Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

By now, the sun had long since set, painting the city with an important shade of gold, but Fiona and Rosa remained on the floor of the penthouse, heavily weighing Raven's decision. What once was a representation of her fresh start, the apartment now seemed like a prison of dreams shattered. Amidst all this turmoil of feelings, however, Rosa's unwavering support served as a lifeline to which Fiona clung.

The silence between them was thick with unsaid thoughts, though it in and of itself was a comfort against the turmoil that Fiona had been feeling. Rosa's words, though fierce and resolute, had given Fiona hope. Knowing she wasn't going to be alone in this struggle gave her a small light in the darkness of heartache.

Fiona's crying had reduced to a soft, steady stream; her sobs were now quiet, labored breaths. She leaned in toward Rosa, gaining strength from her sister's presence. In the maelstrom of feelings within her, Fiona found comfort in the embracing arms.

After what seemed like an eternity, Fiona pulled back a little and wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. Her eyes met Rosa's in a mix of thankfulness and sadness. "Thank you," Fiona whispered, her voice raw but sincere. "I don't know how I would have managed this without you."

Rosa shook her head; her face showed determination. "We're in this together, remember? I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever.".

The sound of heels on the hallway marble broke the stillness, and both women turned toward the door. Fiona's heart quickened as she realized the unwelcome, familiar sound of heels clicking on the marble floor: Mirabelle Hales had finally arrived to crow or cause some mayhem.

The door swung open before Fiona could react, and Mirabelle sauntered in—her red hair gleaming brazenly under the lights. Her eyes were cold and calculating, and her lips shaped in a smirk. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her gaze sweeping over Fiona and Rosa. "Looks like I arrived just in time for the drama."

Rosa shot up to her feet, her posture defensive. "What are you doing here, Mirabelle?

Mirabelle's eyes flickered to Rosa before landing back on Fiona. "I came to see how the other woman was faring. After all, it must be hard to see your husband move on so quickly."

Fiona rose to her feet; her poise was fragile but in place. Taking a deep breath to inhale the strength she needed, she faced Mirabelle. "I don't have anything to say to you."

Mirabelle's smile broadened. "Oh, but you do. You see, Raven and I are starting a new chapter. And I thought you might appreciate a little reminder of why he left you in the first place."

Rosa took another step toward Fiona, her protective instincts raising their radar guns. "Enough of your games, Mirabelle. If you're here to rub salt in the wound, you can leave."
Mirabelle's smile wavered for a second before she got control again. "Very well. But remember this, Fiona: Raven is mine now—and there's no space for you in his life. If you ever thought otherwise, think again."
With one last, contemptuous glance, Mirabelle turned on her heel and was gone, her heels echoing down the hallway. The door closed with a finality that left Fiona and Rosa standing in stunned silence.

As the echo of Mirabelle's departure faded, Rosa turned to Fiona, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. "Don't let her get to you. We will find a way to move on, no matter what she says, or anybody else.

Fiona nodded, taking a deep breath. The pain was still raw, but unyielding support from Rosa reassured her she wasn't alone in this fight. "You're right. We'll face it together.

Together they stood this night against the storm that had swept in their lives. Though the obstacles in front were high, she constantly had a feeling with Rosa by her side she had some chance at it, of rebuilding and creating a life worth living, as she had always aspired to.

Later that Night

The silvery moon shone on Celestial City, but in their apartment, the calm felt good in Fiona and Rosa's ears. The recent altercation with Mirabelle had drained Fiona a lot, but Rosa was a sort of middle ground that rested her. Preparing for bed, Fiona's thoughts drifted back to Raven, and the pain of his betrayal was still raw.

Rosa, forever in tune with people, noticed the distant look in Fiona's eyes. She unclasped herself from the garage and lightly rested her hand on Fiona's arm. "You need some rest, Fi. You've had a long day."

Fiona made a feeble smile. "I know, but it's hard to shut down the brain. There's so much to think about."

