It’s been nine weeks since I gave birth to Ryan and Sawyer, and the sleepless nights are slowly starting to get to me. I landed in New Zealand late last night. Checked into the swanky little motel a block away from Tobias’s office and had the longest soak in the tub until my skin turned wrinkly before I called it a night and hit the hay.Coming here alone has been a little rough, I’ve never traveled on my own, and leaving my children behind has been hard. I woke up a few times during the night as I could swear I heard their soft cries. I guess my new body clock and hyper-sensitive ears followed me here as well. I take one final look in the mirror, fixing the spaghetti straps of my summer dress before I comb my fingers through my hair. I’ve dressed as casual as I possibly can on a hot day that almost has me melting into a puddle before I’ve stepped out of my room that has air-con.I want to look nice when I see Tobias for the first time in a long time. I need him to see me and regret e
TOBIAS:If you could kindly refer to page eighteen of the proposal." I navigate my mouse cursor across the graph, tracing its path on the whiteboard. The twelve individuals gathered around the board table simultaneously turn to page eighteen. “As you can see, the site will be an ideal destination for our…"The intercom buzzes, disrupting the room. “Mr. Landry.” I exhale heavily. “Yes,” I snap, annoyed. Why is she interrupting me? “Good morning, Mr. Landry. This is Tracy from the front desk.”“Yes, Tracy, what is it?” “I have a Keri Appleton here; she says she has an appointment to see you today…”My pulse quickens upon hearing my wife’s name.“Ahhh…” I look around the room as multiple sets of eyes stare back at me. “I see…” I casually tap my fingers next to the mouse on the table. Shit. I can not interrupt this meeting halfway through, as individuals from around the world have traveled to attend. I have a busy schedule ahead, with visits to various locations and meetings with con
TOBIAS:I pull up next to the curb in front of the building, and I toss my keys to Benson to park it in the underground car park. I've had fuck all sleep, and I'm in the shittiest mood of all moods to be had. This is the last place I want to be, but there is a certain someone I need to speak with, and it requires a face-to-face conversation.“Have a great day, Mr. Landry.” Benson casually says as he makes himself comfortable behind the steering wheel. It's probably the highlight of his day parking my sedan. “You, too.” I walk in through the front doors of the building and stride to the bank of elevators. Tony, the attendant, gives me a polite nod as he pushes the button. “Good morning, Mr. Landry.” “Morning.” I stare at the doors as I straighten the knot on my tie. I can feel all eyes on me as I wait. Hurry up.“Beautiful day today,” Tony says, trying to make small talk so it's not awkward between us.But it feels very awkward to me. “It is.” I lean forward and press the button.
Laughter and shrieks echo through my home as I playfully chase after two little ones, their tiny bodies free and unburdened. They find it absolutely hilarious when they escape from the bath, and I playfully chase them with clothes in my hands. I must confess, I enjoy it just as much. My little ones have reached the age of four, bringing immense joy and filling my heart with love beyond measure. Our home is a place of joy and excitement, where love permeates every corner.Ryan, being the oldest, possesses a striking resemblance to his father with his dark, wavy hair. He possesses a fiery and easily provoked temperament, displaying dominance and intelligence while also being incredibly attached to me.And then there's Sawyer. We affectionately refer to her as Awez. Despite her resemblance to her father, with her dark hair and big, round eyes, she possesses a distinctiveness that sets her apart. Compared to Ryan, she is small and has a calm and peaceful demeanor, with a very gentle and
I watch as Tobias and Davis make their way out of the chapel side by side with their heads hanging low. The sensation of grief and loss is painted across their features, revealing the depth of their pain.It was a lovely service. The chapel is overflowing with people who have shown up to pay their respects to the late Mr. Landry for the second time. Light chatter fills the open space as everyone steps out of the pillars to follow the half-brothers outside.“I'm curious to know if Janice buried an empty casket or if there was some other poor soul in there…”“Poor Tobias. He has been through a lot in his life to last him another two life times. He really was dealt a shitty hand, wasn’t he?”“They are half-brothers? Well, no wonder why Janice faked his death. She wanted to get her claws on everything she was entitled to. I would have done the same if my husband cheated on me with my sister…”I glance at Kip from the corner of my eye, shaking my head. It's truly astonishing how individual
He stumbles back when his gaze stares at my screen, his jaw clenches as his brows knit together. “Mummy? Mummy… who is that man? He doesn’t look like our uncle?” My darling children cry out, confused and most likely scared. “Tobias… I…” “You’re a mother?” He spits out with venom as if it’s the most disgusting piece of information he has ever heard of. My shoulders sag with defeat as my chin touches my chest. “I… yes,” I whisper, too afraid to utter another word in case he uses it against me. “Are they…” His voice trails off as he passes me my phone. “When were you going to tell me?” He asks in a deep voice that sends a plague of goosebumps to erupt across my skin. I sink back against the door, overwhelmed by a flood of tears streaming down my face, consumed by sorrow. He is extremely upset, and I fear that he will take them away from me, leaving me powerless to prevent it. I lack the financial resources that he possesses to prolong this legal battle indefinitely, with the intenti
TOBIAS:I gaze out of my office window, holding my phone to my ear as I observe the bustling foot traffic below me. It has been a couple of weeks since I last saw Keri at my father's funeral. I was absolutely stunned to see her there. Seeing her casually socializing with Kip, wearing a smile on her face has left a lasting impression on me. It has stirred up intense emotions, making me feel overwhelmed with a strong desire to put an end to Kip's life. And I couldn't help but ponder, as the images of their children's faces lingered in my mind like an unwelcome memory, that they bore no resemblance to Kip or Keri. They resembled me and Sawyer in our younger days.Coincidence? I think not.It was clear as day that Keri was hiding something from me when I confronted her and Kip outside the bar.“What do you have for me, Link?”“You aren't going to believe this, but, Mrs. Landry is not involved in a romantic relationship with Kip Mason. Nor do they reside in the same household, and the chil
Attempting to inhale deeply only intensifies the tightness in my chest, leaving me feeling light-headed as a wave of unease crashes over me. I should have anticipated this inevitable moment after Tobias confronted me after his father's funeral. But I suppose I was somewhat foolish to think that Tobias would have willingly distanced himself from me once he discovered that I was pregnant and had deceived him by claiming that Kip was the father.Throughout my adolescent years, I discovered that when you inflict enough emotional pain on someone, they become accustomed to suffering, much like a physical wound. If you don't resolve the situation, it could have serious consequences, like bleeding out. Unfortunately, my relationship with Tobias only brings us both immense suffering.I'm well aware that Tobias shares my sentiments, and when life has taken control of you, inform of the tragic events that have unfolded. It’s near impossible to allow something so heart-warming, like love, fill th