Chapter 102

Nan’s POV

My daughters are now 7 years old.

Time had gone by so fast. It felt like only yesterday that I had tucked my two five-year-olds into bed for a nighttime story. It feels so bittersweet.

Vera had grown taller. The top of her head now reached my waist instead of my thighs. Her gorgeous head of curls now reaching mid-back instead of shoulders.

‘She’ll need a haircut soon.’ I thought ruefully. ‘She hates long hair.’

It had been another change compared to two years ago. The Vera of then had loved her long hair. Considering her long hair to be signs of her nobility and grace.

The Vera of two years ago would never have enjoyed to play with science kits. She would not have played pranks. She would never have shown such open, childish joy around anyone other than Lionel.

I could not regret those changes.

It only makes me proud and happy that Vera feels secure enough to act like the child she is.

Patti had undergone her own changes. Instead of the slight pale tint to her skin from being sick…she now held a happy flush and round cheeks from two years of proper care. The slight gap from her missing tooth had already been replaced by an adult tooth.

Love warmed my heart. It was like sunshine in a garden. Growing beautiful and evergreen with each passing day.

Lionel and I agreed to keep the party private this year. The incident from their previous party and every outing I’ve attended to far at the forefront of our minds. It was an easy one.

“This year will be for us.” Lionel swore to me. “No noisy guests or distracting crowds.”

This year would be family only.

And Katya…

No one was happy about that last minute addition. We had no choice. Katya’s lawyers forced us into a corner.

If we denied her time with the girls there would be legal consequences. Not even Lionel’s status or power could wiggle us out of that. I was determined to not let her presence ruin the day.

The backyard was looking beautiful.

The girls have become obsessed with fairies and gardens in the last few weeks.

So I did my best to make their dream come true.

Lionel and I did out best to play into the theme.

Lionel wore as all white ensemble. Looking straight as thought he had stepped out of a storybook prince fairytale. His tan skin and inky curls making me swoon slightly.

I wore a simple, white cotton dress. The fabric cinching just under my bust and fanning out. Secretly, I too felt like a fairy.

The girls wore their own little fairy dresses. Vera wore fairy wings with shades of pink and green lights. Patti wore ones with blue and purples sparkles.

I braided little soft, little white blossoms into each of their hair. I styled Patti’s inky curls into a simple, loose braid. Fast and ready for play…like Patti.

Vera’s was, of course, a crown braid. Elegant and graceful. Fit for a little princess…like Vera likes to be seen as.

We turned the backyard into a garden party fairytale.

Floating lights hung from the ceiling of the pavilion. Little moss and fairy statues shining from within the jars. Crystal, gossamer butterfly wings were strown about a table along with an array of tea party items.

There were delicate teacups in the shapes of vibrant mushrooms. Tea cakes that looked like lilies of the valley and roses. The fragrance of honey suckle and jasmine emanated from the tea.

It was a little girl’s dream.

Seeing my daughters’ eyes lit up in wonder was the best part of the day.

I was never more thankful for my boyfriend being the Alpha of a wealthy business empire. I could never have dreamed of creating a party like this for the girls two years ago. Lionel had made a lot of impossible things real for me in the time we had met.

The day was going well.

The girls were amazed when the party came to ‘life’ when music appeared out of thin air when the girls began dancing. The pavilion suddenly lit and the shadows of the fairy jars made it seem as though fairies were dancing with them. Glitter seemed shimmer in the air.

“Magic!” cried Patti. “It’s magic mommy!”

“Fairies…” Vera whispered in awe. “We’re dancing with fairies.”

It was all hidden speakers and tricks of light in truth…but all that mattered was that my daughters believed that it was magic.

Then Katya appeared. Wearing a black dress. The black swan to our swan lake.

“Wow.” She said coolly. “It seems like your skills were not exaggerated, Nan.”

The wonder and joy drained from my daughters’ faces. I resisted the urge to groan. Of course she would show up late.

‘She just cannot resist stealing all of the attention,’ I think angrily. ‘Even from 7-year-old children!’

Things are…awkward after that.

Katya perches herself at the table and watches passively. Her cat-like eyes too intent to fool anyone into thinking she is truly casual. It’s unnerving to say the least.

I suspect that is her point.

But I press forward. Determined to ignore the manipulative woman. Lionel and the girls follow my lead.

It’s harder than I hoped it would be.

Lionel and I are sitting on one side. The girls sit across from us. All of us refuse to look toward the corner.

It’s like trying to avoid looking at a black hole.

Lionel and I try to talk to the girls. To keep the conversation natural and calm. It’s not easy.

“How many types of fairies are there?” Lionel asks inquisitively. As though the girls have not spent the past month chatting our ears off about it.

“There’s forest fairies…ocean fairies…river fairies…” Patti listed.

“No!” Vera interrupts. “That’s mermaids.”

Patti blushes. “Oh, sorry. Not river.”

“I think it’s mostly forest.” Vera claims. “There’s animal fairies…flower fairies…”

Her nose scrunches as she thinks. I can only smile. This breaks into a squabble between the two.

Lionel and I allow to play out. There is no true animosity this time. I do not see the harm in letting them play argue.

Katya’s voice is an unwelcome intrusion. “How uncivilized.” She says bitingly.

It stops all sound.

“Katya.” Lionel says through a clench jaw.

“What?” She ask ‘innocently.’ “The children are acting ill-mannered. I thought as their parents you two would know to correct them.”

I stiffen. “It’s only childish banter.” I try to say civilly.

Katya stares at the girls scornfully. “They are heiresses to an immense business empire. They should be aware of their actions at all times.”

“It’s their birthday.” Lionel grits out. “They are children.”

Katya scoffs. Lionel growls. But I am not focused on them.

There is a quiet tension growing within my daughters. I see the strain in their faces. A get a bad feeling.

“Let’s open presents!” I blurt out.

I am ignored.

Then Katya says something that causes a metaphorical explosion.

“…better mother, then those children would watch themselves. It’s all her fault they are this way.” Katya sneers.

Patti snarls and lunges at her. “Don’t call my mommy a bad mommy! I’ll bite your face off!”

Patti is only able to slightly scratch Katya’s arm before Lionel catches her.

It is too late.

Katya’s dark grin makes us all freeze.

“Big mistake little girl.” She whispers to my horrified daughter.

Katya’s lawyer…the one who had been supervising the visit…is already on the phone with the judge.

“…feral child. I’ve witnessed this with my own eyes. I want an emergency custody placement.”

The words chill my blood. “No…you can’t.” I shriek.

Lionel is snarling and moving to stand in front of our daughters. His claws are extended and his fangs are bared. It’s a stance that screams back the fuck away.

Katya is unmoved by this show of alpha’s rage.

“If you don’t move you will regret this. I will make sure you never see them again.” Katya says solemnly.

Lionel must realize how serious he is. He kneels in front of our daughters. Their eyes are wide and terrified.

“I’ll fix this.” He swears. “I will get you back to us.”

Katya and the lawyers practically drag them away. Their protests and cries for us ringing in my ears. “Mommy! Daddy!”

I can only sob helplessly. ‘My girls,’ I think in anguish. ‘She took my daughters!’

Katya throws one last smirk at us. ‘I told you,’ she mouths. It’s salt in the wound.

Lionel wraps his arms around me. I sink into his embrace. Falling apart at the seams.

“I promise you…I will get our daughters back.” Lionel vows with darkness in his voice.