Victoria stepped into her home, the door clicking shut behind her, the weight of the day still heavy on her shoulders. Her mind was still processing the evening with Zander—the laughter, the moments of connection. It had been a brief reprieve from the emotional wreckage her life had become. Yet, as she walked into the living room, her stomach churned with unease. There, sitting in the dim light on the sofa, was Daniel.His posture was rigid, his face cast in shadows, but the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. He didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge her presence, as if waiting for her to make the first move. She could feel the tension in the air—the kind that suffocates you before words even have a chance to leave your mouth.Victoria stood still for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. “What do you want, Daniel?” Her voice came out colder than she intended, but she didn’t care. He had no right to make her feel small, to make her feel anything but what she was entitled to—respect.
Three weeks had passed, and the tension between Victoria and Daniel had reached its peak, simmering beneath the surface like a time bomb. Their interactions were few, but when they did cross paths, the coldness between them was undeniable.Victoria had thrown herself into the routine of her life, focusing on Ethan, and keeping up appearances in front of Daniel, but internally, she was biding her time.Tonight was another reminder of the web of lies and betrayal that had woven its way through her life—the engagement party of Maya and Zander. The two families, one known for its wealth, the other for its power, were now intertwined in a grand celebration.The venue was lavish, adorned with golden chandeliers and tables draped in fine linens. The air was thick with the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and the rustling of designer fabrics. Everything about the night screamed opulence.Victoria stood at the edge of the gathering, feeling like an outsider. Ethan was by her side, his inno
The evening wore on, the hum of laughter and chatter around the room blending with the soft clink of glasses. Yet, Daniel couldn’t ignore the growing frustration gnawing at him. His eyes kept darting over to where Zander was seated across the table, occasionally locking eyes with Victoria, his gaze lingering a little too long for Daniel’s liking.Victoria, ever composed, pretended not to notice, but Daniel could feel the tension building. He couldn’t stand how Zander seemed to have a magnetic pull towards her, no matter how much he tried to act unaffected. It bothered him—more than it should have. After all, she was his wife. Or at least, that’s what the world thought.As the evening stretched on, Daniel grew more restless, the wine doing little to ease his frustration. He gripped his glass tighter, staring at Zander across the room. He watched as Zander leaned in to speak to Victoria, his voice low, too friendly for Daniel’s taste.Unable to take it anymore, Daniel set his glass down
The night was drawing to a close, but the air was thick with tension, a quiet storm that had been building for weeks. The party was winding down, guests trickling out of the venue, but the few who remained—family and close friends—were still lingering near the bar, chatting and laughing. The clinking of glasses, the hum of low conversation, and the soft music in the background masked the weight that had settled over Victoria.Daniel, oblivious to the storm brewing, was standing by the bar, casually talking to some of his colleagues. He looked like the picture-perfect husband, the successful businessman—until you looked past the surface.Victoria stood at the edge of the room, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing. She had been calm all night, allowing the party to go on, letting him think everything was fine. But she knew it was time. Tonight, it all ended.Her eyes locked onto Daniel as he laughed with a colleague, a fake smile stretched across his face. The man who had be
Two weeks after the party, the fallout from Victoria’s public revelation was in full force. Chaos had taken over Daniel’s life, and he was struggling to maintain any semblance of control.The phone calls started the morning after the party. Calls from business partners, associates, and even distant relatives. Every conversation was laced with disbelief, shock, and, in some cases, outright anger. Victoria’s exposé had spread like wildfire, and there was no escaping the wreckage it caused. Daniel’s reputation—so carefully cultivated over the years—was now a shattered shell of what it once was.The media had gone wild. Headlines screamed about the scandal, about the affair with Maya, about the betrayal of his wife and child. Pictures from the party circulated, and even worse, video clips surfaced of Daniel storming off in a rage after Victoria’s public condemnation. It was as if the whole world was watching, dissecting every move he made.But it wasn’t just the media that turned against
It had been another long day for Victoria, her mind still reeling from the aftermath of the chaos Daniel had caused. There were days when it felt like she couldn’t breathe, when the weight of everything seemed too much to bear.Today, though, she had managed to keep herself busy—painting, working through her emotions, putting one foot in front of the other. Ethan had gone to school, and for a few hours, she had the house to herself, the quiet overwhelming yet strangely comforting. But when the doorbell rang that evening, she wasn’t prepared for what lay beyond it.Zander stood there, his usual confident demeanor now tempered with a hint of concern. His casual clothes, a simple tee and jeans, looked out of place in the quiet stillness of her home, as if he was trying to blend into the moment, yet his presence only drew more attention.“You busy?” he asked, his voice smooth, but there was a sincerity in it that made her pause.Victoria hadn’t seen him for a few days. Between managing th
