[Sasha]“Come on, Caden. Answer your damn phone!” I mutter to myself, but he doesn’t pick up no matter how many times I call.The call disconnects after yet another unanswered attempt.“Fuck you, Caden!”I want to scream. I want to yell at this ignorant bastard. It’s glaringly obvious to me now that he’s ignoring me. Why? I don’t know. But I sure as hell will find out once I get out of here.I try Mrs. Lawrence this time. She’ll definitely answer. She always does.But the phone just keeps ringing until the call finally disconnects.“What the hell? Are you serious?”I stare at the phone, frustration bubbling inside me. Just when I need these jerks to help me, they’re nowhere to be found.“Ugh!” I groan, dialing Mr. Lawrence, Caden’s dad. But the response is the same—nothing.Out of sheer desperation, I try calling Caden’s nerdy assistant. Not once, but at least a dozen times. Yet that good-for-nothing woman doesn’t answer either.“What the hell is even going on here? Are they all ignori
[Sasha]“You know what? If I’m so stupid for you then you wouldn’t mind handling this situation on your own, would you?”“What?”“Exactly!”“Don’t you dare—” but before I can say anything more, the asshole brother of mine disconnects the call, leaving me seething with rage.“You fuck-pig! I can’t believe I wasted my time on you.” Speaking of time, I glance at the clock on my phone and realize I’ve already wasted twenty minutes on him.Wait. Does that mean I only have forty minutes left now?Shit. What am I gonna do? How will I arrange all this money before time runs out?I shake my head and scroll through my contacts again. Someone has to help me. I have plenty of friends. Surely, someone will remember my kindness and help me out of this mess.I make more calls—two to my childhood friends and at least a dozen to my college friends. I even call those I barely ever talked to, but they all give me the same answer: they don’t have that kind of money. One of them even cuts the call before
[Vivienne]“Alright. Here we are,” Theo says, adjusting his diamond cufflinks.I nod and take a deep breath. “You sure you can handle this?”“Are you kidding?” He looks at me, one eyebrow raised. “I want to do this, even if it’s the last thing I do.”I want to laugh, but I end up just smiling at his theatrics. “You make it sound like you’re going to war.”“Well, this is war,” he says casually, as if he doesn’t regret it one bit, as if he knows he’s already on the winning side. “The one these assholes started, but you’re the one who’s going to end it.”That’s right. I owe this to myself—to my unborn child. I promised to eliminate every possible threat from our lives so that, in the future, my child wouldn’t have to endure what I did. My child won’t suffer the way I did. My child will live a peaceful, happy life.Besides, this woman has done enough for my whole family to be done with her.They want her to be taken care of. Once and for all.Theo gives me a last bid of his cocky smile be
[Vivienne]I don’t see the need to either lie or speak the truth to a stranger, so I simply ignore it.“You did a great job,” I say, and he perks up with a smug grin, as if trying to remind me that he shouldn’t have expected anything less.I ignore that, too.A low chuckle rumbles from his chest. “There’s nothing sweeter than getting paid to collect my own damn money. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy screwing with that worthless woman. Your idea of jamming her calls so she couldn’t reach a single soul from the Lawrence family? Genius. My men and I couldn’t stop laughing while she kept trying, over and over, only to end up screaming her lungs out, wondering why nobody gave a damn when she needed them most.” He leans back, savoring the memory, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’ll be honest, today feels like the best day of my life.”He pauses, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Tell you what—if you ever need another favor down the line, I’ll do you one back, free of charge. C
[Vivienne]When the car pulls back at the hospital, Theo helps me out and walks me to the entrance.However, we hardly even cross the reception when his phone rings and he excuses himself for a minute.I let him be and asked him to meet me upstairs instead.I still need to see my doctor before he finally agrees to release me. I feel much better now and want nothing more than to return home. Besides, if bed rest is all I have to do, I would rather do it where I feel safe and at home. I won’t shy away from hiring a nursing aid if I have to. The only thing I was—and all I can think of—is home.I take a deep breath and head towards the bank of elevators. Wait for an empty one to arrive while checking my phone for any update from Rosita. At my request—and reassurance—she finally took the flight back to Paris last night. Her show is coming up soon enough and I would hate for it to miss it for something so unnecessary.Unnecessary because I have enough people here to take care of me. And for
[Caden]I don’t know what I’m doing, only that it needs to be done.Bumping into Vivienne and asking her to lunch wasn’t part of the plan—not the reason I came to the hospital in the first place. But I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been looking forward to seeing her again.And trust me when I say this: talking about our unborn child wasn’t my only motivation.I came to the hospital to visit Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson. They’ve been close family friends for years, and after what my parents told me about breaking off all ties with Sasha—their daughter—I figured visiting them during tough times was the least I could do.Don’t get me wrong. I’m not interested in pleasing anyone in this world. Well, except for my parents. But that’s only because I owe them more than my entire life. They came into my life when my real family—my whole world—turned their backs on me. Left me at the door of an orphanage because they didn’t think I was worth saving—or worth wasting their time on.The good thing, how
