[Vivienne]I don’t know what to say to that.I mean, I can. There’s so much I can say, blame him back for this or that, or maybe hurl the insults back at him. Because that seems like the only thing we both seemed to be good at, now that there’s no relationship left between us.But I press my lips together and look away, refusing to get sucked into this vicious cycle of accusations being thrown around. I know that at the end of the day, I’ll be the one who’s hurt. Caden? He’ll just walk away, head held high, like he always does.“What? Nothing left to say? No comebacks?” he taunts, and if he thinks I don’t know what he’s trying to do, he’s dead wrong.But I’m not taking the bait. I’m not going to lose my temper more than I already have. Instead, I need to focus on getting out of this situation—that should be my number one priority right now.He scoffs. “Fine by me.”Silence follows.He places a plate in front of me, then another in front of himself, and we eat, as civilly as possible,
[Vivienne]“Fuck!” Caden limps toward the bed, sitting down with a groan. “Are you crazy?”I roll my eyes, wanting to do so much more than just crush his foot. “Well, two can play this game. Besides, what did you say earlier? You’re having quite a bit of fun, right? Well, this is me having fun too. And guess what? I’m just getting started.”His eyes widen at my words, but before he can even ‘think’ about ignoring his aching foot and rushing across the room to stop me, I’m already grabbing the showpiece to my right and hurling it to the floor. The china shatters completely, scattering broken pieces everywhere.Then, I just grab whatever I can reach and throw it either at the floor or against the nearest wall.Caden just watches, not saying a word, not even reacting.Though he’s definitely thinking something. Maybe he thinks I’ve gone crazy. And maybe that’s exactly what I need to be for him to get off my back.After I have successfully destroyed the whole room, I finally take a deep br
[Vivienne]“Why do you even care what man I’m with or not with?” I ask after he oh-so-casually tells me to stay away from ‘that’ man.I’m not going to pretend I don’t know who he’s talking about. There’s only one person he could mean, and that man happens to be Alexander Bane. I haven’t forgotten the way he kept glaring at him in that conference room, as if he wanted nothing more than to eat him alive.Then again, Caden always looks at everyone as if he couldn’t be more pissed off. He’s just not a very happy man.“I don’t care,” he shrugs as if that should be obvious. “I just don’t want you to regret it.”“And you know I’ll regret it because…?”“Because you’re not a very good decision-maker.”My eyes widen. “Are you serious right now? You’re telling me I’m bad at making decisions? Who the hell are you to say that?” I scoff. “Says the man who bangs his assistant behind his wife’s back. You know what? I don’t think you have the right to say anything at all. So maybe you should just shut
[Vivienne]This time when he gets off me and moves away, I feel so damn relieved, I don’t have words to express it. I feel like someone suddenly lifted a heavy weight off my chest, as if I can suddenly breathe.I sit up as soon as I can, pushing my stray hair into place.Caden opens the door and reveals his new assistant.She hands him something. “Got a room on the seventh floor. You can move whenever you’re ready, sir.”I roll my eyes. There’s no way I’m leaving this room and getting into another one with this man. I don’t know how, but I’ll find my way out.Caden shuts the door and turns to face me. “Come on, we are leaving.”He grabs something from the nightstand and shoves it into his pants pocket, before looking around, as if trying to make sure he didn’t forget anything.If only I had a phone right now. I could call my Rosita or my brother or even Alexander for help.Speaking of Rosita—shit! I still don’t know where she is. Alexander did tell me on the flight that she would be w
[Vivienne]Before I even turn around to see who it is, I feel a huge sense of relief in my heart.“Rosita!” I gasp, nearly running to her and throwing my arms around her. She hugs me back just as tightly, and we both start crying, maybe because, for a moment, we thought we might never see each other again.An irrational fear, but a fear all the same.She pulls away first. “How are you? Oh my God, I was so damn worried. I’m so glad you’re okay. You are okay, right? Did he hurt you? Anywhere? You need to tell me if that’s the case. I’ll slit his—”“I’m fine,” I assure her, and she takes a deep breath.“For now, I’m taking your word for it, but later, I’ll want proof.” She says this, but I have no idea what she means.Did she mean she’ll—“What’s going on here?” she asks, and I follow her gaze, only to realize I completely forgot about the audience I gathered to humiliate Caden.But now it’s my turn to frown, because Caden and his assistant are nowhere to be seen.As if sensing my confusi
