[Vivienne]“Oh, Vivienne, you’re finally home!” Mom welcomes me as soon as I walk through the door.I hug her, and she hugs me back. “Sorry, Mom. It took me a while. Life just got very hectic.”“You think I haven’t heard that before?” she pulls away, pouting. “Your father has used every kind of excuse in the book, sweetheart. Now, you don’t get to tell me the same.”I chuckle. “Okay, okay. Sorry. Happy now? I’ll try to drop by once a week from now on.”“It’s still not enough, but a good start nonetheless.”She finally smiles and leads me toward the dining room. “Come on now. We have so much to talk about. Let’s chat in the kitchen. I’m still not done with dinner.”I raise an eyebrow. “You’re making dinner? All by yourself?”She gives me a side-eye. “Just because I let the chefs handle most of the things around this house doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten my skills. I can still cook a decent dinner if I put my mind to it.”I feel bad for saying something like that. “Mom, that’s not what I me
[Vivienne]I don’t know what to say.Part of me wants to leap at the opportunity, to embrace the challenge and prove him right. But another part feels like it’s about to drown in the sheer enormity of it all.The truth is, I don’t want to disappoint him—not like I did when I chose Caden over everything he made me believe in.“Dad, can you give me some time? I promise I’ll think about it.”He smiles understandingly. “Of course, darling. Take all the time you want. Get back to me whenever you think you’re ready.”Just then, Justine, the maid, knocks on the door and calls us down for dinner. When we enter the dining room, I can see that Mom has outdone herself; the table is set with an elegant spread that looks almost too beautiful to eat.“Wow, Mom, this looks incredible,” I say, genuinely impressed.She beams at the compliment, her earlier mood swings seemingly forgotten. “Thank you, sweetheart! I thought we could celebrate your return home.”Dad pulls out my chair, and I take a seat.
[Vivienne]This time, when Harvey turns, it feels like I have his attention.But before I open my mouth again, and finish what I started, he holds me by the shoulders and kisses my forehead.“Look. I get it. And I know where you’re getting with this. But no. I really can’t do this right now. Emma is…she’s doing great. But she’s not like other kids. She needs special care and I can’t let some innocent woman—or any woman—get burdened by the needs of my child. It’s just not fair.”Tears prick my eyes for the reason that I don’t even know. It’s maybe my brother has a heart of gold and it shows. I love him so much for this. But is it really the truth or he’s just too scared to move on?“Why don’t you let her decide that? Ask her on a date or something. I’m sure if you talk—”“Like I said to Mom, Viv, I have a lot on my plate right now, and this is just not the right time,” he says, taking a step back and checking his phone. “I’ve got to go. Emma’s nanny is sick, and she wants to leave earl
[Vivienne]I laugh at that, trying hard to hide my actual thoughts. I grab a chair and shake my head when he offers me a drink. “I’m fine. Thank you.”“As you wish,” he smiles and then leans back in his chair. “So, the dinner went well, I heard?”I think hard about what he said, only to realize maybe it wasn’t that complicated in the first place. “Harvey told you?”He chuckles. “More like I caught him on the phone after he probably made his grand exit and had no choice but to endure his twenty-minute rant.”I wince, feeling bad for him. “Yeah. He was pretty mad.”“I can only imagine. Family dinners are like navigating a minefield sometimes, aren’t they?”“Exactly! One wrong step, and you’re blown to bits. But I think it’s just him trying to figure things out. He’s feeling the pressure.”“Pressure can be a double-edged sword,” he says thoughtfully. “It can either push you to new heights or leave you paralyzed with fear. Sometimes, it’s a matter of choosing which way to let it affect yo
[Vivienne]The elevator jerks to a halt, and the lights flicker before plunging us into total darkness.Elijah curses softly under his breath. “Well, this is just fantastic.”I blink, trying to adjust to the sudden blackness. “Did we just—?”“Yep,” he cuts me off, sounding calm despite the situation. “Elevator’s stuck. Don’t worry, it happens from time to time. Building’s old.”I can hear him moving, likely reaching for his phone. “Let me just call maintenance, and we’ll be out in no time.”“Great. Stuck in an elevator. Just what I needed today.”“Hey, if you’re going to get stuck in an elevator, at least you’re stuck with me. It could be worse.”I laugh, despite myself. “Always looking at the bright side, huh?”“Well,” he says, his voice moving closer, “I try to make the best out of bad situations. Keeps life interesting.”“You’re impossible.”He chuckles, and I hear him tapping away on his phone. “They’ll get us out soon. In the meantime, consider this a forced break. I bet you have
[Vivienne]I don’t breathe.My face is pressed against his chest, and I can feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, hear the strong, calm rhythm of his heart. It’s grounding, soothing even. It helps.I pull back slightly, but his arms remain firm around me, not too tight, just enough to keep me steady. “You sure you’re not secretly an action hero?” I murmur, trying to lighten the mood.He chuckles softly. “Sorry to disappoint, but no cape under here.” His hand grazes the back of my head, smoothing over my hair. “You okay?”I nod, though I’m not entirely sure if it’s for me or him. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… wasn’t expecting that.”“Me neither.” He glances up at the flickering lights. “But hey, look on the bright side. You finally got to see my catching skills. I’ve been trying to prove to you for so long that I played rugby before.”“Is that what this was? A demonstration of your athletic prowess?”“Absolutely,” he replies, his tone mock-serious. “Next time, I’ll have to show off