[Vivienne]“Ms. Sinclair?”I snap back into focus, realizing I’ve zoned out again.Damn it. Why am I thinking about him again? What is there to even think about? He broke my heart, shattered my life, and yet, here I am—wondering what else I could’ve said, what more I could’ve done, just to get some reaction out of him.I shake my head, trying to pull myself out of this vicious spiral. It’s the same toxic loop I always fell into when we were married—constantly questioning myself. What could I have done differently? What could I have said better? Anything that might’ve made him stay a little longer, look at me with more than passing interest, spend more than just a fleeting part of his day with me. Anything that might’ve made him care for me like a real husband, like someone who actually loved his wife.But no. I can’t let myself fall back into that labyrinth of false hope and endless what-ifs. Not again.Taking a steadying breath, I force a smile for the doctor, doing my best to seem c
[Vivienne]I answer the call—it’s Elijah.“Hey,” I say, watching Theo get up and resume pacing back and forth across the room.“Hey. How are you now?”“Much better. In fact, I’m just waiting for my discharge papers.”“That’s good to hear, Vivienne. I’ll come by to visit as soon as I can.”“Sure.” But something about his tone feels off. “Is everything okay? You sound… serious.”Elijah exhales, his tone growing heavier. “I won’t lie to you. I just got word from your ex-husband’s attorney.”The mention of Caden makes my throat go dry. Why is he suddenly everywhere today? Why can’t he just leave me alone?I shake my head, trying to dispel the rising anxiety. “What the hell is he up to now?”“Nothing good, if I’m being honest.”“Just tell me already.”“They’re preparing to file a motion to contest the restraining order.”“He’s doing what?” Did I just hear that right? Is Caden out of his mind? Why would he fight something he never cared about in the first place? What’s his goal here? A sudde
I swallow hard, his words sinking into my chest like heavy stones dragging me down.Is this really how it’s going to end? Is this really the fate waiting for Axel? To see his father not as a hero, not even as a villain, but as a stranger?The thought alone feels like a knife twisting in my gut.I glance at Caden again, at the hard set of his jaw, the empty look in his eyes. He believes every word he just said. Maybe he’s even accepted it already, as if there’s no point in fighting it.But me? I can’t accept that.I won’t.Axel deserves better. He deserves a family that doesn’t shatter at the first sign of trouble. He deserves parents who at least try—who don’t just give up and call it fate."Maybe... maybe it doesn't have to be like that," I whisper, surprising even myself.Caden finally looks at me, really looks at me, with an expression I can't quite read. Sadness? Hope? Or maybe just pity because he thinks I'm naive enough to think I can save my son from something as broken as us.
[Vivienne]After Caden revealed another grand truth of his life, he stormed out of my room as if he couldn’t bear to stand in the same room as me.I, on the other hand, drop my ass on the edge of the bed and cover my face with my hands.Shit.Why does everything have to be so messed up? So complicated? So damn… annoying?Just when I think everything between us is starting to calm down and maybe there’s a chance we can have a peaceful, platonic relationship for the sake of Axel, something like this happens, and I’m forced to wonder if all these efforts are even worth it. If letting Caden back into our lives is going to make our lives easier or even more complicated.The truth is, I don’t have answers to any of these questions.Not yet.But I need to find them, or it will be too late to fix anything at all.I stare at the ring on my finger, the generous diamond ring Xander made me wear after his proposal.God knows, I still don’t know what I feel for that man, or if I even feel anything
[Astrid]I stare at the mess in my room.The shattered vase. The broken laptop. The pieces of other furniture overturned and out of place.But even with all this destruction, I feel nothing but rage.Pure, white rage. The kind that makes me want to rip someone’s throat out. Especially that of Vivienne. And her fucking son.I ball my fists, the veins in my hands popping as I fight to keep my control. But it's slipping, fast. I want to scream, to break every damn thing in sight until there’s nothing left. Until I feel something other than this boiling fury that’s choking me from the inside out.How dare she? How dare she take what’s mine? How dare she get so close to Caden? And go on that vacation with him?Did she learn nothing from the past? Is she not afraid that the way she’s going, she’s making an enemy out of me? Out of Astrid? Does she even know whom she’s messing with?I curl my fingers around the glass of water on the table, before tossing it away against the wall too.It shatt
[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