Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Ryder and Lloyd quickly processed Archibald's paperwork, and he was finally able to leave the detention center.

The first thing he did after his release was visit the cemetery.

On behalf of the Carnegie Group, Archibald had arranged burial plots for each of the workers who'd died in the accident and actively compensated their families.

In the end, though the families still harbored resentment toward the Carnegie Group, the matter had at least come to a close.

Archibald entered the cemetery and walked from the first headstone onward, one by one. At each grave, he bent down, placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, and bowed deeply.

Every headstone bore the deceased's name and dates of birth and death. Archibald paused at each name, reading it silently in his mind.

Some of the photos showed men much younger than him—early twenties, dressed in work uniforms, smiling shyly.

Only now did Archibald truly understand how many people had paid a heavy price for his moment of weakness.

When he reached the last headstone, it began to rain.

He set down the final bouquet of white chrysanthemums and gave one last bow.

Afterward, Archibald intended to see Vivienne but didn't go inside.

Instead, he had Lloyd park the car across the street under a sycamore tree. From there, he watched that window from afar.

The light inside was on—warm yellow. The curtains were half-drawn. Occasionally, a shadow passed behind them. He couldn't tell who it was.

The light was warm. So much warmer than the fluorescent lights in the detention center.

Archibald leaned back against the seat, watching that light for a long time. Then he closed his eyes and said to Lloyd, "Let's go."

Lloyd glanced back at him. "Mr. Carnegie, aren't you going in to see her?"

"No." Archibald shook his head.

He had no right. And he couldn't bring himself to face her.

From now on, he would spend the rest of his life atoning—to those workers, to Vivienne, to everyone he'd wronged.

On the weekend, Elowen brought Holden to the lobby of Vivienne's apartment building.

The day Archibald and Vivienne officially divorced, Elowen had come by.

They'd agreed that every weekend, Holden could spend a day with Vivienne.

Elowen handed her grandson over to Sabrina downstairs. She didn't go up.

Sabrina took Holden's hand and rode the elevator upstairs.

She opened the door and called into the apartment, "Vivi, look who's here."

Vivienne was feeding the twins.

Both little ones had just finished half their bottles and were nestled in her arms, eyes drooping, tiny mouths smacking softly now and then.

She heard the sound at the door and looked up to see Holden standing in the entryway, eyes bright as he looked at her, lips twitching with a barely suppressed smile.

"Mommy." He called out, slipping on his house shoes and padding inside.

He took two steps, then stopped and peered into her arms, asking softly, "Are my sisters sleeping?"

"They just ate. They're still awake." Vivienne smiled and beckoned him over. "Come see."

Holden tiptoed over, lowered his head, and looked at the two little bundles swaddled in her arms. His mouth fell open slightly, eyes wide as saucers.

The two baby girls looked identical.

Round heads. Fine, soft hair. Eyes closed, long lashes like little fans resting on their eyelids.

He stared for a long time, then carefully reached out his hand—only to freeze mid-air. He looked up at Vivienne. "Mommy, can I touch them?"

"You can."

Only then did Holden gently touch the cheek of the baby on the left with his fingertip.

He pulled back immediately, as if afraid he might hurt her.

The baby on the left seemed to sense something. She stirred, opened her mouth, and let out a tiny yawn.

Holden's eyes widened in amazement. He turned to Vivienne and whispered, "She moved!"

Vivienne smiled and nodded. The baby on the right moved too. Her little hand slipped out of the swaddle and waved in the air, accidentally grabbing hold of Holden's still-outstretched finger.

Holden froze completely. He stared down at the tiny hand gripping his finger, barely daring to breathe.

Then he looked up at Vivienne, his eyes reddening.

"Mommy, can I help you take care of them?" Holden asked earnestly.

Vivienne reached out and pulled him into her embrace, circling him and both daughters in her arms. "Yes. Every weekend from now on, you can come help Mommy take care of your sisters."

"Yay! That's awesome!" Holden cheered.

Winter turned to spring. The twins grew quickly. They learned to crawl, then to stand, and eventually to take a few steps while holding onto their walkers.

Vivienne's company also got on solid footing. The launch event for her first collection was held on a sunny spring day.

The screens in the art gallery cycled through her work from the season—all hand-drawn sketches by Vivienne herself.

One by one, they scrolled past. From the rough doodles scribbled in the margins of old sketchbooks to the final series she'd completed in the apartment where she'd been imprisoned—the wilderness collection.

Sabrina sat front and center in the first row. She cried from the start of the event until near the end, so much so that Sawyer had to lean over and quietly remind her, "If you keep crying, you won't be able to hear anything when Vivi goes up to speak."

Sabrina glared at him. "Mind your own business. These are happy tears!"

Sawyer fell silent and wordlessly pushed the bottle of water on the table closer to her hand.

Vivienne wore a dark green dress she'd designed herself—originally a maternity dress, now altered.

Her figure hadn't fully returned to its pre-pregnancy state, but she didn't try to hide it.

A woman's beauty was never about flawless looks or a perfect body.

The marks time left behind were beautiful too. They were an essential part of who she was.

Vivienne stepped onto the stage and quietly looked out at the audience for a few seconds.

So many people had come.

Her parents. Her friends. Elowen and Holden. Her two daughters. And many, many of the small and mid-sized business owners who'd joined forces with her to bring down Gavin.

Everyone looked up at her expectantly. Some were already tearing up, but every gaze was fixed on Vivienne.

Vivienne smiled.

This launch event wasn't about scale or grandeur.

The most important people were here. That was enough.

"Thank you all for coming." Vivienne picked up the microphone.

"Today's event marks the launch of my new company's first collection. It's also the first time I've stood here under my own name. So I'd like to take this opportunity to say a few things that have nothing to do with design."