Ella sat on the plush rug in her living room, her twin sons, Leo and Liam, sprawled around her with an assortment of toys and crayons. Their laughter filled the air, contagious and pure, making her smile as she watched them. Life felt calm, finally, even amidst everything. Moments like these reminded her that the journey had been worth it, even if it had been painful.
Just then, her phone buzzed. Seeing Derek’s name flash across the screen, she quickly answered.
“Hey, Derek!” she greeted, still smiling.
“Ella, you need to check the news,” Derek’s tone was curious, even a bit amused.
Confused, she reached for the remote and turned on the TV, switching to a news channel. There, splashed across the screen, was the headline: Billionaire Ethan Aldridge Finalizes Divorce Now Officially Single.
Her eyes widened. “Wow,” she muttered, glancing back at her boys. “That was fast,” she said to Derek, returning to the call.
Derek chuckled on the other end. “I figured it would drag on too, knowing Tania. But my guess? She underestimated him.”
Ella laughed. “Maybe he surprised us all.” She couldn’t deny a strange feeling settled in her chest. Relief? Bittersweet nostalgia? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t dwell on it.
“So,” Derek continued, his tone turning softer, “how did it go with Fabian?”
“Oh, you know…” She paused, watching as Leo balanced a block on Liam’s head, both giggling as it toppled. “It went well, I guess. He’s blaming himself for everything Tania put me through, and it’s weighing on him. But… I think he’ll get past it.” Her voice softened. “At least, I hope so.”
“Good to hear.” Derek’s voice held that supportive warmth she’d come to rely on. “You know, you have a way of making people want to do better.”
Leo tugged on her sleeve, his face alight with excitement. “Mommy, look! Look what Liam and I made!”
Ella’s heart melted at their joyful expressions. “Gotta go, Derek. Talk soon?”
“Of course. Enjoy your time with them, Ella.”
She ended the call and scooped both boys into a big hug. “Alright, show me what you’ve got, my little builders!”
As she settled back on the floor, Ella’s eyes drifted to Leo and Liam, their bright faces shining with unfiltered joy. They were constructing a miniature city, complete with block towers and crayon-drawn roads on a big piece of butcher paper they had stretched across the living room floor. Their happiness, the innocent laughter bubbling up between them, felt like a lifeline grounding her to the present.
But even as she smiled at their antics, her mind wandered. She couldn’t shake thoughts of Fabian, the man who had once been a friend, then a reluctant enemy, and now… something in between. She had seen the guilt etched into his face during their last conversation, the heaviness he carried from his past choices. Though he tried to keep a stoic facade, Ella knew he blamed himself for allowing Tania to manipulate him. It was as if he felt he could never undo the hurt he’d caused, that he was doomed to live in the shadows, burdened by regret.
“Mommy, can you help us build the bridge?” Leo’s small voice pulled her back, and she offered him a soft smile as she picked up a few blocks to complete their structure. “Of course, love. Here, like this?” she asked, steadying the blocks as Leo and Liam eagerly placed them, eyes alight with concentration. She was grateful for these moments, and she knew that regardless of whatever happened with Fabian, her duty was here, with her boys.
Still, the nagging worry for Fabian stayed with her. She had seen glimpses of the man he could be, the potential hidden beneath the layers of guilt and mistakes. And as much as she had tried to push him away for the safety of her family, a part of her hoped he would find his way to redemption. Maybe someday, he would finally forgive himself. She wanted that for him. Everyone deserved a second chance, even those who had fallen the hardest.
As the bridge held firm under her guidance, Liam cheered and gave her a quick hug before diving back into the play. Leo stacked more blocks with a sense of determination that made her chuckle. They were so young, so innocent, and watching them reminded her why she’d fought so hard.
Just then, her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Ethan. He was officially divorced now, the headlines had confirmed it. She hadn’t expected the news to affect her the way it did. After all they’d been through, the years of distance, the misunderstandings, the moments of bitterness there was still a part of her that cared, even if she tried not to admit it. She wondered how he was doing, if he felt the same sense of relief she did or if there was something more, something that felt like loss, despite everything Tania had done to them both.
What was he doing now? Had he finally found some peace? She imagined him alone, perhaps in his office, looking out at the city lights, and felt a pang of sympathy. Their paths had diverged long ago, but now she wondered if he, too, found himself looking back at the memories they had shared, the ones they had lost.
“Mommy, Liam and I are making a castle for the knights!” Leo’s voice, brimming with excitement, pulled her back to the present once more.
“A castle?” Ella asked, playing along. “Well, then, every castle needs a queen, doesn’t it?”
Liam giggled, nodding furiously. “And dragons, too!” he added, already digging through his toy box to find the closest thing to a dragon figurine he could.
She laughed, holding her sons close, savoring the purity of this moment. Their joy was contagious, and she found herself letting go, if only a little, of her worries about Fabian and her lingering thoughts of Ethan. For now, they could wait. Right here, right now, her boys needed her, and nothing mattered more.
As they continued their imaginary adventures, she felt a sense of calm settle over her. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she was ready to face it. The strength she needed was here with her, in these small, fleeting moments of peace. And for now, that was enough.
The rest of the day flew by in a blur of laughter, stories, and family moments. Whatever challenges lay ahead, Ella was ready.