[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
[Vivienne]The very next morning, I go to see my brother at his office.But the moment I tell him the reason for my visit, he frowns, hard.“You want to resign?” he asks, not quite able to believe it—well, probably.Maybe because this whole “working as a normal employee under him” was my idea in the first place. But I had my reasons. Before this, I didn’t have any job experience. And Dad always said that unless a person knows how to do the smallest tasks, they can never be a good boss.Since childhood, I admired the wisdom he imparted to both Harvey and me whenever he got the chance. In fact, before joining our business directly as president, Harvey worked in various lower positions until he earned the respect and admiration of his coworkers. I wanted to do something like that too. Earn the respect of my people.But turns out I don’t have that kind of time.Now that I’m pregnant, I need to have a solid foundation beneath me just as much as I need to be independent—enough to not only gi
[Vivienne]He’s probably right.But Harvey’s experience is completely different from mine. His ex-girlfriend wasn’t exactly a monster like my ex. They parted ways because they both thought it was best for them. Caden and I are divorced because he’s an asshole, a cheater, and a man who could never take my side, no matter the circumstances.Does he even deserve to be a father? That’s the question I’m most worried about. Would he even care?“Hey?” Harvey snaps his fingers in front of my face. “Where did you go?”I snap out of my thoughts. “Sorry. Where were we?”“Nowhere,” he chuckles, then stands up, adjusting his tie. “Well, I suppose a celebration is in order. Do Mom and Dad know? You must obviously tell them, right?”I shrug. “Well, I have plans.”He shakes his head, laughing. “You and your plans. Anyway, what’s next? Is resigning and starting anew the only thing you came to tell me about?”I lean forward, finally rolling my shoulders because now we’re talking business. “Not exactly.
[Vivienne]Kim’s eyes widen. “Right now? Shit!”She rushes out of her office so quickly that I wonder if it’s only going to take an hour before she confesses everything. Well, the sooner, the better.I take a deep breath and head back to my desk, only to bump into Claire the moment I step out of Kim’s office.Well, that’s weird. It’s almost like she was trying to overhear us. Was she?“Hey, Vivienne. I was just… you know… I mean,” she laughs awkwardly. “I… I came to ask Kim about something. Is she in the office? You know what? No worries. I can talk to her some other time. She seems busy.”I tilt my head to the side, finding it hard to believe her odd act of being nice to me. This woman has never been nice to me. If anything, she’s been jealous and a total bitch most days. “Sure,” I say, walking past her and heading to Harvey’s office.That’s where I told him I would be, waiting for everything to unfold.I make a few calls while we wait: one to Rosita, reminding her that we’re meeting
[Vivienne]I put down the phone and frown, staring at my lap.Claire? Claire is the one leaking designs to the rival company?I mean, I’m not surprised, but I was sure it was Kim. Harvey was too. So how did she turn out to be innocent? Why did she destroy my designs if she isn’t working for someone else?My head aches with all these unanswered questions. I can’t make sense of Kim’s strange behavior.Maybe that’s why, when she returns to the break room to check on me, I can’t help but confront her right away.“Why did you do it?” I ask. Now that the pain has dulled, I feel able to focus again, though I don’t dare stand. I still feel shaken from the whole ordeal. “Why did you destroy my designs that day?”My words catch Kim off guard. She stops dead in her tracks, her hands coming to a complete stop, as she gazes at me with a mix of surprise and bewilderment. The way she looks away makes me suspect she knows exactly what I’m talking about.“What… what do you mean?” Her gaze shifts to th
[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