Chapter 7: Seven years later

Nadine’s POV

I flipped through the pages of the multi-million dollar acquisition proposal from Apex Global, nodding in approval.

Seven years ago, if someone had told me I’d be sitting in an executive suite reading through seven-figure valuation figures, I would have laughed through my tears.

Seven years ago, I was surviving on three hours of broken sleep, heat-damaged baby bottles, and the fear of starting over from scratch with two infants on my hip. Every late night, every skipped meal, every frantic phone call with suppliers while hiding in a closet so no one heard toddlers crying in the background—it had all led to this stack of papers.

This contract was validation. It was safety.

I had just picked up my pen when the heavy mahogany door to my office burst open with a loud thud.

"Mommy!"

A tornado of chaotic energy swept inside as Nathaniel and Natalie raced towards me, their matching untamed curls bouncing with every stride.

Natalie reached me first, throwing her arms around my knees, while Nathaniel immediately went for the shiny gold pen in my hand.

"Woah, hold your horses, little guy," a warm, familiar voice called out from the doorway.

Roman leaned casually against the frame, holding two squeezed juice boxes in one hand and wearing his usual relaxed smile. He strolled inside, setting the juice boxes down out of the reach of tiny hands.

"They went bunkers at the reception desk," Roman said, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. "Security surrendered without a fight."

"I can see that," I breathed, a genuine laugh escaping me as I scooped Natalie up into my lap, feeling the reassuring weight of her against my chest, while gently sliding the Apex documents into a drawer and locking it.

I looked up at Roman, my expression softening. "Thank you for bringing them up, Roman. Seriously. You really don't have to keep playing babysitter when you have your own department to run."

"Nadine, you know it’s never a chore," he said quietly. His gaze lingered on mine a second longer, filled with a warmth that made something in my chest tighten just a fraction.

"Mommy, can we go to the park now?" Natalie pleaded, tugging insistently at the collar of my silk blouse. "Uncle Roman said if you weren't doing boring work stuff, we could go feed the ducks!"

I glanced at Roman who gave a shrug and shook my head. "Alright," I smiled, easing her down to her feet. "To the park we go. Nathan, come on," I beckoned on Nathaniel who excitedly grabbed my hand. Roman followed us behind as we exited the company building.

From where Roman and I walked side by side along the paved pedestrian path, we had a clear view of the playground. Nathaniel and Natalie were currently trying to see who could swing high enough to ‘touch the clouds’ while giggling. Their bright laughter made me smile broadly.

"They're growing up so fast," Roman remarked softly, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his trench coat. "It feels like just yesterday they were tripping over their own feet in the office lobby."

"Don't remind me," I murmured, wrapping my arm around myself. "Some days I wish I could just pause time for a little while."

He let out a chuckle as we resumed walking in silence for a few paces, the rhythm of our footsteps synchronizing on the concrete.

"Nadine... can I ask you something?” He broke the silence after a while, stopping to face me fully, “And feel free to tell me to mind my own business."

"Of course, Roman. What is it?"

The wind caught his dark hair, blowing a few strands across his forehead as he stared down at me, “You've spent the last seven years running at a hundred miles an hour. You built an empire and you raised two incredible kids entirely on your own. But..." He paused, searching my face carefully. "Have you ever thought about making room for someone else? About settling down again?"

The air between us suddenly felt heavy.

I didn't need to ask who he was talking about, the sincerity in his eyes made it crystal clear. Roman had been a rock for me over the past three years—a brilliant colleague, a reliable friend, and someone who looked at my children with genuine affection.

I looked back toward the swings, watching Nathaniel kick his legs out as he reached the peak of his arc.

"Roman," I began, choosing my words carefully. "The truth is... the paperwork concerning my divorce was never actually finished."

Roman blinked, clearly caught off guard. "What? After seven years?"

I nodded, "We just signed the divorce decree, and there was no court hearing. I walked out of that house focused entirely on survival," I explained, my voice dropping to a quiet whisper as memories I had tried to bury threatened to surface. "I changed my number, moved across the state, and threw every ounce of my energy into the twins and starting this company.”

I looked up, meeting his steady gaze. "So, legally, I am still tethered to my past. But I owe it to myself—and to anyone I might open my heart to in the future—to finish what I started. Once I close that chapter for good, once every single document is signed and the final knot is severed... then I'll finally be free to move on. To date, to fall in love, to live without looking over my shoulder."

Roman listened silently, processing every word. Slowly, a small, gentle smile touched his lips, "That's more than fair, Nadine. Just... it's good to know the door isn't locked forever."

The rest of the evening went by smoothly and by nightfall, the apartment was blanketed in a peaceful stillness.

I had spent twenty minutes in the twins' room, lingering by their twin beds and just watching the rhythmic rise and fall of their chests under the soft, blue light of the star projector. They were my entire heart.

Exhausted, I walked barefoot into the kitchen, poured myself a glass of water, and flipped open my laptop on the island counter. I wanted to check my schedule for tomorrow before calling it a night.

I opened my web browser, intending to head straight to my inbox, but the default home page automatically refreshed with the evening's top trending headlines.

A bold, red breaking news banner stretched across the top of the screen and I froze.

"TECH TITAN ADRIAN KINGSLEY ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO FASHION MOGUL NADIRA IVORY"

My blood turned to pure ice.

On display below the headline was a photograph taken at a gala in the city. Standing on the red carpet with his arm wrapped around my Twin sister was Adrian. My ex-husband.

He looked as breathtakingly handsome, and utterly cold as the day he had written me off. Nadira was beaming beside him, flashing the exact ring I recognized in a heartbeat.

The room tilted wildly around me as I stared at my sister’s face—the exact duplicate of my own features— pressed affectionately against the shoulder of the man I was still legally married to.