[Vivienne]I see it—the tiniest crack in his facade, the brief flash of uncertainty in his eyes. But just as quickly, it’s gone, replaced by that same cold, calculating look he always wears like a second skin.“You’re bluffing,” he says, though his voice lacks the conviction it usually has. “You wouldn’t walk away from this marriage as if it means nothing to you. Because it does. That’s the only reason I haven’t signed those divorce papers yet. Three years, Vivienne. We’ve been married for three years. And for a person like you—the emotional kind—that’s a long time, long enough to make it your whole life. That’s why you can’t walk away from this. Those divorce papers are a joke, and if you don’t stop bringing them up again and again, I swear to God, I will sign them, and you’ll be left with nothing but regrets. So enough with your bluff, already. You understand? Just drop this damn case and come back home. You’ve been gone for too long, and it has started to piss me off."I feel my hea
[Vivienne]The moment I’m out of Caden’s sight, I practically break down.My heart feels like it’s about to explode, and my eyes sting with whatever tears I have left for that man.Thankfully, I find a bathroom on the floor, and before I know it, I’m rushing toward it. I’ve barely cried my heart out when the sound of the door opening reaches my ears. I stiffen, quickly turning on the tap to wash my face.But the face that reflects in the mirror in front of me makes me cry even harder.“Oh, Viv!” Rosita comes running and hugs me from behind. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”I scoff out a sad chuckle. “Why are you sorry? You don’t even know what happened.”“Right,” she says. “But I know it wasn’t good, and that’s enough.”I try to pull myself together, but all my efforts are in vain. The tears keep coming, each one a release of the pain and frustration that’s been building up inside me for far too long.“I can’t believe he said those things to me,” I whisper, his voice, his words grating on
[Vivienne]I can’t help but crack a smile at Rosita’s bluntness. It’s exactly what I need right now.Sasha’s face pales a bit, but she quickly covers it up with a sneer.“And who the hell are you? Can’t you see we’re talking here? Go bark up someone else’s tree!”“Bark? Honey, I’ll do more than bark. You’re not worth my time, you cheap piece of trash,” Rosita snaps back, her voice laced with venom. “You think you’re hot shit? You’re nothing but a wannabe, a second-rate version of something you’ll never be. I can just tell by looking at your face how many hours it takes you to look like this, and that’s on a good day? Please. You’re a pathetic joke, darling. Why don’t we just admit it and move on?”Rosita’s remark surprises me a bit, but then I remember that I told her about Caden and Sasha’s affair and the efforts this woman puts in to look like the one woman Caden ever loved. I can’t help the snicker that escapes my lips. Perhaps after the hell of a day I’ve had, I’ve earned this mom
[Vivienne]I glance down at the file she’s shoved into my chest, finally realizing that he might have actually done it.After holding back for so long, he finally signed the papers.I wonder, though: is it because I left him no other choice, or because he really is glad to see me go?I shake my head. It doesn’t matter anymore.If the papers in my hand are actually signed, nothing else matters.With a deep breath, I pull the file open, scanning the contents.The legal jargon is a blur, but the bold, unmistakable signature at the bottom is clear.Caden and I are officially done.The finality of it hits hard, but there’s a strange sense of relief mixed with the pain.Rosita’s hand on my shoulder pulls me back to reality. “You okay?”I nod, though my eyes are still fixed on the document. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just… processing.”Sasha looks like she’s about to burst with smug satisfaction. “Now that that’s out of the way, I should get going. Caden and I have a fancy dinner planned to celebrate.
[Caden]“Caden, don’t be like this. I just want to spend some time with you. Isn’t that what your mom and dad want?”Sasha insists, her voice rising in that whining tone that makes me want to slam my head against the steering wheel.“Enough!” I cut her off. “I’m not in the mood to play nice right now."She stares at me, wide-eyed, as if I’ve just slapped her. But she does me a huge favor when she grabs her purse, flings the door open, and steps out onto the pavement.“I thought you’d be happy about this, now that she’s gone out of your life,” she says, trying to hold back tears. “Isn’t that what you always wanted? You treated her like shit so she would leave you. And now when she’s finally gone, you’re acting so weird—”I don’t wait for her to finish.I slam the door shut and peel out of there before she can say anything else.When I return home, I toss the car keys to the guard and head inside.The moment I’m in, I’m surrounded by mom and Avery.“How did it go?” Mom asks. “Did she dro
[Vivienne]It’s been a month since Caden signed the divorce papers, and today is the hearing for the final decree.To say I’m nervous is an understatement. Not because I’m unsure about the divorce anymore, but because it will be the first time in a month that I see Caden, and I don’t know how that’s going to go.“Stop biting your lips, for God’s sake!” Rosita groans, reminding me for the hundredth time during the ride from my new place to family court.“I know, I know. I just can’t help it. It’s like my body’s on autopilot or something.”She rolls her eyes. “Well, autopilot’s about to run you into a wall. You need to focus. Today is about closure, not reopening old wounds.”I nod, trying to convince myself of that. The closer we get to the courthouse, the more my stomach feels like it’s tied up in knots. I’ve done everything I could to move on—new place, new routine, new me. But facing Caden again is like standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the wind to push me over.We finall
*One Month Later*[Vivienne]“These new designs are perfect!” Harvey exclaims, and I wince ever so slightly, hoping he would tone down the excitement a bit.I look around the conference room, trying to read the faces of my fellow designers who worked hard to come up with designs to match this year’s theme: the sparkling golden era.So far, none of their expressions betray the professional masks they wear in front of their boss, Harvey, but I know that might change once Harvey is gone and I’m left alone.If only I had known how competitive this jewelry design industry could be…“I love them,” Harvey finally says, looking up to meet my eyes. “You did it again, Ms. Sinclair. Congratulations.”The entire room explodes with applause.Harvey finally adjourns the meeting, and as soon as I reach my desk, the tension among us all bursts like a dam.“Guess the boss’s pet scored again, huh?” someone sneers from their desk behind me, not even trying to hide the venom in their voice.“Yeah, no kid
[Vivienne]“What the hell happened?”Before I can even process it, I’m on my knees, scrambling to pick up the sheets to see if there’s anything salvageable. But it’s clearly a lost cause. The ink has seeped into the sheets, completely swallowing up my designs.Kimberly, on the other hand, looks like she’s about to pass out from guilt. “I’m so, so, so sorry, Vivienne. I didn’t know the tech team left all their junk here. I just turned on the fan to dry my hair, and… oh, God. The ink got knocked over and… shit… I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”Make it up to me? How the hell is she going to make it up to me? The designs were supposed to reach the workshop by tomorrow morning, and I’ve been busting my ass on these for an entire week. This isn’t some office prank I can laugh off. This is serious shit, and I’m left standing here, completely screwed.“I don’t know, Kim. I don’t think anything is left to be fixed.” Tears well up in my eyes, but I hold them back, not wanting t
[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
[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