I took a seat outside and tried to steady my beating heart. The past few weeks had all been a lot for me to handle. As I sat there, I started to realise I hadn't healed from the trauma in my past; I had just pushed it down deep and prayed it would go away. But it was becoming apparent that I needed to heal. I needed closure for the things that had happened to me so I would be able to move forward with my life and be the strong person my children needed me to be.I heard the door creak open behind me and turned slightly to see Victor stepping out. His eyes immediately found mine, full of concern and warmth."Olivia, are you okay?" he asked softly, taking a step closer.I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "I'm fine, Victor. I've just realised that I'm not healed from my past like I thought I was," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.He took another step closer. "You're strong, Olivia. You will get through this," he assured me, his voice steady and sure. "If there's
Alexander's povI left the room after deciding to send Rebecca back to my kingdom to meet her fate, one I already knew all too well. My steps felt heavy as I walked out of the courtroom and into the courtyard. The soft murmur of voices caught my attention, and my eyes automatically searched for Olivia. She was there, sitting on a bench, talking to Victor. My heart clenched at the sight of her, but it was the sight of Allen approaching that filled me with a burning jealousy. Despite the distance, I could almost feel the emotions between them. Their conversation seemed personal, loaded with weighty undertones. I wanted to step closer, to hear every word, but I knew I couldn't risk being caught. When Allen leaned in and kissed Olivia gently on the forehead, the tender gesture felt like a dagger through my heart. My fists clenched involuntarily, the tips of my knuckles turning white. I felt like I was on the outside looking into a world that used to be mine.Unable to endure any more, I t
Olivia’s povAfter coaxing the children to sleep, I stood up and took a long, silent breath. The evening had been draining, and my mind swirled with everything that had happened lately."Mummy, are you and Allen not going to be together anymore?" Sarah's small voice broke the silence, pulling me back to reality.I was shocked. Where had she heard this? "Why do you ask that, sweetheart?" I said, trying to keep my voice calm and soothing.She looked at me with big, innocent eyes. "I heard you and Allen talking, and you looked so sad."Liam stirred next to her, rubbing his eyes as he joined the conversation. "We love Allen, Mummy. Will he still visit us?"My heart ached. "Yes, darlings," I said, trying my best to sound reassuring, "No matter what happens between Allen and me, he will always be a part of your lives. He loves you very much."Sarah sniffled and slipped her tiny hand into mine. "Promise?" "I promise," I whispered, kissing their foreheads.Once they were finally asleep, I quie
I tossed and turned all night, sleep teasing me as the thought of our impending divorce felt both real and surreal. Dawn's early light started to seep through the curtains when I decided to get up. I made up my mind to face Allen again and discuss our next steps.Voices carried up from the kitchen, their tones hushed but earnest. My curiosity piqued, and I made my way downstairs to find Allen sitting at the table, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands.“Morning,” he said softly, managing a faint smile. His eyes betrayed the sleepless night he’d endured as well.“Morning,” I replied, taking a seat across from him. “I suppose we should talk about the trip?”“Yes,” he nodded, setting his cup down. “I think it would be good for the kids, and maybe it’ll give us some closure too."Closure. The word lingered in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.“I’ve always wanted to visit that small town not far from here, right on the beach,” I said quietly, trying to shift the mood. The se
Alexanders povI had found nothing in the files of Cassandra's death. I don't know why I had even bothered; I had read them a million times before and never seen anything that stood out. The evidence, the witness and the logic all made sense. Sigh! I put down the documents and decided to leave these things behind. Maybe time would give me an answer one day. I made my way down the grand staircase, and as I got halfway down, Olivia's scent filled my nostrils. I looked up to see her standing by the door, a bag by her side. "Olivia," I began, taking the last few steps to reach her. "Alexander," she interrupted, her voice was peaceful and calm. "What are you doing here? " That was not a good sign, her peaceful expression let me feel she really decided to let her past go. It was obvious that I was the part of the past she gave up. That stung. I sighed, trying to collect my thoughts, feeling the walls closing in around me. "Olivia, I need to tell you something before I go." She looked
Olivia's POVI made my way to where I had told Allen I would meet him so we could leave for our holiday. My mind was still replaying the conversation I had just had with Alexander. I couldn't believe that he and Lidia had come up with a plan like that. It was no secret that Lidia didn't like me and blamed me for our father's death, but I never thought she would do something like that. As I came around the corner, I saw Victor and Lidia standing there with Allen and the twins. Liam called out. “Mummy”, and he ran towards me, wrapping his arms around my legs. “I'm so excited about our holiday. I've never seen the beach before.” “I can't wait either,” I said with a warm smile as I ruffled his hair.Allen came, taking my bag, and my eyes fell on Lidia, who looked sad for some reason. She stood with her shoulders slumped and an absent look in her eyes as if lost in her own world. "Lydia, are you alright?" I asked softly, stepping closer to her. She forced a weak smile, but it didn’t reac
