THREE YEARS LATER The art gallery buzzed with excitement as guests admired the vibrant paintings, each piece telling a story of passion, struggle, and triumph. The space was beautifully lit, with soft music playing in the background. Clara stood at the front of the room, a warm smile on her face as she addressed the crowd.“Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight,” Clara began, her voice filled with emotion. She paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the people who had come to support her. “This gallery has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and seeing it come to life tonight is nothing short of surreal.”The audience clapped politely, and Clara took a breath, glancing at the art behind her before continuing. “I’ve always believed that art is a reflection of our journey….the ups, the downs, the moments that define who we are. And tonight, I’m honored to share that journey with all of you.”As the applause quieted down, Clara’s expression softened, and h
VIVIAN I took a deep breath as I looked down at my daughter, Callie, standing in front of me, her big blue eyes piercing through mine….Oh she looked just like me. “Mommy, you’re beautiful,” she said with a bright smile, her little hands clutching a bouquet of flowers. “Thank you, sweetheart,” I replied, my heart swelling with love. “You’re the most beautiful flower girl in the whole world.” As I gazed at her, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much she had grown in just three years. It felt like just yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time, and now she was here, radiant and full of joy, ready to be part of my special day. Taking her hand, I walked slowly toward the church doors. The moment I stepped inside, a hush fell over the guests, and every head turned to face us. I felt like a scene from a movie, the soft light filtering through the stained glass illuminating the path before me. My heart raced as I took it all in, overwhelmed by the love that surroun
Little VivianVivian was already seated at her desk, her feet swinging beneath her chair as she waited for the class to start. Her heart fluttered a little when she saw him- her best friend and secret crush, Jack, walking into the classroom.He spotted her right away, and his face lightened up with a big smile.“Hey, Viv!” he called out, making his way over to her desk.“Hey!” she replied, her own smile growing as he approached.He slid into the seat next to her, pulling something out of his pocket. “Guess what? My mom bought two of these, and I thought you should have one.”Vivian’s eyes widened as he held up a small bracelet, identical to the one he was wearing. “Wow, really? It’s so pretty!”Jack nodded, as his cheeks flushed a little. “Yeah, I wanted us to have matching ones.”She took the bracelet from him, her fingers brushing his as she did. “Thank you, it’s perfect! This is so cool! I’ll wear it every day, I promise. Now we have something special that’s just ours.”“Yeah, jus
LITTLE JACK“I really hate it when we get dropped off in this limousine” Lily, Jack's elder sister, smirked as she scrolled through her Instagram.Jack raised an eyebrow, turning to his sister, “ Same here, but Dad doesn't care at all. He always insists on it because he likes showing off.”Lily rolled her eyes and sighed. “Even though it’s super unnecessary. I mean, it’s just school. It’s not like we’re arriving at some fancy event.”The car finally came to a halt and the driver, dressed in a dark suit, stepped out to open the door for them. “Have a wonderful day at school,” he said, as they climbed out and made their way into the school building. Lily quickly skipped ahead and turned to her brother with a mischievous grin. “So, Jack, did you give Vivian the bracelet? Did she like it?”Jack shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, I gave it to her. We’re best friends forever now.”Lily giggled and nudged him playfully. “Best friends forever, huh? Does that mean you’re planning to a
10 YEARS LATER Vivian I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts when I heard the familiar creak of the floorboards. Before I could sit up, I felt the gentle touch of a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t need to look to know who it was- Clara, my only friend here at the orphanage. She always had this way of sneaking up on me when I was deep in thought.“Vivian,” she whispered, giving me a gentle nudge. I turned to look at her, forcing a smile. “Hey, Clara. What’s up?”“What’s up?” she repeated with a soft laugh. “Viv, tomorrow’s the big day! You’re turning 18! Can you believe it? You’re finally going to be free of this place.”I sat up, crossing my legs beneath me as I played with the edge of my blanket. “Yeah… tomorrow,” I repeated, trying to sound as excited as she did.Clara’s smile faltered for a moment as she leaned closer. “Viv, are you okay? I mean, I know you’ve been counting down the days, but now that it’s here… it’s okay to be scared, you know.”Her words
Vivian I couldn’t believe it. Jack’s mother was here, in this orphanage, potentially about to change my life forever.Why did she want to adopt? I hoped Jack and his sister were alright.Did he even remember me after all these years? What if he had forgotten all about me? And if his mother took me in, would I ever be able to face him again?I couldn’t think straight, as a million questions spun in my mind. I had always dreamed of leaving this place, of finding a new family, but I never imagined it would be his family. It felt like life was playing some cruel joke on me.Suddenly, the blaring sound of a car horn snapped me out of my thoughts."We're here.” Mrs. Anderson announced.My breath caught in my throat as we drove into the Andersons’ compound. The house itself was more like a mansion, It was the kind of place I had only ever seen in movies, and now, somehow, it was supposed to be my new home.As the car finally came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, Mrs. Anderson tu