[Vivienne]I sink to the floor, staring at the result, unable to believe my eyes. My fate. My luck.I can’t help but scoff at the irony of it all.For three years, I did everything to get pregnant. Everything. I kept logs of my days and nights, of my routine, of my cycle—everything. But not even by accident did I ever get pregnant.And now? When I’ve finally decided to move on—I am moving on—I get pregnant after one night of drunk sex.“Viv?” Rosita calls from outside.I don’t even have the strength to hide my emotions. “Y-yes?”“Uh… I was… I was leaving. You okay?” Her voice grows closer to the door. “You sound a bit… different.”I touch my face and notice the tears glistening on the tips of my fingers.I laugh through them. “Yes, yes. I’m fine.”“Ooookay! Are you saying that just so I don’t worry?”“Yes! I mean, no. I—I don’t know?”“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Alright, the plan’s changed. I’m here now. Tell me what’s going on. I’m all ears.”I check the result one more time—I don’t
[Vivienne]I don’t know what to say.Seeing Alexander at the clinic wasn’t exactly something I expected.But strangely, he doesn’t look that surprised. He smiles at us, looking as insanely handsome as ever. I mean, why does this guy always look like he’s having a good day? Like he woke up on the right side of the bed, and his coffee never tasted like crap, not even once.He approaches us and greets Rosita with a nod.“I think we need to stop meeting like this.” He looks around, clearly trying to signal that our recent meetups haven’t exactly been…normal.I agree. The last time we met, he was trying to escape men who were trying to kill him, and today, of all places, we bump into each other at a clinic.I really hope he doesn’t ask why I’m here. Something tells me I won’t be able to lie or make it any less awkward. I’m really excited, I guess.“Right,” I say, and Rosita gently nudges me with her elbow. I quickly take the cue. “Oh, and this is my best friend, Rosita—the famous designer t
[Vivienne]After our flight back to New York, I spent the next three days doing nothing but staying at home.My pregnancy has been re-confirmed, and now I need to figure out what to do next.Should I tell Caden about this?I mean, it’s not like he’d care. He never wanted a baby in the first place. He made that pretty clear whenever I tried to convince him to have sex without protection.Back then, I used to think maybe he just didn’t like babies. I mean, some people don’t, and I tried to understand. But if only I had known the whole truth. It’s not that Caden doesn’t like babies—he just didn’t want to have them with me.After all, he did not wait to get that Sasha pregnant.I roll my eyes and try to focus back on the show playing on TV. But nothing seems interesting—not when I’m aware of everything happening inside me right now.I wrap my arms around my stomach and smile. “We’re gonna be fine. Don’t you worry about anything, okay? Just focus on growing so Mumma can see you soon.”The d
[Sasha]I can’t believe I’m back here.After everything this family has done to ignore me, to ensure I never received a single penny from them, I’m still here, hoping for some help.Never in my life did I think I’d be in a position where I’d have to beg for my next meal. But here I am, and it’s the only option I have left. After selling the company and using half of the money to pay off the loan shark, and the other half to cover Dad’s hospital bills and pay the overdue salaries of employees we’d kept waiting for years, it wasn’t surprising that I was left with absolutely nothing.It doesn’t help that my idiot brother, Arthur, is nowhere to be found. Ever since he was released from the hospital and learned what I had to do to get rid of the jerk he borrowed from, he’s completely disappeared.Damn it. If I see him next time, I swear to God, I’m going to kill him.“How long is this going to take?” I ask, standing up from the couch as I spot one of the maids of the Lawrence residence pas
[Vivienne]“Where are you? You were supposed to be here hours ago,” I say over the phone, carefully walking down the stairs per the doctor’s instructions during my last visit.“On my way, I swear. Just got caught up in a call and couldn’t put it off,” Rosita says huffing, and not at all sounding as if she’s in a car.I reach the end of the stairs, frowning. “Have you even left? Please be honest with me.”“Of course,” she says as a matter of fact, but then right after a moment, she blurts out. “Actually, no.”Before I even respond to that, she rushes to explain. “Before you get mad, just hear me out. I swear I was leaving, I was almost ready to leave the house, get into my car, and reach you, but then…then someone came over and it seemed like urgent. And I could have told you all about that but…but…but…”“Hey, hey, hey,” I laugh. “Calm down, Ro. You’re making me sound like some tyrannical friend or something. It’s fine, really. The only reason I asked you to come over is because you sa