The rain soon became too heavy, making it impossible for the driver to see properly. As we skidded around the muddy roads, the twins clung to me. The excitement we all once had was long gone and now replaced with fear. The crashes of thunder were deafening, and with each one, the twins cried out with fear. I kept calm, whispering sweet words to them, trying my best to take away their fear. The carriage came to a stop, and I looked out the window, trying to see where we were, but the night was too dark. The carriage door came open, and one of the guards stuck his head in. “There is a store here where we can seek shelter till the storm passes.” Allen nodded his head and went to follow the guard out of the carriage, but before he could, I grabbed his arm, stopping him. He turned to look at me with a confused look on his face. “Allen, are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice low so the twins wouldn't hear me. “We don't have a choice, Olivia. It is much t
My breath caught in my throat as Allen's eyes darkened, his stance shifting to one of readiness. The air in the store grew even tenser, like a taut string on the verge of snapping. The twins sensed the danger, too, their small hands clutching at my cloak, their eyes wide with fright."What's the meaning of this?" Allen demanded, his voice robust despite the tense situation. "What do you want from us?"The leader of the rogues, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered. "Justice, for one. Retribution, for another." He took a deliberate step closer, his followers mirroring his movements.Allen drew a deep breath. "These are innocent children. Leave them out of your vendetta.""Innocent?" the rogue hissed, his eyes gleaming with a malicious light. "Does innocence matter when our lives were torn apart by the very man you serve?"The tension was palpable, the storm outside forgotten amidst the brewing conflict within the store. I could feel the weight of each heartbeat, a drum
Victor's POV The soft morning light filtered through my office window, casting a warm glow over the wooden furniture. I sat behind my desk, fingers drumming anxiously on the oak surface as I awaited Lydia’s arrival. The weight of the conversation I was about to have with her had been pressing on my mind. The door creaked open, and Lydia stepped in, her eyes guarded but curious. “Victor, you wanted to see me?” she asked. I nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat. “Yes, Lydia. There’s something important we need to talk about.” She moved cautiously, sitting down across from me. It had always pained me to see the rift between them, a rift that I knew stemmed from misunderstandings and old grudges. Today, I intended to set things right. “Lydia,” I began, taking a deep breath, “I want to talk about our past, about our father.” Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms defensively. “What about him?” I could hear the bitterness in her voice, the same bitterness that had spoiled her
Olivia’s POV As I stood there, watching Alexander bond with Liam and Sarah, a whirlpool of emotions churned within me. My heart was full. I thought of the path that led us here—a journey punctuated by heartbreak and healing. Seeing Alexander with the children was a new beginning, one I’d longed for. Alexander glanced over at me, his eyes filled with unspoken gratitude and a depth of emotion words couldn’t capture. For a brief moment, our souls intertwined through that look. Tears prickled my eyes with tears of happiness. "Olivia, do you want to join us?" Alexander's voice seemed to pull me back to the present. The children glanced at me, their innocent eyes filled with curiosity and welcoming warmth. I smiled, walking over to sit beside them. Sarah immediately handed me another doll while Liam resumed his focus on his puzzle. "Mummy," Liam began, his eyes wide and curious, "Are you okay?” I took a deep breath and nodded, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Yes, darling. I'm more
Alexander pov As I made my way down the corridors, my heart pounded in my chest. I had faced countless battles and perilous situations, but nothing compared to the nerves fluttering within me now. I was about to meet my children—Liam and Sarah—two souls I had longed for yet had never met. My palms felt clammy, and I could feel my pulse drumming in my ears. When I reached the hallway, Olivia was already there, pacing slightly. She turned as soon as she heard my footsteps and walked over to me, taking my hand without a word. Her touch was comforting, helping to steady my racing mind. I wanted to meet my children so badly, but Olivia's desire to do it so fast caught me off guard. We reached the door, and she paused, looking at me with a smile that held the weight of so much unsaid. "Are you ready?" she asked softly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my beating heart. "As ready as I'll ever be," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper. Olivia opened the door and led me in