VIVIAN I sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing uncontrollably, my tears soaking the pillow I clutched tightly against my chest. My face was swollen, my eyes red and puffy from hours of crying. I felt so utterly helpless, trapped in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I really wish I could. I couldn’t think straight as Mrs. Anderson words kept echoing in my mind- I was bought. Not adopted. Forced to live as Lily.I just wanted to disappear, to fade away and escape this madness.A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts, but I didn’t move. I couldn't face anyone right now, but the knock came again, more louder this time.Taking a shaky breath, I wiped my teary face with trembling hands and then forced myself to stand and walk to the door. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I managed to reach the door and opened it to find a maid standing there, holding a neatly folded dress.“It’s time for the ritual,” she said softly. “ Put this on.”Numbly, I took
JACKA soft knock on the door interrupted the thoughts raging in my mind as I lay shirtless on my bed.I didn’t respond, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave me alone, but no the person didn't, as the knocking persisted.“Mr. Jack?” came a voice from the other side of the door. It was Mary, one of the younger maids. “Your mother asked me to call you. It’s time for dinner.”I stared at the door, my fists clenching in frustration. Dinner. The thought of sitting at that table, pretending everything was normal while that girl……Vivian…….sat there as if she belonged, made my stomach turn. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to face them. Not now. Not ever. But I knew I had no choice. In this house, family dinners were non-negotiable. It was a tradition my mother held on to fiercely, especially after Lily… after she was gone.With a resigned sigh, I pushed myself off the bed, put on my shirt and walked out. I opened the door to find Mary standing there. “ I'm coming,” I sa
VIVIAN I took a deep breath as I looked down at my daughter, Callie, standing in front of me, her big blue eyes piercing through mine….Oh she looked just like me. “Mommy, you’re beautiful,” she said with a bright smile, her little hands clutching a bouquet of flowers. “Thank you, sweetheart,” I replied, my heart swelling with love. “You’re the most beautiful flower girl in the whole world.” As I gazed at her, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much she had grown in just three years. It felt like just yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time, and now she was here, radiant and full of joy, ready to be part of my special day. Taking her hand, I walked slowly toward the church doors. The moment I stepped inside, a hush fell over the guests, and every head turned to face us. I felt like a scene from a movie, the soft light filtering through the stained glass illuminating the path before me. My heart raced as I took it all in, overwhelmed by the love that surroun
THREE YEARS LATER The art gallery buzzed with excitement as guests admired the vibrant paintings, each piece telling a story of passion, struggle, and triumph. The space was beautifully lit, with soft music playing in the background. Clara stood at the front of the room, a warm smile on her face as she addressed the crowd.“Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight,” Clara began, her voice filled with emotion. She paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the people who had come to support her. “This gallery has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and seeing it come to life tonight is nothing short of surreal.”The audience clapped politely, and Clara took a breath, glancing at the art behind her before continuing. “I’ve always believed that art is a reflection of our journey….the ups, the downs, the moments that define who we are. And tonight, I’m honored to share that journey with all of you.”As the applause quieted down, Clara’s expression softened, and h
VIVIANWe barely had time to close the door before Jack's hands were all over me. His lips crashed against mine, hungry, desperate, as he backed me up against the wall, his body pressing firmly into mine. My heart raced, matching the rhythm of his rapid, heated kisses. He pulled my coat off, tossing it aside with a low growl as his fingers traced over my skin, igniting every inch of me.“I’ve been waiting for this all night,” he murmured against my lips, his hands slipping down to the tip of my dress, ready to pull it up.But just as the heat was building between us, Jack’s phone buzzed. He ignored it, not breaking the kiss, his hand already sliding up my thigh. The buzzing continued, persistent, as he groaned in frustration, finally glancing at the screen.“It’s the family lawyer,” he muttered.I stilled, pulling back just enough to catch my breath. “You should probably answer that.”Jack sighed, clearly annoyed, but nodded. He pulled out his phone, pressing the speaker button.
