Chapter 5

Running her fingers through her hair, Vien smiled as she watched Blair laugh, playing along with Gabriela, who was running while Blair tried to catch up. Vien chuckled, shaking her head. But then, her phone suddenly rang, and her smile faded when she saw who was calling. It was her ex-husband.

She swiped to answer the video call. "Nicolas," she greeted, her expression neutral.

"Hey, Vien," her ex-husband greeted, offering a faint smile. "How are you? Can I see Blair?" he asked.

Vien glanced at the screen. "I'm doing well, just fine without you," she chuckled. "Your daughter's playing," she added.

"Can you call her? I just want to talk to her," he asked, his voice laced with pleading.

Vien sighed. "Nico, she's playing," she repeated.

"Just a quick talk, Vien," Nicolas insisted.

Vien stood up from the swing as she spotted Blair and Gabriela sitting on the grass. "Wait up," she called out, walking toward them.

"Blair," Vien said, crouching down in front of her daughter. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Daddy's calling," she added.

Blair looked up at Vien. "I'm playing, Mommy," she said, fidgeting with her fingers.

"You heard her, Nico," Vien said firmly. "Your daughter's playing," she added, as if to emphasize her point.

"Blair, sweetie," Nicolas coaxed. "Come on, let daddy see you," he pleaded.

"Daddy, I'm playing with Gabi," Blair said, moving closer to Gabriela and avoiding Vien's phone.

Vien's eyes widened. She glanced at her phone, then back at Gabriela and Blair. "Who's Gabi, Vien?" Nicolas asked, his tone confused. "Wait, don't tell me you're dating someone else already?" he accused.

"Oh, gosh, Nico!" Vien hissed, gritting her teeth. "I'm on loudspeaker, and you know Blair can hear you," she said, her face darkening.

"Who the hell is Gabi? Why is Blair with him?" Nicolas demanded.

Vien stood up, her patience fraying. "For the record, Gabi is not a man," she snapped. "And why the hell do you care if I'm dating someone else or not? We've been over for three years, and you have no custody of our daughter. If Blair doesn't want to talk to you, how can I force her?" she said, walking away from the two.

"Still! She's my daughter, Vien! Isn't it enough that you moved back to Switzerland and got full custody?" Nicolas chuckled bitterly. "All I'm asking is to talk to my child!" he added.

"Your child?" Vien scoffed. "I hope you thought about that before you did everything you did to me, Nico. Before you ruined every part of me," she said, her voice trembling with bitterness.

"Vien..." Nicolas's voice softened. "I've already apologized a thousand times. How many more times do I have to beg for your forgiveness?" he pleaded.

Vien shook her head. "I'll never forgive you, Nicolas. You ruined me. You took away my right to be..." Vien paused, her breath hitching. "You don't deserve forgiveness. You're lucky the only thing I've given you is the divorce and the fact that you have no visitation rights. Had Vera found out everything, I don't even know what would have happened," she added, her voice shaking with emotion.

"I'm ending the call now," Vien said, cutting the call abruptly before Nicolas could respond.

She dropped to her knees, squeezing her eyes shut, trying desperately not to cry. But her tears betrayed her, as the memories of betrayal that had ruined her came flooding back.

"Mommy?" Blair's voice startled Vien. She quickly wiped her tears, clearing her throat.

"Yes, my baby?" Vien asked, turning to face her daughter, forcing a smile.

Blair pouted. "Are you mad at me?" she asked softly.

Vien blinked, glancing at Blair, then over at Gabriela, who was standing nearby. "I'm not mad. Why would you ask that?" she replied gently.

"Sorry, Mommy," Blair said, wrapping her arms around Vien for a hug. "I don't want to talk to Daddy," she added.

Vien chuckled softly. "Okay, sweetie," she said, rubbing Blair's back. "Mommy's not going to force you to talk to Daddy," she assured her.

"Is Daddy mad at you, Mommy?" Blair asked, her small voice filled with concern.

Vien laughed lightly, picking Blair up as she stood. "No, Daddy's not mad. Mommy will talk to him, okay?" she said, her throat tightening as Blair buried her face against her shoulder.

"Blair?" Vien mumbled, glancing at Gabriela. "Your friend Gabi is waiting for you," she reminded her daughter.

Upon hearing Gabriela's name, Blair squirmed to be let down and ran toward Gabriela. Vien chuckled, rubbing her temple as she walked toward Gabriela. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened," she began, searching for the right words. "It's just that..."

"It's fine," Gabriela interjected, waving her hand dismissively. "You don't have to explain if it makes you uncomfortable," she added with a reassuring smile.

Vien closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "Blair's father and I are divorced, which is why he called. He's not allowed to visit, and he's in New York," she explained. "Not that you care, but I'm sorry for what he said earlier. I didn't expect that at all."