[Vivienne]My back stiffens at the familiar voice.I haven’t even turned around yet, and I already know whose mouth those words are coming out of.Irritation burns in my chest like never before.I turn around to face him head-on.“What are you doing here?”He doesn’t say anything right away. Just stares. As if trying to get comfortable in my space. He sits there on the couch like nothing can move him, as if he holds not even an ounce of guilt for walking into my place without permission.And I hate him even more for that.“I said, what are you doing here, Caden?”“What do you think?” he says, and I feel like I don’t have the patience for his nonsense.It hasn’t even been 24 hours since we last met, meaning his every word and action is still imprinted on my mind, fresh as ink.I fold my arms across my chest, glaring at him. “I think you’re in the wrong place. Get out.”He raises an eyebrow, not offended but definitely amused. “Bold words for someone like you, don’t you think?”Someone
[Vivienne]If I thought he looked annoyed earlier, now he looks full-blown furious.He moves so close to my face, I almost think he’s going to hurt me.But I don’t flinch or step away. I refuse to be intimidated. Sure, it takes everything in me to look into his eyes and not wince at the dangerous intensity of them, but I hold on.I’m a Richardson, I remind myself. I’m not his loyal, meek wife anymore. I don’t care what he thinks. I don’t care what he does. I don’t care about his opinion.The only thing that matters is my self-respect and dignity. And I won’t compromise it. Not tonight. Not ever.“You will not,” he growls in my face, his jaw grinding. “do that, Vivienne.”“Watch me,” I say, not backing down. “Caden.”His nostrils flare, and I can almost hear the snap of his patience breaking.But I stand firm. My heart pounds in my chest, but my gaze doesn’t waver.“You think this is a game, don’t you?” he says quietly, his voice deep. “You think you can act like you don’t care, and I’
[Vivienne]I have to say, Caden has a way of doing things that not only gets his work done, but also leaves the other party too confused yet satisfied for their own good.Now, I’m not saying that being shoved against the door and having his face so ridiculously close to mine is satisfying in some weird kind of way, but it surely is leaving me confused for sure.“What are you doing, Caden?” I cannot help but ask, finally able to find my voice after a minute of intimate staring and a confusingly beating heart.I know being jealous has always been Caden’s strongest streak, but I never thought he was jealous because of me. Not that I have deliberately tried to make him feel that way. Ever. It was always him, surrounded by Sasha and her dramatic ways, making me feel like a third wheel of sorts.I try to push him away, but he doesn’t dare budge. His dark eyes remain stuck on mine, his hands clasped around my waist.“Whatever you think.”I sigh, reminding myself once again how wrong everythi
[Caden]After spending almost the entire day at the clinic, when we return to our hotel suite, Ben and Axel drop dead the second their heads hit the pillow.Vivienne, on the other hand, excuses herself for a quick shower and a change of clothes, while I decide to do the same.However, before I pick out my clothes from the wardrobe, my phone starts to ring.Astrid’s name flashes on the screen, and I almost roll my eyes.Almost. Instead, I answer. “Speak.”"Are you serious, Caden?" she asks, so loudly that I have to pull the phone away from my ear a little."What's the matter?""What's the matter?" she repeats, as if she can't quite believe I asked her something so boldly. "What isn't the matter? When the hell were you going to tell me that you were going to Japan with that ex of yours? When, huh? Is this how you treat me now? Keeping me in the dark while having a vacation at some royal hotel suite?"I pinch the bridge of my nose, already feeling a headache brewing. "It's not a vacation
[Vivienne]Caden was right when he told me that Dr. Kaito is not just another doctor in a lab coat with a stethoscope looped around his neck.Oh, no. He’s so much more than that.To be honest, I have never seen a professional doctor quite like him.First of all, he’s not dressed like one.Secondly, he doesn’t talk like one either. No complicated medical words with him. No unnecessary attempt to appease us or assure us. And certainly not interested in the fact that Caden and I are among the richest people in the world.The moment we stepped into his cabin, his entire attention has been on Axel only.Which, of course, I’m glad for, but still. He really asked us nothing. Not his medical history. Not his symptoms. Not even his age, or how long he has been like this.The only thing I have done since we took seats on the couch across from his long desk is hold my breath and keep my mouth shut.Now, almost an hour has passed, and Dr. Kaito and Axel finally return their attention to us.Dr. K