Victoria pulled into the driveway, the quiet hum of her car engine the only sound accompanying her as she turned off the ignition. The morning was crisp, the soft glow of early light filtering through the trees and casting long shadows on the driveway. She sat in the car for a moment, taking a deep breath before stepping out and locking the doors behind her.Her mind was a whirlwind, the events of the past few weeks still lingering like a thick fog around her. The confrontation with Daniel, the mess of lies, and the tension between her and Rita—it was all too much. She had done what she needed to do for herself, but there was still that gnawing sense of guilt. No matter how hard she tried to push it away, it kept resurfacing.As she entered the house, she heard Rita’s voice from the kitchen, loud and sharp, cutting through the silence like a knife.“Victoria! You’re home.”Victoria hesitated for a second before walking into the kitchen, her stomach tightening in anticipation. Rita was
Daniel sat at the edge of the long dining table, hands clasped tightly in front of him, his jaw clenched as he waited for Michael to arrive. The house was eerily quiet, the tension palpable. He knew this conversation would be uncomfortable, but it was inevitable. After the fallout, Daniel had been avoiding family gatherings and trying to keep his head low. But his father’s anger was simmering beneath the surface, and there was no escaping it now.The door opened with a creak, and Michael entered the room, his expression set in a grim line. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Daniel, his presence commanding. Michael was a man used to being in control, used to being the authority, and Daniel could feel the weight of that gaze like a weight pressing down on him.Without a word, Michael sat down opposite Daniel. The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable, until Michael finally spoke, his voice low but filled with an undeniable edge.“You’ve really done it this time, ha
R-18The wedding was a blast. Every people that Victoria loved was there, it was far different from the wedding she had, 7 years ago. Victoria was now at the veranda of their house, the reception was held into their house garden where she personally took care of the flowers, looking below, with a glass of champagne on her right hand. She was now wearing her chiffon dress as her reception dress. A hand suddenly snaked around her wait, she doesn’t have to look who was it. No one would dare to get their hand on her, the moment, Zander announced she was his wife. “Are you tired?” Zander muttered and drop a soft kissed near her ears. “Nah, just happy,” She said while glancing at the party in front of her, “After seven years of fake and failed marriage, I never thought that I could be this happy again, the last time that I remembered that I was genuinely happy was when Ethan was born,” “The last time that I got so happy was when you told me you love me too,” Victoria chuckled, and s
R-18The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the backyard, where the soft murmur of the evening breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers. Victoria sat on the back porch, her legs tucked beneath her, watching the tranquility unfold around her. The city hummed in the distance, but here, in this small pocket of serenity, everything felt perfect.Zander joined her quietly, settling beside her on the steps, a glass of wine in hand. He offered it to her with a soft smile, the warmth in his eyes more intimate than words.“To new beginnings,” he said, his voice low, and the look he gave her seemed to say so much more.Victoria accepted the glass, feeling the coolness of the wine against her fingertips, the familiar strength of his presence beside her. “To new beginnings,” she echoed, taking a sip, the rich taste spreading across her tongue. She glanced around at their friends—Ethan and Sophie, laughing by the grill, teasing each other about their cooking skills. Th
The evening had settled in, a peaceful quiet enveloping the apartment, broken only by the soft clink of glasses and the faint hum of city life in the distance. Victoria sat on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, her eyes focused on the canvas before her.The room was filled with the aroma of fresh paint, an ever-present reminder of the work she poured her soul into. Zander, sitting across from her, leaned back in the chair, his eyes fixed on her with a quiet admiration.“You know,” Zander said, breaking the comfortable silence, “sometimes I can’t help but wonder what our life will look like in a few years.”Victoria’s fingers paused on the brush, her eyes lifting to meet his. “What do you mean?”Zander smiled, his gaze steady. “I mean, we’ve come so far already, and I keep thinking about where we’re going. I want to know your dreams. Not just about today or tomorrow, but about the future. What do you see for us?”Victoria sat back, her mind racing. She had never fully allowed herself