[Caden]Since our last meeting at the courthouse, I decided to keep my distance from Vivienne.A few weeks have passed now, and I think it’s enough time and space she might have needed to get used to the new reality of our lives—the kind of reality where she sees me around more often. The kind of reality where she allows me to be there for her and our child.“Excuse me, sir,” Betty Adams—my assistant—pulls me out of my thoughts.I look up to find her standing at the door. “The meeting starts in five.”The meeting. Of course. My last task of the day. After this, I’ll be free to visit Vivienne.Speaking of which—I get up from my chair, reaching for my suit jacket. “Did you find Vivienne’s new address?”I hear footsteps behind me. “About that…”When it feels like she’s going to leave it at that, I turn around, frowning. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“I mean, I tried, sir.”She must be out of her mind. “Well, clearly, you haven’t tried hard enough.”“But, sir—”“Leave it.”I walk past
[Vivienne]I can’t believe he’s here.But why?“Hey,” I manage, even though his unexpected appearance has completely thrown me off. “Long time no see.”“You don’t say,” he replies, placing the glass of water on the table in front of me when I make no move to take it. I might have zoned out for a second there. “So, how have you been? And may I just add—you’re a very hard person to find.”I smile faintly. That’s exactly what I’ve been aiming for since moving to my grandparents’ home in the hills. “Maybe that’s the point. I like my life quieter these days, away from all the chaos.”“I get it,” he says with a soft chuckle, his expression neither offended nor prying. “For a while, I thought it was me who chased you away, you know—with all those talks about faking an engagement and everything.”Oh. Right. I almost forgot about that. The proposal he made—the arrangement he thought would make his mother happy.Too bad I had far more pressing problems to deal with at the time.“Trust me, it wa
[Vivienne]“Are you sure you want to attend this event?” Harvey asks as I walk into my walk-in wardrobe, trying to pick an appropriate evening gown for the night.“Of course, I’m sure. I wouldn’t have asked you to accompany me if I wasn’t,” I shrug, leaning towards a stunning black dress but quickly getting distracted by a shimmery white gown with a sexy slit.“That, I understand. But considering your health…”“I’m fine, Harvey,” I roll my eyes. It’s been two months since that night when I rushed myself to the hospital after spotting blood on my sheets. “According to my doctor, I’m well past the risk phase, and I can start getting back to my daily routine.”“But still,” he says, sounding as if he still has doubts.Look, I know he cares. He’s my big brother, after all. I’ve known about his possessiveness for a very long time. But the reason I don’t want to spend my days sitting like a duck at home is that I’ve started to get terribly bored.Besides, tonight’s event is kind of special.
[Sasha]“What the hell is this place?” Dad fumes, glancing around the cramped, one-room apartment I brought him to straight from the hospital.“It’s…” I glance around myself, wrinkling my nose at the awful smell wafting in from the nearby window. “…something.”“Sasha,” Mom calls out, drawing my attention. Her voice holds a mix of confusion and concern. “What is this? Why aren’t we home?”“Mom, there’s something you should know,” I begin, feeling beads of sweat forming on my forehead and trickling down my back. I turn to Dad, bracing myself. “Remember the loan Arthur took from that loan shark?”“Of course, I do. How could I forget the biggest disappointment of my life?” he huffs, walking over to the old, sagging couch in the corner. He pauses before sitting down, noticing the thick layer of dust covering it, and chooses to stand instead. “What I don’t understand is—what are we doing here? Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? I need rest. I need to be home. And this place is far from i
[Caden]“Congratulations, Mr. Lawrence. You got what you wanted.” My advocate—Atlas Norman—extends his hand for a handshake. “Despite my better judgment, of course.”I return the handshake, albeit a little reluctantly. “You say that as if I ruined your fun.”“Well, you did. Especially since I enjoy a good challenge. But either way, my client’s satisfaction is what matters most. So, I’m glad I could be of service.”I have a strong urge to roll my eyes but manage to keep my composure. “Thanks for your efforts.”“All my pleasure. Now that the restraining order has been lifted, you need to be very careful with how you conduct yourself, Mr. Lawrence. As the judge mentioned, all eyes will be on you, and if you mistreat your ex-wife or the unborn child in any way, the order could be reinstated. From this point on, it’s about walking on eggshells. I hope you’ll remember that.”Of course, I do. That’s all I can think about—how not to screw this up.I might not have been the best husband a woma
[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
[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