Rosa nodded understandingly, the corners of her eyes full of sympathy. "It knows it does, it's alright; you don't have to pass through this journey alone. I am here, and I will do my level best to help you every step of the way."

Fiona took another deep breath, her expression turning into a steely determination. "I have to be strong—for myself and my babies. They count on me."

Rosa smiled reassuringly. "You are so strong, Fiona. You have gone through so much already and come out on top. This is just one more challenge, and we will get through it together."

The Next Morning

She awoke to the fresh scent of new sunshine seeping through the curtains, filling her apartment with a warm, golden light. Fiona and Rosa had caught a few hours of sleep, but today yesterday's events hung heavy on her mind. She knew she had to find a way forward—not for herself but for her triplets.

Fiona made her way to the kitchen table, fresh coffee in hand, a new resolve beginning to take hold. It was time to start planning, to take back some control in life, and to plan a future for their children.

Taking a seat beside her, Rosa placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of her. "Morning," she greeted with cheer, though concern was shown through her gaze.

"Morning," Fiona replied, her voice stronger than it had been the previous night. "I've been thinking about what it is I should do next. Can't stay here forever, and I need to locate a place where we can start fresh."

Rosa nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Let's start looking for a new place. Somewhere that feels right for you and the babies. And in the meantime, we can start making a plan for how to handle everything that's happened."

Fiona felt a surge of gratitude for Rosa's support. "Thank you, Rosa. I don't know what I'd do without you.

A warmer smile beamed across Rosa's face. "Oh, don't you worry 'bout that? We'll get through it, step by step, together."

They had spent the day with the two women, making plans and exploring options for a new home. With them going around potential apartments and talking about their future, Fiona felt a modicum of purpose. It was a small step but one toward reclaiming life with a different direction.

A Week Later

Fiona and Rosa had moved into the smaller apartment, but it was more snug and far removed from decency in their previous place. The new place was feeling like a fresh start, and Fiona was beginning to feel a sense of hope returning.

One afternoon, while Fiona unpacked boxes and refurnished the room, the doorbell rang. She opened it to find Xavier Kings standing on the threshold, an expression of concern etched across his features.

"Xavier," Fiona said, surprised but pleased at her friend's appearance. "What are you doing here?"

Xavier walked into the room, a broad, warm smile breaking up his face. "I heard about everything that's been going on and just wanted to check up on you. How are you feeling?"

Fiona waved to him to sit. "It has been tough, but we are managing. Rosa has been a great help."

Xavier nodded very understandingly. "I can imagine. If there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know.

Fiona's heart swelled in gratitude. "Thank you, Xavier. Your support means so much to me."

As they conversed, Fiona began to feel hopeful once more. Her friend's presence reminded her that she did not face this road alone. For all the difficulties that lay ahead, she was enclosed by a network of people who cared for her and wished her well.

Later that Week

On one of the evenings, Fiona sat at the window, looking at the flickered lights of the city she had grown to love while cradling her growing belly. The triplets seemed to kick, and that in some ways soothed her. That anticipation, mixed with a bit of fear of what the future held, wasn't enough motivation to hold her back from this fight called life.

She came over with a cup of herbal tea. "Thought you might like this," she stated as she handed it to Fiona. "How are the babies?"

"They're active tonight," Fiona murmured with a small smile. "Something about that is so comforting."

Rosa sat down beside her, warm in her expression. "They're going to be so loved, Fiona. No matter what happens, you're going to be an amazing mother.".

Fiona took a sip of her tea, relishing the warmth. "I hope so. Despite everything that's happened, I want to give them the best life possible."

Rosa put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You will. We'll make sure of it. And no matter how difficult things get, we'll face them together."

Fiona looked out over the city, a sense of determination washing over her. It wasn't going to be an easy road ahead, but she was more than ready to meet it head-on. With Rosa by her side and the support of