SCHEMES UNFOLD
1193 Words
Alice’s POV
***************************
The room was cold, sterile, like the situation we found ourselves trapped in. Lucas sat across from me, his expression unreadable, but I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
The court-appointed mediator, a woman with sharp eyes and an air of forced patience, cleared her throat.
“Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn, we’re here to discuss a custody arrangement that best serves Paul and Nicol.”
“It’s Ms. Landon now,” I corrected, keeping my voice even, though my heart pounded against my ribs.
Lucas smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Of course. Ms. Landon.”
I hated the way my name rolled off his tongue, hated that it still had the power to make my pulse stutter. I squared my shoulders, refusing to let him see any c***k in my armor.
“I want full custody,” I stated. “Lucas can have supervised visitation. That’s the best I can offer.”
His jaw clenched. “Supervised? You think I’m some kind of danger to them?”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “I think you’re a man who abandoned his family when they needed him most. Forgive me if I don’t trust you.”
Lucas exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the armrests of his chair. “That’s not fair, Alice. I didn’t know about them.”
“Because you didn’t care enough to know!” My voice rose, and I saw the mediator lift a hand, silently warning me to keep my temper in check.
Lucas rubbed a hand down his face, looking momentarily exhausted. “I know I messed up. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness. But I’m trying. I love them, Alice. Whether you believe it or not.”
A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down, forcing my expression to remain blank. “Love isn’t enough, Lucas. Love didn’t stop you from choosing her over me.”
His face darkened. “You think this is about Nina? This is about our kids, Alice.”
“That’s where we differ. You just discovered them. I built my life around them. I sacrificed everything for them.” I leaned forward, my voice a whisper but no less sharp. “And I will not let you take them from me.”
Lucas’s eyes flashed, but before he could say another word, the mediator intervened. “I think that’s enough for today. We’ll reconvene next week.”
I didn’t wait. I grabbed my purse and strode out of the room, my chest tight with emotions I didn’t have the time or energy to name.
But Lucas wasn’t done.
“Alice, wait.” His voice caught me just outside the courthouse.
I turned slowly, my arms crossed. “What do you want, Lucas?”
He hesitated, then sighed. “I just… I need you to see that I’m not the man I used to be. I know I hurt you, but I won’t stop fighting for them.”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “You always loved a fight, didn’t you?”
His gaze softened. “Only when it was worth it.”
For a second, something shifted in his eyes—a flicker of something too dangerous to acknowledge. I turned away before it could settle in my chest.
******************************************
That night, Paul and Nicol ran into the apartment, their little faces lit with excitement.
“Mommy, Daddy took us to the zoo today!” Nicol squealed, climbing onto my lap. “He let us feed the giraffes! It was so much fun!”
Paul nodded enthusiastically. “And he said next time we’ll go to a baseball game!”
I forced a smile, my stomach twisting. “That sounds wonderful, sweetheart.”
“Mommy, why can’t Daddy live with us?” Nicol asked innocently.
My throat went dry. I glanced at Macon, who was watching me carefully from across the room. Taking a breath, I smoothed her hair. “Because sometimes grown-ups make choices that change things. But that doesn’t mean he loves you any less.”
Nicol looked unconvinced, but Paul was already distracted, rummaging through his bag. I met Macon’s gaze, bracing myself.
“You know, Alice, Lucas is actually trying,” he said after the twins had gone to bed. “You can hate him all you want, but he loves them. And they love him.”
I turned away. “I don’t need your opinion on this, Macon.”
“You need someone to tell you the truth.” His voice was gentle, but I heard the warning in it.
I closed my eyes, willing myself not to think, not to feel. But later that night, when I overheard Nicol whispering to Paul about how “Daddy was so much fun,” doubt crept in.
Was I being too harsh?
No. I shook the thought away. I had to stay strong.
***********************************************
Nina’s POV
I turned the martini in my hand, watching the liquid catch the dull glow of the lounges’ chandelier. The ice clicking softly against the glass cup.
It did nothing to drown out the fury burning inside of me.
Alice.
That little witch was like a disease I could never cure. No matter how many times I tried to destroy her, she just kept getting up
And now, after four years she shows herself—stronger, more determined, even more dangerous. I took a slow sip, my grip tightening around the edge of the glass.
“Why did she have to come back? She has made a life for herself. Obviously now the favourite child to Alex. And worst of all, Lucas won’t even look at me anymore now that she is back.”
I turned towards Emma,my voice dripping with a venomous whisper. “I won’t let it happen.”
Emma was Lucas’s secretary and new date, though I hated the fact that she had anything to do with him, but we both shared a common goal.
To make sure Alice and Lucas never got back together. A smirk curled on Emma’s lips. “I always had a feeling Lucas was really not over her.”
I folded my hands into fists, my nails digging into my skin, “Lucas was mine now. I worked too hard, played too smart, to let Alice come back into his life easily.
Then Emma leaned closer, eyes shining with something wicked. “ what if we make sure that Alice does not ever take Lucas back?”
My heart pounded—not with fear, but with a dark thrill of excitement. “Go on.” Her smirk got larger as she lowered her voice, whispering something so cold and ruthless to my ears that a sly smile immediately curled across my lips.
“That would be the perfect plan”. I shot back at Emma.
"Right?" Emma raised a brow at me, with a playful smirk plastered on her face, she proceeded to drop a bomb, something that would end Alice and put her back in her place.
"I have the perfect person or should I say perfect weapon to put her down."
- Writer
