Chapter Six

Rosalie

Five years later

Five years have passed since I departed Aldovia, and without a doubt, it stands as the best decision of my life. Life in Cardenia, though bittersweet due to my mother's passing three years ago, carries a sweet note as I embrace the role of the mother to the world's most adorable five-year-old triplets.

Worries of Adrien finding us have dissipated, thanks to Kevin and me choosing a distant path from Aldovia, and my discreet handling of my pregnancy. I am confident he has moved on, now married to his true love, Yvette.

"He's surely married with kids. No need for concerns," I reassured myself. The past is behind me; the focus is on the future. As a single mother of three, I've found contentment without needing a man to complete me.

"Kids, time for school!" I called out. The rush of footsteps down the stairs ensued, and I sighed, reminded of their heedlessness to my warnings about stairs safety.

"What did I say about running on the stairs?" I admonished. "Apologies won't prevent injuries. Be cautious!"

"Sorry, Momma," They chorused.

"You keep apologizing, but actions speak louder. Breaking bones isn't a game," I sternly reminded them.

"Momma, did you ever break a bone?" Maya, my eldest, inquired.

"Yes, I fractured my arm fleeing from a wild dog when I was ten," I shared. "I cried like a baby from the pain."

"Did your momma kiss your boo boo?" Mason, my son, curiously asked.

"Yes, she did, and the pain lessened," I smiled wistfully. Even after three years, discussing my mother still brought a profound ache. It felt as if she had passed away just yesterday, not so many years ago. As her memorial approached, I hoped Kevin could take time off work to visit with his wife, Zara.

"Why haven't we seen grandpa?" Mason furrowed his brows. "Is your father dead too?"

"Hmm... No, he's not dead," I replied, shaking my head while handing them their lunch boxes. "We haven't been in contact for years."

"Why?" Alessandra, my second daughter, chimed in as I guided them toward the front door.

"We've never seen eye to eye on things. It's better for us to be apart," I explained. "Now, ladies and gentleman with a million questions, did you forget anything?"

After confirming they had everything, we left the house. I locked the front door, opened the car for them to get into the backseat, closed the door, circled the hood, and settled in behind the wheel. 

"Seatbelts, please," I instructed.

"Mommy?" Alessandra called. 

"Yes, honey?" I smiled at her through the rearview mirror as I started the car.

"What about daddy? Where is he?"

Thankfully, I wasn't on the road yet because shock might have led me to crash. They had never asked this question before, and while I hoped they wouldn't, I should have known this day would come. 

"D... Daddy?" My voice shook. "Why do you ask?"

"All of our friends have both parents," Mason replied to my question. "My friend, Troy, asked me about my father, but I couldn't respond. Don't we have a father?"

Caught between a rock and a hard place, I grappled with how to address their inquiry. I couldn't divulge the truth, yet lying seemed equally challenging, especially considering the complexities of my separation from Adrien – a chapter I preferred not to revisit.

"I... Um, I mean to say that..." I found myself rambling, a habit I detested. 

Clearing my throat, I took a deep breath and opted for another version of the truth. Since the likelihood of encountering Adrien Vasanten again was slim, I hoped this choice wouldn't unravel later.

"You have a father," I replied. "He's alive and well."

"Where is he, then?" Maya inquired.

"He's... He's in a faraway land," I explained. "Another city, so far away that he can't visit us. But I know he loves you guys very much."

Adrien remained unaware of them, a deliberate choice on my part. In my heart, I wanted to believe he would have cherished them if he knew. If only he hadn't been fixated on a family with Yvette, we could have been happy – just the five of us.

"I'll never know," I thought, shaking my head to dispel unwanted thoughts. Pulling out of the driveway onto the road, I waved goodbye to someone across the street and drove off. Glancing at the rearview mirror, I saw my kids lost in thought, and I wondered if they were pondering my words.

"It is for the best," I muttered under my breath.

~~~~~

Despite being a university graduate, one might assume I'd land a role in a prestigious company, perhaps as a CEO's personal assistant or working in one of the various departments in the company. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side, and despite sending out numerous résumés and attending interviews, candidates with more experience often edged me out.

Opting to shift away from the corporate path, I applied to small businesses and secured a position as a saleswoman at Opulence, a clothing store catering to the ultra-wealthy in Cardenia. My boss, Danette Saldana, proved to be a constant challenge, a thorn I couldn't remove without sacrificing the job that provided sufficient income for my needs.

Danette occasionally bullied me, exploiting my reluctance to confront her due to the fear of job loss. Being the best friend of the store owner's sister gave her the freedom to treat Opulence employees as she pleased, though her bullying was particularly targeted at me.

"Rosalie!" I saw Danette approaching, her green eyes ablaze with fury, signaling trouble once again. With two hours left in my shift, I eagerly awaited my escape.

"Yes, ma'am," I excused myself from the customer I was attending to, preparing for another confrontation.

"What did you do to the expensive suit I asked you to take care of?" She demanded.

"Um, ma'am... I..." I started, only to be interrupted by her hiss. 

"I hate it when you stammer, Rosalie."

"I... It was an accident," Anxiety made sweat trail down my back. The impending certainty of getting fired loomed over me. My focus on information about my children's school's career day had led to an unintentional spill of coffee on the suit. 

Fathers were invited to discuss their jobs with the students, and calling Kevin wouldn't replace their father actually showing up, making them sad – a feeling I despised.

"What did you do?" Danette was on the verge of yelling, and I desperately wanted to avoid that.

"I spilled coffee on it. It's at the dry cleaners on the first floor. I'll have it back before my shift ends," I replied.

"What?!" She bellowed. Customers turned their heads, and Danette's fury turned into an apologetic smile before she grabbed my arm, dragging me to the locker room. 

"You spilled coffee on a three hundred thousand dollar suit?! It belongs to our VIP customer," She scolded me.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am."

"Save your apology for the owner; he's here to get it. He's waiting in the dressing room. You'll grovel until he forgives you, but if he doesn't, I'll prepare your termination letter," She threatened.

My heart raced, and I nodded, eager to salvage my job. Heading to the male dressing room, I prepared a heartfelt apology. Knocking timidly, I waited for a reply and entered, finding a man in a charcoal black suit, seated on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, reading a magazine. As he lifted his head to look at me, every thought in my head cleared, and my heart raced faster than ever before.

Our eyes met, and the shock on my face mirrored his. Ocean blue eyes locked with my hazel ones. He was none other than my ex-husband, Adrien Vasanten.