VIVIAN I stared down at Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, their faces pale with shock and fear, the heat from the bathroom still suffocating them as they struggled to breathe. The air felt thick, choking, but I could feel nothing but the cold satisfaction swelling inside me."Do you even know who I am?" I asked.Mrs. Anderson's tear-filled eyes darted to mine, confusion twisting her features. "Wha…What are you talking about?" she stammered.I knelt down, bringing my face closer to hers. "I'm Vivian Thompson," I said slowly, watching as the realization dawned in her eyes. "The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. The lawyers you murdered years ago... and made it look like an accident."A gasp escaped her lips, her face draining of any remaining color. She turned to her husband, who was equally as stunned, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to process my words.“No… no, that’s not true!” Mr. Anderson croaked, his voice hoarse from the heat. “We didn’t….”“Don’t lie,” I snapped,
VIVIAN I followed Jack out of the room, my heart beating so fast as we made our way down the hallway to his parents’ bedroom. The weight of my swollen belly slowed me down, but the urgency in Jack’s stride kept me moving."Why would she be calling from inside the house?" Jack muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed in confusion.We reached the door to his parents’ room, but it was silent. Jack pushed it open, revealing an empty space. The bed was neatly made, and everything was in its place, but there was no sign of his parents.“Mom? Dad?” Jack called out, his voice echoing.No answer.I glanced around, a sense of unease crawling up my spine. "Jack… where are they?"Just as Jack was about to speak, we heard a faint voice coming from behind the bathroom door. His mother's voice, weak and strained. “Jack… we’re in here. Help us…”Jack’s eyes darted to me, his expression filled with worry. We moved closer to the bathroom door, and Jack knocked softly. “Mom? What happened? Why
SEBASTIAN I sat on the edge of the couch, my leg bouncing as I kept glancing at the clock. Two minutes late. Not that I was counting…okay, I was, but only because I couldn’t wait to see her. This was, what, our tenth time meeting? And yet, the butterflies in my stomach still showed up every single time.I leaned back, rubbing my palms together. Tonight was the night. I was finally going to ask Clara out….make this official. Vivian had been the one to introduce us, though she still swore it wasn’t a setup. I knew better, though, and I wasn’t complaining. Not one bit.Just then, I heard the door click open. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I turned toward the sound. I’d given her a key a few days ago, so now she had free access to my place. Too soon? Maybe, but it just felt... right.As she stepped inside, looking as perfect as always, I tried to play it cool, but my grin betrayed me. "Two minutes late," I said, crossing my arms in
VIVIAN As soon as the door to the room clicked shut, I let out a long breath, sinking onto the bed, my swollen belly feeling like it weighed me down more than usual. Jack leaned against the door, his face cracking into a wide grin."Well, that was something," he whispered, his voice low as he walked over to me.I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension we had carried all day finally dissolving in the privacy of our room. "Tell me about it," I replied, shaking my head. "I didn’t know you were such a good actor, pulling out that blood-soaked handkerchief like you were actually dying."Jack smirked, sitting down beside me and brushing a hair from my face. "Me? I wasn’t the one who had tears streaming down my face, convincing everyone I was terrified for my life. You nearly had me convinced."I laughed harder this time, placing a hand on my stomach, feeling the baby shift inside me. "I surprised myself, to be honest. I didn’t know I could turn on the waterworks like that. The trick is to
JACKI stepped out of the car and moved quickly to Vivian's side, offering my hand to help her out. Her belly had grown significantly, and she placed her hand in mine with a soft smile, her baby bump already showing at seven months. She moved slowly, careful with every step, and I held onto her protectively, steadying her as she place her feet on the floor."Easy there," I murmured, squeezing her hand gently.She sighed, resting her free hand on her swollen stomach. "Feels like I'm carrying a whole football team in here."I chuckled, trying to ease the tension I knew we both felt as we stood outside the my parents house. The maids rushed over to take our luggage, bowing respectfully. We nodded at them, though our minds were elsewhere."Welcome back, Master Jack," one of the maids greeted.I barely acknowledged her, my thoughts too focused on what was waiting inside. Vivian and I exchanged a glance, the same unspoken understanding passing between us. We had known this day was comi
Mrs Anderson I leaned back in the armchair, my hands trembling as I reached for the glass of water on the side table. My body ached in ways it never had before, my chest tight, my energy depleted. It was as if my very life was draining away, piece by piece.It had been months since I started feeling this way…months of unexplained fatigue, dizziness, and sharp pains that came out of nowhere. I had tried to convince myself it was nothing, just a sign of aging, but deep down, I knew something was wrong. Something far worse.Business wasn’t going well either. Of all the wealth and assets we had carefully built, only the original four companies remained profitable. Everything else... it was falling apart. Investors pulling out, partners abandoning us, deals crumbling before our eyes.My husband was faring no better. He had become irritable, plagued by constant headaches and chest pains, but like me, he tried to dismiss it, burying himself in what was left of our failing empire. We h