The morning of the wedding arrived with a warm, golden hue filling the sky. It was a perfect day, as though the world had conspired to give them this one, flawless moment. Victoria stood in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection of the woman she had become.The dress she wore, a simple yet elegant design of lace and satin, glimmered with the soft light that streamed in from the window. Her makeup was light, and her hair was softly curled, framing her face in delicate waves. She felt beautiful, not just in appearance, but in every way that truly mattered.“Mommy!” Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her away from the mirror. She turned around to see him standing at the door, eyes wide with excitement, wearing his little suit. He looked so much like Zander that it made her heart ache with love.“Hey, my handsome boy,” Victoria said, crouching down to his level. She brushed her fingers through his hair, feeling a lump rise in her throat.“I’m ready, Mommy,” Ethan sai
Victoria sat at the dining table, her phone in hand, scrolling through endless wedding inspiration posts. Zander walked in from the living room, a cup of coffee in hand, and sat down across from her.“You’re deep into wedding mode, huh?” Zander chuckled, watching as Victoria flipped through photos.Victoria sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “I just want everything to feel right, you know? Nothing too extravagant, but still special. It has to be perfect for us.”Zander leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening as he watched her. “We’ll make it perfect. You don’t have to stress. It’s about us—our family—and the people who love us.”Victoria smiled, grateful for his calm demeanor. “I know, I know. It’s just hard to narrow down choices when everything is so… big. I don’t want to overwhelm Ethan or make him feel like it’s all too much.”Zander reached over and gently placed his hand over hers. “It’ll be easy, love. Whatever we do, it’ll be just right because it’s ours. Ethan
The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the balcony where Victoria and Sophie sat side by side, a quiet evening breeze brushing through their hair. The past few years had been a whirlwind of change, growth, and, sometimes, heartbreak—but in this moment, the two women found solace in each other’s company, reflecting on the journey that had brought them to this point.Sophie took a deep breath, staring out at the city lights below. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? How much has changed in such a short time.”Victoria nodded, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her wine glass. “I never thought we’d end up here, Sophie. I don’t know where I thought I’d be, but it wasn’t this.”“Yeah,” Sophie said with a laugh, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “I remember when you first told me about Ethan’s father, and all that drama with Zander. I thought, ‘How is she going to get through all of this?’”Victoria chuckled, the memory of those chaotic days bringing a bittersweet smile to
Ethan sat at the kitchen table, his small hands gripping a crayon as he carefully drew shapes on the piece of paper in front of him. His tongue stuck out in concentration as he shaded in a house, a tree, and a bright sun in the corner. Victoria watched him from the counter, a warm smile tugging at her lips.Zander, who had just finished making breakfast, placed a plate of pancakes in front of her before sitting down next to Ethan. He ruffled Ethan’s hair, his touch gentle. “How’s the masterpiece coming along, buddy?”Ethan beamed up at him, his eyes sparkling with pride. “It’s almost done! I’m going to make it perfect, just like you said.”Victoria couldn’t help but chuckle at his determination. It had been like this for weeks now—Ethan was always eager to learn, to create, to take on new challenges. Ever since they moved into the house, he had become more energetic, more confident. He was flourishing, thriving in this environment that was filled with love, safety, and encouragement.
Victoria stepped through the front door, feeling the cool air conditioning hit her face as she walked into the living room. The house was spacious—modern, but cozy, with light wooden floors that gleamed under the soft lighting. A large sectional sofa rested in the center of the room, complemented by a sleek coffee table. The walls were a soft, neutral beige, with just the right amount of warmth from the sunlight pouring through the windows.“Do you like it?” Zander asked, standing beside her with a hopeful look on his face. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.Victoria smiled, walking further into the room. “I love it,” she said, taking in the high ceilings, the contemporary decor, and the natural light. “It’s perfect. It feels… like home.”Zander grinned, his arms crossing as he took a step closer. “Yeah? I was a little nervous, honestly. I wanted it to feel right for you too.”“It feels right,” she repeated, her voice soft. She
The soft afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the living room. Victoria sat on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she gazed out the window, lost in thought.She had spent so much of her life trying to figure out who she was and where she belonged. She had spent years resenting her mother, Rita, for things that had happened in their past, but now, she found herself in a place where understanding, though still delicate, was beginning to bloom.The doorbell rang, pulling Victoria from her thoughts. She straightened up, wiping the faintest trace of tears from her eyes. It had been a quiet day, one where memories had bubbled up, and the weight of everything that had transpired felt heavier than usual. But there was something in her that told her this day would be different.She opened the door to find Rita standing there, a gentle smile on her face. There was no anger or resentment, just a tentative peace in her expression that made Victoria pause.“Ma