[Vivienne]“Dr. Kaito will see you now,” the receptionist announced.I look up from my lap and glance around for the hundredth time.Ever since we walked into the building, I have been nervous as hell—and for all the right reasons, I would like to say.For the first time, Dr. Kaito will see Axel, and my son will get to know if he’ll ever get to see like normal kids out there. And that thought alone makes me feel all kinds of anxious. Never in my life have I been this nervous. My palms are sweating, my legs are shaking, and my throat feels dry beyond rationality. My brain is a complex mishmash of positivity and negativity. It’s not like I want to think of the worst, but my heart doesn’t know how to handle this situation without taking everything into account.I need to know how this meeting can go. I need to know so I will be ready for whatever the outcome might be.“Are you alright?” Caden’s familiar deep voice arrives from next to me. He’s probably wondering why I haven’t moved from
[Vivienne]Caden’s about to press his lips to mine, and I’m about to allow it, when something growls so loudly in the room, we both pause, turn stiff, and stare at each other for one long moment.Then, we both burst into laughter.Caden’s face dips into the crook of my neck while I feel embarrassed and giddy at the same time.The thing that growled?My stomach.Caden finally lifts his head, dark eyes crinkling with all the lightheartedness in the world. “You’re hungry.”“Yup,” I mumble, trying to look away but can’t. It’s as if I’m still in some kind of trance, and looking away will break it. “Did I forget to mention?”He shakes his head, and then, thankfully, gets up. Back on his feet, he helps me sit up and then runs a hand through his dark hair. “I’ll order something for you.”“It’s okay.” I try to stand up too, but he grabs me by the shoulders and gently pushes me back on the couch.“No. I’ll order. Just tell me what you need.”I could easily argue with him there, but something in
[Caden]I haven’t even told her everything yet, and I already feel like so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders.Makes me wonder: why didn’t I do it before? What was I waiting for? What worse could have happened if I had taken that kind of risk?But I can’t rebuff my fears either.It’s hard for me to accept—or confess—but my fears weren’t exactly baseless.When you’ve faced disappointment and betrayal so early in life, it makes you wary of trusting literally anyone—sometimes even your own judgment. And that’s what happened to us. Even though everything inside me approved of Vivienne and we ended up getting married, I still couldn’t get rid of this constant fear and suspicion that somehow she would betray me too—that she would leave me when I was at my lowest, and I’d be able to do nothing but hold myself responsible for letting another person get close to my heart.I’m about to question if my attempt to open up right now is even worth the effort when I finally look up and find
[Vivienne]“Why are you telling me this?”I don’t know how else to put my bafflement into words if not by being straightforward.No matter how difficult this man can be sometimes, I can’t deny that the man in front of me is known for his straightforwardness when it comes to business. His opinions on matters are never all over the place. Absolutely not. In fact, despite his aloof persona, he always has strong opinions about everything.Simply put, he’s not one to talk in circles, and right now, I plan to do the same.At first, he stays quiet, still sitting on the floor, picking at some invisible thread on my dress. His eyes are lowered, never meeting mine, as if he’s neither done nor ready to end this conversation.“I don’t know,” he says then, quietly as usual. “Maybe I think you should know. Or maybe because I’ve been keeping these things to myself for so long that now I can’t keep them in any longer. If I did, I might explode, and I don’t want that.”I don’t know what to say. Should
[Vivienne]I shouldn’t be having such thoughts right now.Especially when I’m engaged to someone else and the thoughts I’m having involve my ex-husband in the most outrageous manner.Like really. Why would I suddenly think of his lips on mine, his hands on the most secretive and sacred places of my body, and something absolutely unholy that has something to do with his mouth and my…Shit.This is probably the fever talking.Because as far as I know myself, I can’t be that horny for a man. And that too, for a man like Caden.The guy is literally and solely responsible for some of the worst years of my life. Not only did he embarrass me, disappoint me time and again, but he humiliated me whenever he got the chance. He broke my heart in the worst ways possible, even though he knew how terribly and deeply I was in love with him. He didn’t appreciate me when he had the chance, so why—why would my brain force such images into my head?Instead of these steamy encounters, my brain should put
[Vivienne]When I open my eyes, I don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.Like all my mornings, I expect to wake up staring at the ceiling, followed by my phone screen, and then realizing I have only half an hour to get ready or risk being late.But none of that happens this time.This time, when I wake up, I feel like I’ve been crushed by a train or something of that sort. My heart hurts, and when I try to turn or lift my arm to rub my face, it takes an immense amount of strength to do that.“Ughhhh!” I groan, blinking a few times to make sure I woke up in the same dimension I slept in—and not the other way around.“Hey, it’s okay,” a deep voice says, too faint for my ears to pick up clearly. Or maybe I’m just too drowsy to catch it. It’s only when I look to my side that I realize it belongs to the only man I have no desire to face first thing in the morning.“What the hell are you doing here?” I snap—or at least I try—only to feel like my throat is closing up on me, warning me no