Chapter 45

Vivi watched Damien and Sophia's playful interaction with a mixture of amusement and longing. As they disappeared into the kitchen, she found herself alone in the living room, lost in thought.

Reginald entered, his phone call finished. "Well, I've made reservations at La Maison for tonight. We should all get ready to celebrate properly."

Vivi nodded, forcing a smile. "That sounds lovely, dear."

"Is everything alright?" Reginald asked, noticing her subdued demeanor.

"Of course," Vivi replied quickly. "Just a bit overwhelmed by everything, I suppose."

Reginald patted her hand. "Understandable. It's been quite the whirlwind. But we've weathered the storm, haven't we?"

Before Vivi could respond, Damien and Sophia burst back into the room, arms laden with snacks.

"Who's hungry?" Damien called out, dropping an assortment of chips and cookies onto the coffee table.

Sophia plopped down next to him, already tearing open a bag of popcorn. "I thought we were going out to eat?"

"We are," Reginald confirmed. "But apparently, some of us can't wait that long."

Damien grinned sheepishly. "Hey, dealing with the press works up an appetite."

"Speaking of which," Sophia piped up, "you were pretty smooth out there, big brother. Where'd you learn to handle the media like that?"

Damien shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Years of practice, I guess. When you grow up in the spotlight, you learn a thing or two."

"Well, I'm impressed," Sophia said, nudging him with her elbow. "Maybe you can teach me some of your tricks."

"Anytime, squirt," Damien replied, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Vivi watched their interaction, a bittersweet feeling settling in her chest. She caught Damien's eye for a moment, and something unspoken passed between them.

Reginald cleared his throat. "Alright, everyone. We should start getting ready for dinner. It's been a long day, and we deserve to celebrate properly."

As they all stood to head to their respective rooms, Vivi found herself lingering. Damien paused at the doorway, looking back at her.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

Vivi nodded, offering a small smile. "Yes, just... processing everything."

Damien hesitated, as if wanting to say more, but then simply nodded and left the room.

As the family dispersed to prepare for dinner, Vivi found herself alone in her room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She smoothed down her dress, trying to shake off the lingering tension from the day's events.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she called.

Sophia poked her head in. "Hey, Vivi. Can I borrow your pearl earrings? I forgot to pack mine."

"Of course, sweetie," Vivi replied, retrieving the jewelry box from her dresser. "Here you go."

As Sophia put on the earrings, she hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

Vivi nodded, curious. "What's on your mind?"

"Are you... happy? With everything that's happened?"

The question caught Vivi off guard. She paused, considering her words carefully. "It's been a challenging time, but we've come through it together. That's what matters."

Sophia didn't seem convinced. "But are you happy?"

Before Vivi could respond, Damien appeared in the doorway. "Hey, you two ready? Dad's getting antsy downstairs."

"Almost," Sophia chirped, her earlier seriousness evaporating. "Thanks for the earrings, Vivi!"

As Sophia darted past Damien, he lingered, his eyes meeting Vivi's. "You look beautiful," he said softly.

Vivi felt her cheeks warm. "Thank you. You clean up nicely yourself."

An awkward silence fell between them, filled with unspoken words and lingering tension.

"We should probably..." Damien started.

"Yes, we should go," Vivi finished.

As they made their way downstairs, Reginald greeted them with a smile. "Ah, there you are. Shall we?"

The family piled into the car, an air of forced normalcy settling over them. As they drove to the restaurant, Reginald attempted to make conversation.

"So, Damien, any new business ventures on the horizon?"

Damien shrugged. "Nothing concrete yet. I'm still weighing my options."

"And Vivi, dear, have you given any thought to that charity gala next month?"

Vivi nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Yes, I've been in touch with the organizers. I think it could be a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to the community."

As the conversation continued, Vivi couldn't help but steal glances at Damien in the rearview mirror. Their eyes met briefly, a spark of something unresolved passing between them.

As they arrived at the restaurant, the maître d' greeted them warmly. "Mr. Blackwood, welcome. Your table is ready."

The family followed him to a secluded corner of the upscale establishment. Once seated, Reginald raised his glass. "To family and new beginnings."

They clinked glasses, the tension from earlier dissipating slightly. Sophia, ever observant, broke the ice. "So, Dad, any exciting business deals coming up?"

Reginald chuckled. "Always thinking ahead, aren't you? Well, there might be a merger on the horizon, but it's still in early stages."

"Sounds intriguing," Vivi commented, genuinely interested. "Which industry?"

"Tech, of course. It's where the future lies," Reginald replied, his eyes lighting up. "Damien, you should consider getting involved. It could be a great opportunity for you."

Damien shifted in his seat. "I'll think about it. I've been exploring some ideas of my own, actually."

"Oh?" Vivi couldn't help but ask. "What kind of ideas?"

Their eyes met briefly before Damien looked away. "Just some startup concepts. Nothing concrete yet."

Sophia leaned forward, intrigued. "Come on, spill! I want to hear all about it."

As Damien began to explain his ideas, Vivi found herself drawn into the conversation. His passion was evident, and she couldn't help but admire his drive.

Reginald listened attentively, nodding along. "Impressive, son. You've clearly put a lot of thought into this."

"Thanks, Dad," Damien replied, a hint of surprise in his voice.

As the waiter arrived to take their orders, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Sophia regaled them with tales from her latest art project, while Vivi shared anecdotes from her charity work.

Throughout the meal, Vivi couldn't help but notice the way Damien's eyes would occasionally flick towards her, a mix of emotions playing across his face. She tried to focus on Reginald's words, on being the perfect wife and stepmother, but found her thoughts drifting.

As dessert arrived, Reginald raised his glass once more. "To family," he said simply.

"To family," they echoed, the words carrying different weights for each of them.