After dropping her off at the store, Zeke called his security detail. Within minutes, he arrived where he told them to wait. One of his guards came and took the wheel of his car while Zeke transferred into a sleek, black SUV waiting nearby.
Meanwhile, Sydney had just finished putting her small shop in order when the door opened. She turned, expecting a customer, but smiled wide when she saw her younger sister.
"Helena! You didn't tell me you were coming."
"Do I need permission to see my newly married sister?" Helena teased.
They both laughed and hugged.
"Welcome," Sydney said warmly.
Helena wore a black face cap and large sunglasses that covered most of her face. She had gone to extra lengths to hide the bruises Andrew had left after yesterday's fight. She wasn't ready for Sydney to know the truth yet.
The memory was still fresh.
Andrew had walked in during a heated exchange between Helena and his mother. Eunice had called her barren again, cruelly. Helena had had enough and told her to stop, only for Andrew to slap her in the face in front of everyone.
Now here she was, hiding the truth with a smile.
"You are out early, Lena," Sydney said, picking up on the unusual visit.
"Yeah, I was going to the market. Thought I would come see you first."
"Nice. Want tea?"
"Sure. But first, how was your first weekend as a married woman?" Helena asked, grinning.
Sydney hesitated for a split second. Her first weekend wasn't bad, but it wasn't what most people imagined either. She was sleeping in a different room from her new husband. She hadn't told Helena that, though.
"It wasn't bad," she answered vaguely.
Helena smiled, unaware.
Sydney's phone buzzed in her pocket just then. She remembered Zeke's request and took it out to send her account details. She typed the message and hit send.
Forbes Corporation…
Zeke sat in a large conference room surrounded by executives. The meeting was well underway when his phone vibrated against the table. Without a word, he glanced at the screen, Sydney's message.
He picked it up immediately and made a swift transfer of ten thousand dollars to her account.
Then he set the phone down again like nothing had happened and continued the meeting.
Dan, sitting beside him, noticed. Zeke never touched his phone during meetings, not unless it was important.
Interesting, Dan thought. He made a mental note.
Later, in Zeke's office…
Dan followed Zeke in after the meeting, his usual smug curiosity trailing behind him.
"So…" Dan started, "How's the new family?"
Zeke didn't look at him. "Michaela is sweet," he said simply.
Dan blinked. "Who?"
"The daughter."
"Oh, right! I forgot your wife had a kid."
Zeke's jaw tightened at the word wife.
Dan noticed the change in expression and burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm joking. But seriously, I like the little girl. She is adorable."
Zeke said nothing.
"I don't know… I just have a feeling about this," Dan said, still grinning. "That little girl is going to make something impossible happen."
Zeke's eyes darkened.
Dan chuckled as he backed out of the office. "You will say I told you so later."
Once the door shut, Zeke exhaled deeply and picked up his phone. He opened Facebook and searched for Sydney's profile. It didn't take long before he found it.
He scrolled through her photos until he came across a picture of Michaela as a baby, chubby cheeks, wide eyes, barely walking.
Without thinking, he saved it to his phone.
The cold, calculating man who once had no room for warmth was now, unknowingly, finding something new to occupy his mind.
Or rather, someone.
Meanwhile, at the store, Sydney sat across from her sister, chatting casually. But her gaze shifted, narrowing as she noticed a faint bruise on Helena's cheek.
"Lena, what happened to your face?" She asked softly.
"It's nothing."
"It sure looks like something," Sydney replied, leaning forward and gently removing her sister's cap.
Helena flinched, then forced a smile. "I slipped in the bathroom. I was lucky Andrew was home; he helped me."
Sydney didn't buy it. The way her sister's voice flattened, the lack of eye contact – it was too rehearsed.
"Did Andrew hit you?"
"No. Why would he do that?" Helena responded quickly, too quickly.
She portrayed her husband to be a nice man. She had been living like a slave since she got married, but Andrew would always use cash gifts to apologise, especially if he wanted to sleep with her.
Sydney remained silent, her eyes still searching Helena's face.
"I said it's not a big deal."
"You are a big deal to me," Sydney said quietly. "Promise me, next time something happens, you will call me."
They shared a fragile smile.
"Are you hungry? I'm making pasta for lunch."
Helena's eyes lit up. "You? Making pasta? You know that's one of the reasons I love coming here."
Sydney chuckled and went into the kitchen, already deciding to make extra. She thought of Zeke. For everything he was doing, even if he was gruff about it, he deserved some appreciation.
She pulled out her phone and sent a message:
Sydney: I'm making pasta for lunch. Should I bring some for you?
Zeke saw the message and considered ignoring it. But the last thing he wanted was Sydney showing up at Forbes Corporation.
Zeke: I'm having a lunch meeting with a client. No need.
Sydney smirked and focused on preparing just enough for three. She usually waits to eat with her daughter, but since Helena was visiting, they would eat together. She packed her daughter's portion in an insulated container for after school.
When it was time for school pick-up, Helena left for grocery shopping while Sydney headed to the school.
She paid for Michaela's school bus fees as discussed with Zeke, submitting all the required documents, including their Whitefield residence for pickup and the store's address for drop-off.
That evening, Zeke didn't return until nearly ten. Sydney, already in her nightwear, had waited up.
She heard the door rattle. He was trying to open it with his spare key, but her own key was still in the lock. She quickly rushed to the door and opened it.