It had been another year, and Lucas was now a lively, playful toddler, always running around, laughing at the smallest things. His energy was boundless, and watching him grow had been the only thing that kept me grounded after everything that had happened. But as I stood in the living room, watching him chase after his favorite stuffed bunny, my mind wandered.I couldn’t keep living like this.All I could think about was his future. The fortune Leon had left for Lucas was more than enough to sustain us for years, but something didn’t sit right with me about relying solely on that money. Leon had worked hard for his wealth, and I wanted to make sure Lucas had something more than just an inheritance.But I hadn’t worked in years. It seemed impossible to even consider going back to the corporate world. I could barely remember what it felt like to sit in an office, much less handle the pressure of the business world again. Besides, who would hire someone who had been out of the game for so
It had been a week since the audition, and the silence from the producers was deafening. Every morning, I would check my phone, my emails—anything that might indicate whether I had landed the role or not. But each time, there was nothing. As the days passed, I started to convince myself that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.I wasn’t sure if I was more disappointed or relieved. Part of me wanted this so badly. The idea of stepping into a role, of being someone else for a while, had reignited something in me that I hadn’t felt in years. But the other part of me, the one that doubted every step I took, told me that maybe this was for the best. I hadn’t acted in so long. Maybe it was foolish to think I could just waltz back into the industry like I belonged there.“Lucas, slow down!” I called as I watched my little boy zoom around the living room, making car noises as he pushed a toy car across the floor.He giggled but didn’t listen. Instead, he sped up, making the car crash into the wa
The drive to the production office was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. I couldn’t stop replaying Aunt Lou and my cousins' words of encouragement in my head, reminding myself that I’d made it this far, that this was just the beginning. But as I pulled up to the sleek, modern building where the meeting was being held, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach. I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap of my purse, and stepped out of the car. You’ve got this, I reminded myself as I walked through the glass doors into the lobby. The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, and after a quick check-in, I was led down a long corridor to a large conference room. The walls were adorned with posters from past movies, some of them critically acclaimed blockbusters. It was a reminder of the gravity of the industry I was about to step into. This is real, I thought. This is happening.The door opened, and I stepped inside. The producers, seated around a large wooden table, turned to look at m
The tapings had become my daily routine now, and I threw myself into the work with everything I had. I was determined to prove myself, not only to Scarlet but to everyone who doubted me. I woke up early, made sure I was the first one on set, and stayed focused throughout the day. Every scene, every line—I treated it like it was my last chance to shine.But even with all the dedication I poured into the job, Lucas was always at the back of my mind. Coming home to him was the highlight of my day. I’d always make it a point to rush home after shooting wrapped up, just so I could spend a few precious hours with him before bed. I was lucky to have Lena and Letty, who took turns taking care of him while I was away. It was reassuring knowing that Lucas was in good hands with my cousins, but still, I missed him terribly while I was on set.One day after filming, just as I was about to leave the studio, I received a call from William.“I’m close by, at the studio submitting some papers,” he s
I decided it was time to take a different approach with Scarlet. Instead of letting her sabotage get to me, I would play my own game—discreetly and smartly. I didn’t want to stoop to her level, but I needed to show her that I wasn’t the pushover she thought I was.The day after our last confrontation, I arrived on set with a calm resolve. I greeted the crew warmly, made small talk with the makeup artists, and ensured I was visible, friendly, and professional.No one would ever be able to accuse me of being difficult to work with. It was clear Scarlet had been spreading rumors, her whispers weaving a narrative that I was a diva trying to rise in the industry by flirting with William. But I would make sure her words came back to bite her.
