Three days had passed since Ella’s call with Derek, yet Ethan hadn’t heard a word from her. The silence gnawed at him, each day dragging on like an eternity. Meanwhile, the divorce papers had officially been filed in court, and the hearing was just four days away. Ethan’s friend Victor had relayed the court date to him, adding that Tania was expected to appear. Ethan braced himself for the lies Tania would spin, wondering what damage she could inflict on his reputation and his ability to see Leo and Liam. He could only hope things would end as cleanly as possible, but uncertainty gripped him.
His troubles didn’t end at home. His company’s board had grown increasingly wary of him. The chaos in his personal life, now public knowledge, had caused a ripple of mistrust, affecting everything from financial deals to day-to-day operations. The board couldn’t replace him he was still the best they had but tensions were high. Holding the pieces of his life together felt impossible, and his thoughts wandered constantly to Ella, hoping that at least their co-parenting relationship could survive the storm.
Meanwhile, Ella was wrestling with how to break the news of Tania’s pregnancy to Fabian. She had replayed the conversation with Derek over and over in her head, wondering how to approach Fabian with such devastating information. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced at the clock, remembering that it was the weekend Rick was bringing Leo and Liam back.
Opening the door, Ella’s face lit up as Leo and Liam rushed in, wrapping her in tight hugs. “Mommy, we missed you so much!” Liam exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. “Mommy, guess what we did with Uncle Rick!” Leo chimed in, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. Ella laughed, hugging them close, taking in the warm scent of their hair and the comforting weight of their arms around her. After a few moments, she looked up to see Rick smiling at her from the doorway.
“Thanks for taking care of them,” she said, hugging him. “They had a great time, I can tell.”
“It was nothing,” Rick replied, his smile genuine. “They’re good boys, Ella. We had fun.”
As the twins ran off to play with the new toys Ella had set out for them, Rick leaned against the doorway, his expression softening. “I spoke to Derek,” he began, his voice low enough to keep the kids from overhearing. “He told me about… Tania’s pregnancy and Fabian.” Rick’s face turned grim. “I’m disgusted, to be honest. Knowing I was ever close to someone like Tania feels…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “And Fabian-first Grace, and now this. It’s like he can’t escape her, and I can only imagine what he’s going through.”
Ella nodded, her gaze distant. “I know,” she said quietly. “It’s been hard enough for him to live with the mistakes he made, and now this? It’s… cruel.” She looked back at Rick, meeting his eyes. “But we’re close to our endgame, Rick. Everything’s out in the open. Now we just have to execute the plan. Tonight, we’ll meet with Derek to discuss the final steps.”
Rick agreed, his eyes filled with determination. “Derek and I will be there. We’ll work out the last pieces of this and make sure things go the way they should. But for now, go be with your boys. You deserve some peace.”
Ella gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Rick. For everything.” He nodded, and with a small wave, left Ella to her boys. Watching them play, Ella felt a surge of resolve. Whatever came next, she would be ready.
Ella shut the door softly after Rick left, leaning against it for a moment. She glanced over to where Leo and Liam were already pulling out the toys she’d set aside for them. They were chattering excitedly, their laughter filling the room, a welcome contrast to the stress and heaviness of recent days.
“Alright, you two,” she said, putting on a playful grin and joining them on the floor. “Show me what you’ve got!”
The boys erupted with excitement, proudly demonstrating their new toys, and Ella let herself be swept into their world, where nothing mattered except who could build the tallest tower or race cars the fastest. They spent hours stacking blocks, setting up elaborate tracks, and toppling structures, each giggle and cheer from her sons a balm to Ella’s spirit. She marveled at how easily they could lift her out of the gloom, how their innocence had the power to make her feel hopeful again.
After a while, they settled on the couch to watch a movie together. Liam curled up beside her, his head resting on her shoulder, while Leo sprawled out on her lap, clutching her hand. They had chosen one of their favorite animated films, one they’d seen countless times before. But Ella didn’t mind; she found herself laughing along with them at every familiar joke and feeling a surprising sense of peace. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from Leo’s face, tracing her thumb over his cheek as he watched the screen, engrossed.
“Mommy?” Liam asked, turning to look up at her with his wide, curious eyes. “Why were you sad before?”
Her heart caught in her chest. She hadn’t realized that her sons had noticed the weight she was carrying, her silent worries bubbling beneath the surface.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she said, pulling him closer. “Mommy has just had a lot on her mind lately. But you know what? Being with you and Leo makes me so happy. You two are my greatest joy.”
Leo looked up at her, his small face filled with concern. “Are you gonna be okay, Mommy?”
Ella smiled, her heart swelling with love. “Yes, my love. As long as I have you two by my side, I’ll always be okay.”
Content with her answer, they turned back to the movie, occasionally asking her questions about the plot or whispering little observations. For those few hours, her worries faded into the background, replaced by the simple pleasure of being a mother, sharing in her sons’ world, and savoring every precious moment with them.
As evening fell, Ella took them into the kitchen, where they worked together to make dinner. She handed Liam a spoon to stir the pasta sauce and watched as Leo carefully lined up plates, mimicking her every move. Their laughter filled the kitchen as they “taste-tested” more than necessary, smearing sauce on their cheeks and sneaking bites of pasta. By the time they finished cooking, Ella’s heart felt lighter, and the air was filled with the comforting aroma of a homemade meal.
They sat down to eat, the twins sharing stories from their weekend with Rick. Liam animatedly recounted their trip to the park, where he’d tried to climb the “biggest slide ever,” while Leo told her about the funny squirrel they’d seen. Ella listened, enthralled by every detail, laughing at their silly antics and encouraging them to tell her more. She savored every word, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in days.
After dinner, they curled up together on the couch again, wrapped in blankets as they put on another movie. This time, the boys settled down in the quiet comfort of their mother’s arms, their eyes growing heavy as they leaned against her. She held them close, stroking their hair, and let herself drift along with them, feeling for the first time in a long time a deep sense of contentment.
The minutes passed slowly, and soon enough, both boys were asleep, their small bodies curled up against her. Ella sat there, watching their peaceful faces, overwhelmed by the love she felt for them. She felt the weight of her responsibilities once again but saw them now through a softer lens. Every challenge, every painful truth she’d uncovered, was for this-for them, for their future, and for their safety. Her resolve strengthened, knowing she would face whatever came next with every ounce of strength she had, for her sons.
She carried them one by one to their beds, tucking each of them in, brushing a kiss onto their foreheads, and whispering her love. As she stood in their doorway, watching them sleep, she felt a calmness settle over her. The world outside might be chaotic, but here, with her boys, everything felt right.
Finally, with her sons safely asleep, Ella took a deep breath, preparing herself for the evening’s meeting with Derek and Rick. She knew she would need to draw on every ounce of resolve she had built up today, every moment of love she had shared with Leo and Liam, to face the next steps with clarity and determination.
Tonight would mark the beginning of the end