Alexander's POV The moment I saw Olivia standing at the edge of the ballroom, it felt like time itself paused. The red dress she wore seemed almost like a mirage, a whisper of the past conjured into the present. Memories of nights long gone surged through my mind—her laughter, our kiss that night. I froze, mesmerised by her beauty, when she turned around to look at me, a smile played on her lips, and her eyes bored into mine. The air seemed to crackle with unspoken words and bottled emotions. I could feel my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I watched her from across the room. She looked like a dream, a vision I had conjured up during sleepless nights spent longing for her. Slowly, I began to walk towards her as if drawn by some unseen force. Each step felt heavy with the weight of our shared past. Our eyes stayed locked together. The crowd around us buzzed with conversation and laughter, but all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing, punctuated by the rapid thump of my hear
Olivia's POV Standing in front of the mirror, I took in my reflection. The red dress clung to my frame. It was very similar to the dress I had worn before I ran away from Alexander's kingdom. I brushed a tendril of hair away from my face, a smile spreading across my lips as butterflies swirled inside me. This night was important; I wanted Alexander to see me. My heart beat fast and unevenly as I fastened the delicate clasp of my necklace and took one last look at myself. The smile that graced my lips felt genuinely hopeful as I made my way out of the room and down the staircase. The air was charged with anticipation, and the gentle murmur of guests echoed through the grand hallways. As the ballroom doors swung open, I stood there for a second, scanning the room, taking it all in. My eyes landed on Victor and Lidia standing over, talking to some people. I made my way over to greet them, the excitement building within me, anxious to find Alexander. "Olivia, you look stunning," Victo
Olivia's POV I spent the night tangled in my sheets, thoughts of Allen and Alexander colliding in a restless tumult. My mind was a storm of worry and fear. I'd given instructions to one of the palace maids to notify me the second Allen was seen. I had to be prepared. I needed to steel myself for the conversation, imagine what I'd say, how I'd react—anything to avoid being caught off guard. Morning broke with the usual palace bustle, and I pushed my scrambled nerves aside as I dressed for breakfast. I didn't take in much of what was going on around me; everything felt muted compared to the anxiety gripping my heart. Just as the last fork clattered down onto a plate, the maid hurried in, her face painted with urgency. "Princess Olivia, Allen is here. He’s looking for you," she said breathlessly. My heart dropped into my stomach. The moment I had dreaded was here. Nodding to the maid, I rose from my seat, feeling a cold shiver run through my spine. I made my way to the front of the p
Olivia's POV I hadn't been able to stop thinking about what happened between Alexander and me. My feelings for him had grown stronger than I ever thought possible. Every moment we spent together, I felt them growing stronger. But wanting to be with him scared me. I could see that he had changed from the cruel man he once was, but what if it didn't last? And how was I going to handle things with Allen? The last thing I wanted was to hurt him. The kingdom bustled with excitement as preparations for the victory ball got underway. Victor had decided to let Alexander stay on for the celebration, a gesture that filled me with both hope and fear. I found peace in the twins' room, watching them play, their laughter soothing my troubled thoughts, and I didn't want to let them out of my sight, not after fearing that I would never get to see them again. "Mommy, look! I'm a bird!" exclaimed Liam, running around with makeshift wings strapped to his back. "Me too, me too!" cried Sarah, gigglin
Olivia's POV Seeing Victor was a relief. I hadn't allowed myself to think too much about him while we were in the snow forest, and I couldn't. I looked over to Lidia, who was standing behind him and stepping around Victor. I throw my arms around Lidia, catching her off guard. “It's so good to see you, Lidia. Thank you so much for looking after the twins.” Lidia stood frozen for a moment before awkwardly patting my back. “It's nothing,” she murmured, her terse tone showing her discomfort. She pulled away quickly, a forced smile on her face. “I’m just glad you’re… both okay.” I gave her a warm smile before turning back to Victor. "Victor, I need to tell you something," I said. Victor’s eyes narrowed with concern as he held my gaze. "What is it, Olivia?" I took a deep breath, the memory of the mysterious woman resurfacing in my mind. "Alexander and I... we fell from a cliff and ended up in the Snow Forest," I started, my voice steady but low. I told him everything besides what I had
Victor's POV My body screamed at me with pain as I slowly opened my eyes. Each blink felt like lifting a mountain. Groggily, I took in my surroundings, I was back in the palace. Immediately, my gaze fell upon Lidia. She was slouched in a chair by my bedside, her eyes red-rimmed and worn. She looked up as she heard me stirring, and relief flooded her face. "Oh, thank God you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and exhaustion. "Victor, you had us all so worried." "Lidia," I croaked, my throat raw and dry. "What happened? How did I get here?" My mind struggled to piece together the fragmented memories—the rogues, their menacing grins, the fight ... "You were attacked," Lidia explained, her voice trembling slightly. She leaned closer, taking my hand in hers to offer some comfort. "Rogues surrounded you. But you fought them off. The guards found you passed out and badly injured, trying to make your way back to where Olivia was tending to the wounded. You've been uncon