Things had been going well, or so I thought. After weeks of dealing with Scarlet's schemes, I finally felt like I was coming out on top. I had gained the respect of the crew, and my performance on set was being praised. It felt like I was proving myself, slowly but surely. But, of course, that was just a fragile illusion.One afternoon, after wrapping up a particularly difficult scene, I was headed back to my dressing room when I overheard two of the crew members talking in hushed voices."I don’t know, man. Did you see what happened with Scarlet yesterday? Poor thing’s been dealing with so much drama. It's like Margarette’s really out to get her."My heart sank. *Out to get her?* What were they talking about? I wasn’t the one causing tr
I wasn’t sure when I’d made the decision to confront Scarlet. Maybe it was after another long day on set, when the glares and whispers had worn me down. Or maybe it was seeing Lucas’ innocent face when I came home, reminding me why I couldn’t let someone like Scarlet win.Either way, I knew that I had to face her, no more avoiding the issue.I waited until the day’s taping wrapped up. The lights dimmed, and the crew started packing up. I could feel the weight of my decision pressing down on me, but I kept moving forward. Scarlet was at her usual spot by the dressing room, talking with her assistant and giggling as if she hadn’t spent the entire day undermining me.“Scarlet,” I called out, my voice steady des
I had been counting down the days until the movie wrapped up, and finally, my daily encounters with Scarlet eventually had come to an end. And in all fairness, I was proud of myself that I had endured her jabs, her attempts to sabotage my work, and her never-ending smug attitude on set for far too long. When the final scene was shot, and we were done, I felt like I could finally breathe again.But that relief was short-lived.A few weeks later, just as I was beginning to put the nightmare behind me, I received an invitation to an awards night. Vancouver Film & Artist Awards (VFAA). It was prestigious, hosted by one of the largest networks, and to my shock, I had been nominated for Best Newcomer Artist. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it—excited, maybe, but mostly, I was hesitant. The idea of possibly winning and then standing in front of all those people, being in the same room as industry legends, it felt too overwhelming. And then above all those things, there was the fact that S
I stood barefoot on the damp sand, the wind weaving through my hair like invisible fingers, the sea humming a lullaby that had become the heartbeat of our peaceful island life. Leon stood beside me, his hand resting on the curve of my growing belly. It had become our evening ritual, watching the sunset together, our two kids—Isla and Theo—laughing somewhere behind us, chasing each other with sticks and seashells.I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the sound of the waves steady my heart. This place—this little paradise Leon bought for our third child—had become more than a retreat. It was a dream he turned into a promise. But even dreams, I had come to learn, were fragile."She kicked again," I said softly.Leon turned, his eyes lighting up. He dropped to his knees and pressed his ear against my belly. "Hey, little one. You trying to tell us something?"I laughed, running my fingers through his hair. We had built a world here—away from pain, betrayal, and danger. For nearly a year,
The next twenty-four hours unfolded like a twisted thriller novel—one where every moment felt more surreal than the last.Leon doubled the patrols and locked down the main house with a level of precision that made me feel both safe and deeply unsettled. We weren’t just protecting Angela and Riley anymore; we were protecting our entire family, our children, and the unborn life growing inside me. I absentmindedly touched my belly throughout the day—our third child, already making their presence known in subtle kicks and flutters.Leon noticed, of course. He always noticed.“You okay?” he asked quietly that afternoon, his arm curling protectively around my waist as we stood by the nursery window, watching Isla and the twins playing with their nannies in the garden below.“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I want to be. I should be. But Victoria… she’s like a shadow. I can feel her even when she’s not there.”Leon didn’t speak right away. Instead, he pressed a kiss to my temple and rested his h
Days passed in a blur of uncertainty. Leon worked late into the night, organizing security measures, making phone calls. He reached out to his contacts in Anacortes, hoping to get a lead on the source of the letter. Meanwhile, I tried to keep things normal for the children. I kept the island life as idyllic as possible, determined not to let the shadow of the unknown consume us completely.But the truth was, I couldn’t ignore it. Not anymore.It wasn’t just Riley and Angela we had to worry about—it was us, too. And I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far worse.The morning the helicopter arrived, I knew something had changed.Leon had arranged for a private security team to monitor the island, just in case. The sound of the helicopter’s blades cutting through the air had become an all-too-familiar noise. But this time, when it landed, it wasn’t just the usual security team.It was Riley and Angela.And they didn’t look like the carefree couple th