Gabriela nodded. "Must be hard for you, juggling everything at once."

Vien shrugged. "It's not like I'm taking care of Blair alone. She has her nanny, but I prefer picking her up from school. It's our quality time. But it seems like Blair's been fond of you, and I have no idea why," she chuckled.

Looking down at her daughter, Vien sighed as Blair clung to her right hand while clutching Gabriela's on the other. Gabriela walked near the sidewalk, her expression soft as she listened to Blair chatter away. Vien smiled quietly, noticing how her daughter seemed intent on entertaining Gabriela with small talk.

"Gabi," Blair called out again, snapping Vien from her thoughts. She glanced at her daughter, then at Gabriela, who looked down at Blair with a raised brow and a faint smile.

"What is it, Blair?" Gabriela asked.

"Mommy's beautiful, right? Like me?" Blair beamed, her sweet smile glowing with innocence.

Vien blinked, her jaw dropping as she stared at Blair in disbelief. "Blair, what are you asking now?" she stammered, glancing at Gabriela, who looked equally stunned.

Gabriela's gaze flickered between Blair and Vien before she chuckled softly. "You're certainly beautiful, Blair."

Blair tilted her head toward Vien, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But is Mommy beautiful too?" she pressed, as if needing Gabriela to confirm it.

Vien let out a deep sigh, groaning as she covered her face with one hand. "Blair, sweetie—"

"Yes, your mommy is beautiful too, just like you," Gabriela interjected with a warm smile, her gaze shifting to Vien, whose hand slowly lowered to reveal her face. Gabriela caught the way Vien gulped, and her chuckle deepened.

"You know, you don't have to answer everything my daughter asks, right?" Vien muttered, rolling her eyes even as her heart raced inexplicably.

Gabriela shrugged, her lips quirking into a playful smile. Blair, unfazed, reached out to hold both their hands again. "See? Mommy really is beautiful," Blair declared, giggling. "She's nice too, but she nags at me sometimes because I'm clever," she added, still giggling.

Oh gosh, Blair, what are you even doing? Vien thought, glancing at her daughter, who was now fully focused on Gabriela. Gabriela listened intently, though she occasionally stole glances at Vien, whose ears were turning noticeably pink.

"Do you have a daughter too, Gabi?" Blair asked suddenly, her question making both adults freeze in their tracks.

"Blair, sweetie," Vien said sharply, fixing her daughter with a pointed look.

"What, Mommy?" Blair replied innocently, blinking up at her.

Gabriela scoffed lightly and ruffled Blair's hair. "No, I don't have children, Blair. And I can't have any," she said gently.

Blair tilted her head, her curiosity undeterred. "Do you want me to be your daughter, then? I mean, do you want to date Mommy?"

Vien and Gabriela stared at each other in wide-eyed shock before both turned their gazes back to Blair.

"Blair Briar!" Vien crouched to her daughter's level, her face turning crimson. "What kind of question is that?"

"Why, Mommy?" Blair asked, her expression guileless.

"Oh my gosh, Blair," Vien groaned, covering her face with both hands as heat radiated from her cheeks. "You don't get to ask your friend that," she mumbled, her voice muffled by her hands.

"Why not?" Blair persisted. "My friend at school said that if two people don't have a wife or husband, they can date each other," she added, her tone puzzled.

"That's not how it works!" Vien exclaimed, removing her hands from her face as she tried to steady her breathing. "And who told you that? Which friend? I need to talk to their parents."

Blair blinked up at her mother before turning her attention to Gabriela. "Mommy, you're single, right? And so is Gabi? Then you should date," she declared with a giggle.

"Blair Briar," Vien said firmly, standing up with her hands on her hips. "If you don't stop asking Gabi those questions, I swear, you won't see her again."

Blair pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "I was just asking, Mommy," she said, glancing up at Vien with wide, innocent eyes.

Vien shook her head. "And it's not a question you should be asking."

"Then why don't you ask Gabi to date you instead?" Blair retorted with a shrug, still huffing her cheeks.

"What?!" Vien's jaw dropped.

Gabriela's face flushed as she cleared her throat awkwardly. "Uh, it's getting late. Maybe we should head home?" she suggested, rubbing the back of her neck.

Blair suddenly hugged Gabriela's legs, clutching onto her tightly. Gabriela looked down at the small child in surprise. "Blair?" she asked gently.

Blair glanced up at her mother defiantly. "You said I can't see Gabi again, so I'm going with her!"

"What the heck?!" Vien sputtered, her gaze darting between Gabriela and Blair. "Blair, you can't just do whatever you want, okay? And don't threaten me like that!" She threw her hands up in exasperation, rubbing her forehead. "Gosh, how are you this impossible right now?"