Chapter 78

"And they all lived happily ever after. The end." Magnus closed the storybook with a flourish, his smile lighting up his face as he looked down at the twins. His eyes sparkled with a pride that made Vivienne’s heart warm.

Jayden and Jayla, sitting next to each other on the bed, immediately clapped their hands together. Their little faces beamed with joy. "That was a good one, Daddy!" they said in unison, their voices filled with enthusiasm. "But we have a question."

Magnus raised an eyebrow, amused at how the twins always had something to ask, no matter the story. "What’s that, sweethearts?" he asked, his voice gentle and full of affection.

Jayden, always the curious one, scrunched up his face in thought before asking, "Does that mean all frogs are secretly people, and if a princess kisses them, they turn into regular people like us?" His wide, innocent eyes blinked up at Magnus, awaiting an answer.

Magnus chuckled, his laughter warm and rich. He shook his head, never failing to appreciate the hilarious, unexpected questions that came from their little minds. "No, darling. That’s just a fairytale," he explained softly, smiling as he looked down at his son. "It’s not real. It’s just a story. That’s why it’s called a fairytale. It’s all made up. And it's 'transform,' not 'transpond,'" he added, correcting Jayden with a playful tone, seeing his son’s attempt at understanding.

Jayla tilted her head to the side, her curiosity piqued. "I wanna be an author," she suddenly declared, her voice filled with excitement and determination.

Magnus, ever supportive, ruffled her hair gently and laughed. "More interesting than our storybooks?" he teased, knowing she was always dreaming big.

"Yes!" Jayla responded eagerly. "And I’m gonna be a lawyer and an author!" she added, her confidence shining through her words.

Magnus’s heart swelled with pride. "You can do both, sweetie. I believe in you," he said, smiling at her. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Jayden’s forehead, then did the same for Jayla. The love he felt for these two little beings was indescribable, and moments like these filled him with a warmth that couldn’t be put into words. He carefully placed the storybook back on the shelf, making sure everything was in order before quietly turning off the light.

With the twins peacefully asleep in their shared room, Magnus couldn’t help but feel content. He slowly made his way to his and Vivienne’s bedroom, the house quiet around him, the only sounds the faint ticking of the clock. When he entered the room, he was greeted by the sight of Vivienne sitting on their bed, a grin on her face as she looked up at him.

"Would you—" He started, but Vivienne, ever the attentive one, raised her hand to stop him. She was wearing her AirPods, a clear sign that she was lost in the world of her music.

Magnus smiled to himself, knowing better than to interrupt her moment. "Okay," he whispered softly, making his way out of the room and heading toward his study. It was time to get some work done.

He grabbed a bottle of grape wine from the fridge, poured himself a glass, and drank it down in one go. The rich, smooth taste of the wine soothed his nerves, and he felt the stress of the day melt away. He let the silence in the room fill him as he focused on the stack of documents in front of him. The familiar rhythm of his work was comforting, even if it wasn’t the most exciting thing.

As he started reviewing the papers, his thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.

"Hi, babe. It’s me," Vivienne’s voice filtered through the wood, sweet and familiar. Magnus’s face broke into a smile immediately at the sound of her voice. It was as though everything in the world felt right when she was around.

"Come in, my love," he called out, standing up from his desk to greet her. He opened the door, and there she stood, a soft smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with a quiet joy. She had an aura of calmness, a presence that made everything seem more peaceful.

Vivienne stepped into the room, and as soon as she did, Magnus wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. He planted a soft kiss on her neck, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath his lips. She shivered slightly at the contact, and he couldn’t help but grin.

"Was that Rita?" Magnus asked, his voice laced with curiosity as he pulled away slightly to look at her. He had a faint recollection of Vivienne mentioning Rita earlier that day, and he wondered if she had been spending time with her friend.

Vivienne’s face flushed a little as she stuttered, "N-No, it was an old friend."

Magnus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A friend from where?" he asked, his interest piqued. He hadn’t heard Vivienne mention anyone in particular.

"We used to live at the orphanage together," she explained, her face lighting up with joy as she spoke about the past. "We met at that seminar I told you about yesterday."

Magnus’s heart softened at the sight of her excitement. "That’s nice," he said, genuinely happy for her. "Is he also a surgeon?" he asked, recalling that Vivienne was passionate about her profession.

Vivienne nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It was such a great surprise to see him again after so many years." Her eyes sparkled as she remembered the reunion. "I can’t believe how much time has passed."

Magnus’s heart warmed at the sight of her joy. He knew how much her past meant to her, and seeing her so happy brought him a sense of fulfillment. "I’m glad you had that chance to reconnect," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Vivienne shook her head in disbelief. "I can’t believe I was in an orphanage just ten years ago," she said, her voice tinged with a mixture of amazement and reflection.

"Life has a funny way of working out," Magnus replied, squeezing her hand gently. It had been an unexpected journey for both of them, but in the end, it had led them to each other, and to their beautiful children. He could hardly believe how far they had come, how much their lives had changed. From the orphanage to being a successful surgeon, Vivienne had accomplished so much. And now, they had this life together.

Vivienne yawned softly, rubbing her eyes. "I’m so tired. Let’s go to bed," she said, her voice slow and sleepy.

Magnus smiled, always ready to make her comfortable. "Of course," he replied, and without warning, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

"Magnus!" Vivienne gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected him to be so strong, and she couldn’t help but laugh as he carried her across the room to their bed.

"Feel better?" he teased, a playful grin on his face as he placed her gently on the bed.

Vivienne let out a content sigh, nodding as she relaxed into the softness of the sheets. "Much better," she murmured, curling up beneath the covers.

Magnus climbed into bed next to her, pulling her close as he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Good night, my love," he whispered, feeling the warmth of her body against his.

"Good night, babe," Vivienne murmured back, her voice soft and content as she snuggled into him. The peaceful silence of the night enveloped them, and Magnus closed his eyes, letting the gentle rhythm of Vivienne’s breathing lull him to sleep.

The next day, after work, Magnus found himself heading to his grandmother’s house. He had planned to stop by for a quick visit.

"Afternoon, Ma," he greeted her warmly as he handed his briefcase to the butler.

"How was work?" his grandmother asked as she waddled into the dining room, a smile spreading across her face.

"It was alright," Magnus replied, taking a seat at the table. "How about you?"

"Good," she answered with a grin. "Have you eaten?"

"No, Ma," Magnus said, his stomach growling slightly.

"Well, I’ve made curry rice with stewed chicken for you," she said, looking quite pleased with herself. "Have you spoken to your mother lately?"

At the mention of his mother, Magnus’s mood shifted. He tensed, the familiar unease settling in his chest. "No," he replied flatly.

His mother had ignored the wedding invitation he’d sent her, and she hadn’t acknowledged the flight ticket he’d arranged for her to attend the ceremony.

His grandmother sighed. "She called me yesterday," she continued, her voice filled with concern. "She said something about you and Vivienne keeping the twins away from her."

Magnus scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "After everything she’s done, she still thinks she can waltz into my life and meet my kids?"

His grandmother placed a comforting hand on his. "Don’t let her bother you, dear. Let it go."