya chorused back, their faces still a little sleepy."Alright, brush your teeth while I finish up here, and then I'll make us all some breakfast," I instructed.They nodded and headed off to the bathroom while I returned to my chores. As
ALICE'S POVWilliam strolled up to me by the pool, his face shadowed by a hint of curiosity. He took a seat beside me, adjusting his sunglasses."How's it going with the Morris family?" he asked, his tone casual yet laced with genuine interest.I leaned back, letting the warmth of the sun envelop me. "They've settled in," I replied, a satisfied smile spreading across my face. "The movers are currently bringing in their stuff. Everything's going according to plan."He nodded, a sly grin forming on his lips. "That's good to hear. Have they had any interaction with Slyvia yet?"I couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, yes. Slyvia, in her typical naïve fashion, brought them pancakes as a welcome gift."William laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "She doesn't even realize she's feeding the very people who will be her downfall.""Exactly," I said, my voice tinged with amusement. "She has no idea what's coming. It's almost too easy."We shared a conspiratorial laugh, the irony of the situation
After I finished the chores and everything else, I decided to take a bath to freshen up from the stress. I ran hot water into the tub and eased myself in, letting the warmth envelop me. As I sank into the tub, I dipped my head fully underwater, staring up at the ceiling through the bubbles and water.Flashes of Grayson entered my mind, unbidden. I remembered the first time we ever made love. It was in the shower, much like this one. We had finally gotten close after he had resented me for what he believed was me forcing him to marry me through his father.He had walked up behind me in the shower, parting my hair to the side and planting soft kisses on my neck. I could still feel the warmth of his skin, the way his touch made my body respond instinctively. He had wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands cupping my breasts as I leaned back into him, surrendering to the moment.I instinctively raised my head from the tub, the vivid memory pulling me back to reality. "What am I d
SLYVIA'S POVAs the kitchen filled with the comforting aroma of cooking, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I was grateful for these small moments of normalcy amidst the chaos. I finished preparing dinner, setting everything up so the babysitter wouldn't have any trouble. Just as I was putting the final touches on the meal, I heard the doorbell ring."Perfect timing," I thought, as I went to greet the babysitter. Now I could leave with peace of mind, knowing my kids were taken care of, and I could focus on a much-needed evening out with a friend.Jessie arrived right on time, her usual bright smile lighting up the room."Hey, Jessie! Perfect timing. Come on in," I greeted her warmly."Hey, Slyvia! Smells amazing in here," she said, taking in the aromas wafting from the kitchen."Thanks! I'm making the kids' favorite tonight. How have you been?" I asked as we walked back to the kitchen together."Oh, you know, busy with school. But I'm hanging in there," she replied, setting her bag