[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
[Vivienne]At first, I don’t understand what Harvey meant by what he just said.But then, I decide to see what he’s trying to show me before saying anything more. I grab the laptop and press play.A video starts playing, and when I see what’s in it, my eyes widen as a mix of anger and confusion rushes through me.In the video, it’s clear as day: Kim walks into her cabin, tosses my designs on the floor, and then pours an entire bottle of ink over the papers, making sure every single page is soaked. And then, when she’s done, she tosses the bottle away and screams.“What the hell?” I mutter to myself, replaying the video and growing even more confused. I stand up straight, staring at the screen. “I don’t understand. Is she for real?”Harvey’s eyes soften. “I know you worked hard on those designs, Viv, and I feel terrible for not being able to provide you with a healthy environment where you can work and grow. This… I never expect this to happen, I swear.”“Hey,” I say as I walk around th
[Vivienne]I return to my desk, and after a few long minutes, I head to Kim’s cabin, knocking gently on the door.Kim looks up, a relieved grin spreading across her face. “Hey, Vivienne. What brings you here? Is Claire bullying you again?”I can’t believe how genuine she seems with her concern, as if she actually cares about me. Maybe that’s why I missed seeing her true colors. But now, I know what she’s capable of, and I’m not falling for this “I’m a good person” act.“No, just wanted to see how you’re doing. I was wondering if you need—”She doesn’t even let me finish. Kim jumps right out of her chair, grabs my arm, and drags me over to her desk. “I sure as hell do. I mean, fifty designs in one night? You know that’s impossible, right? I don’t know what’s gotten into Harvey. He’s never been this unreasonable.”Well, maybe you should’ve thought about that before messing with his sister…I force a smile, nodding sympathetically as if I’m on her side.“Yeah, that does sound like a lot.
[Vivienne]After leaving Kim with a shocked look on her face, I grab my bag and head out of the office. After the kind of stressful start I had this morning, I asked Harvey for a day off so I could calm down and focus on how I want to handle this delicate situation.For now, if Kim is really behind the leak, I’ve made sure she’s cautious and has put a hold on leaking designs for the time being. But I have to be smart about this. What if the traitor isn’t Kim? I need to stay open-minded and cautious around everyone.“Viv!” A familiar voice calls, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look over my shoulder to see Rosita heading in my direction. I texted her as soon as I left the office, and she promised to meet me for brunch.“Hey, someone looks chirpy today,” I say as she grabs a chair and sits across from me. She’s wearing a yellow sundress that looks fantastic on her, bringing out her pale blue eyes and bright smile.She smirks. “Well, someone got the chance to design an exclusive red car
[Vivienne]I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what to say.What the hell is Avery doing here? And how the hell did I ruin her life?But that’s not the priority right now. My face hurts like hell, and I hiss, trying to breathe through the pain.Rosita grabs her bag and mine, already on the phone.“Yes, some crazy woman threw hot coffee on her. I’m driving her there myself. Please be prepared when we arrive. Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much.”She snaps her phone shut, her eyes burning with anger. “Fucking psycho,” she mutters under her breath as she helps me to my feet. “We need to get you to the hospital, now.”I nod, barely able to focus through the searing pain on my face. Every step feels like a fucking ordeal, but I push through it, trying to keep my shit together.“Don’t worry, Viv. We’re almost there,” she says, opening the car door for me and helping me sit and buckle up. “I swear, if I ever see that bitch again, I’ll—”“Just drive,” I grind out, not in the mood for her r
[Vivienne]“Vivienne!” my brother gasps as soon as he sees me, worry and relief flashing in his dark eyes. He walks up to my bedside, and Rosita immediately rises from her seat.“I need to take a few work calls. I’ll give you two some privacy,” she practically blurts out.I want to argue and ask her to stay, but the flush on her face and her embarrassment makes me stop and shut my mouth. It’s not her usual look, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the two men now in my hospital room.I try to hide a grin as she ducks her head and makes a quick exit. I look back at my brother and then at Elijah.“Let me guess. Marcus told you about this.”“Yeah.” Harvey looks down at my bandaged hand. “Thank fucking God he did, or I’d never have known my baby sister was dealing with this alone. Why the hell didn’t you call me?”“Well, first of all, I didn’t have time to call anyone. And secondly, it’s just a burn. Nothing I can’t handle myself.”Elijah looks down at my face, disappointed w
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