The days that followed Victoria’s arrest felt like exhaling after holding our breath for far too long. Riley and Angela stayed on the island for a while longer, though it was clear they needed to forge a new chapter of their own. Angela had begun smiling again, truly smiling—without fear shadowing her eyes. Riley, too, softened. He built sandcastles with Liam and Lila, cooked with Leon, and talked with me late into the evening, often about forgiveness and starting over.And just like that, they left. Quietly, one morning, before the sun rose. A handwritten note on the kitchen table read:"Thank you for giving us this time, this place, and this chance to be free again. We’ll never forget it. Love, Riley & Angela."I folded the note and placed it in the drawer beside my bedside table, next to the ultrasound photo of our third child.Yes, our third. I was five months along by then—round and glowing, Leon would say, with that teasing smirk of his. Truthfully, I felt more like a sleepy, wa
One Month LaterPeace. Real, actual peace.It settled on our shoulders like a soft shawl, wrapping us in warmth we’d long forgotten existed. Riley and Angela decided to stay on the island for a few more weeks to heal, but soon they were talking about moving to a quieter part of Europe to start fresh. With Victoria behind bars and no more shadows to run from, they deserved that clean slate.As for us… we were starting to dream again.Life slowed into soft routines. Mornings began with giggles from Liam and Lila as they climbed into bed with us, demanding pancake breakfasts and treasure hunts on the beach. Isla—our tiny, perfect miracle—was thriving, always cooing and gurgling, her smile lighting up the room.And then came the moment.I was standing in the garden behind the cottage, barefoot on the grass, Isla napping in a basket under the shade while the twins dug in the sand nearby. Leon came out, holding something behind his back.“Close your eyes,” he said, grinning.I rolled mine a
Life on our secluded island had settled into a serene rhythm. Leon and I spent our days basking in the joy of raising our three children, the twins—Liam and Lila—and our newborn, Isla. The island, a paradise of golden sands and lush greenery, had become our sanctuary, far removed from the chaos of our past lives.One tranquil afternoon, as I lounged on the veranda watching the twins play by the shore, a distant speck on the horizon caught my eye. Squinting against the sun's glare, I realized it was a small boat, rowing frantically toward our island. My heart quickened. Visitors were unheard of here. Leon, noticing my unease, emerged from the house and followed my gaze.The boat drew closer, revealing two figures aboard. As they reached the shallows, a man leaped out, pulling the vessel onto the sand. He turned toward us, and recognition struck me like a bolt."Riley?" I called out, disbelief evident in my voice.Riley's face was etched with exhaustion and fear. Beside him, a woman
The next few days were filled with packing and preparations for the move. The kids were excited about the idea of living in a new place, and their enthusiasm helped ease some of my doubts. I watched them run around the house, laughing, playing, as Leon and I sorted through our things. They were so innocent, so unaware of the complexities of the world we lived in. I wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.By the time we were ready to leave, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. It wasn’t about abandoning anyone—it was about creating a future for us, a future where we could heal, grow, and be free from the shadows of our past.The private jet that Leon had arranged for us was waiting, and the twins couldn’t contain their excitement as we boarded. The journey felt surreal, like something out of a dream. We were starting over, building a new life, and for the first time in a long while, I felt hopeful.When we finally arrived on the island, it exceeded all our expectations.
We visited Havenmoor two weeks later.The air was different there—salt-kissed and vibrant. The island’s green heart stretched wide with wild palms and flowering trees. A gentle wind rustled the leaves as we stepped onto the sand. Liana and Mateo were already running toward the waves, laughing as the tide splashed their feet.Leon held my hand as we walked up a narrow path toward the bluff where our future home would be built.“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, unable to hide my awe.“It’s yours,” he said. “Ours.”A local contractor met us at the site, showing us the blueprints. I could already picture it—Liana perched at the window seat with a book, Mateo in the garden chasing butterflies, the sound of waves echoing through our open windows.“This room will be for the baby,” Leon said, his voice lower now, reverent. “Facing east, so the sunlight comes in every morning.”I didn’t speak for a moment. Instead, I turned to him, tears threatening to spill. “You thought of everything.”He brush
The smell of cinnamon and warm bread wafted through the air as I stood in the sunlit kitchen, stirring a pot of soup with one hand and resting the other protectively over my growing belly. Outside the window, the sound of laughter echoed from the garden where Leon chased after our two children—Emilia, now three, and our spirited one-year-old, Julian. Their giggles bounced off the walls like music.Peace.For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I could breathe.It had been a year since Elise’s arc ended—since we put an end to the nightmare that stole my parents and nearly took my life. The trial that followed felt like a bad dream, and with Dorian’s testimony and the evidence from my father’s study, Elise’s crimes—along with her father's legacy of corruption—were buried with their conviction.Leon and I moved on. We rebuilt our lives, one moment, one breath at a time.And now, as I stirred soup with the ease of a mother content in her routine, I was preparing to share somethin