Chapter 4 4

In a restaurant,

"Hi!" A red-haired girl greeted him with a bright smile.

Zak raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by her casual approach.

Realizing her slip, the girl quickly corrected herself. The smile vanished, replaced by a frown. "So, you're that rich guy, huh? The one Nate keeps talking about?"

Zak nodded cautiously. "I suppose?"

"You suppose? Is that an answer or a question, Mr... what was your name again?"

Zak blinked and replied, "Zachary Vance."

"Ah, Zachary. Can I call you that?" she asked.

Zak shook his head slowly. "I'd rather you didn't."

"Really? You're not serious, right? I can't believe you're so stingy about first names. Unbelievable," she said, shaking her head in mock disappointment.

Zak glanced away, staring thoughtfully at the transparent wall of the restaurant.

Something about her attitude reminded him of his late wife, though he sensed a difference.

Regardless, they couldn't truly be the same.

"Are you ignoring me, Mr. Zachary Vance? If you're not serious about this, I'll just walk out. I don't like being ignored," she said, irritation creeping into her voice.

Zak looked back at her, exhaling softly. "Fine, you can call me Zak."

The girl nodded in satisfaction. "And you can call me Lia. You know, Leanne Millers-Lia."

Zak nodded with a faint smile. "Right, I know. How about we order and learn more about each other?"

When Zak returned home, he made his way to the playroom where his children were.

Vik was busy in a video game, loudly celebrating every victory with cheers and laughter, while Jake, as usual, was focused on his books.

Zak leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, silently observing them.

Jake was trying to read out full sentences and he seemed to be getting really better at it.

However, Vik's constant noise seemed to be getting under his skin.

Jake's patience finally snapped.

"Hey! Bastard!" he yelled at Vik, his frustration evident. "I'm trying to focus here, so either be quiet or get out!"

Vik shot back without missing a beat, "Why don't you leave instead? This is a playroom, not a bookroom."

Fuming, Jake stood up abruptly, his face flushed with anger.

"Whatever! In the future, you'll be nothing compared to me! Keep playing your games!"

He huffed and turned toward the door, only to freeze in his tracks when he saw Zak standing there.

"D-dad... When did you get here?" Jake stammered, fear flickering across his face.

Zak sighed deeply, his eyes moving between his two sons. He knew he was struggling-trying to balance the demands of being a single father with the pressures of his work.

Despite his efforts, he could feel things slipping through the cracks.

The boys were always at each other's throats, bickering and hurling insults. They were even picking up words and habits he didn't approve of.

If only their mother were still here, things might have been different.

With a weary expression, Zak stepped into the room.

"How many times have I told you not to insult your brother, Jake?" he asked, his voice firm yet tired.

Jake swallowed hard, his eyes downcast. "He was being annoying, Dad," he muttered defensively. "I was trying to read, but he kept making noise."

Vik was quick to jump in, smirking. "Then you should have left," he said smugly. "This is a playroom, not a bookroom. Thought you were supposed to be smarter than me."

Jake scoffed and looked at Vik. "I am smarter than you which makes me..."

"Stop talking, Jake," Zak reprimanded sharply. "You tend to use words I don't like. Do not belittle your brother. He's your twin, and he's older than you. You need to be careful."

Jake rolled his eyes, crossing his arms defiantly. "It's just a one-minute difference," he muttered, his voice filled with disdain.

Zak shook his head and sighed. "Vik, put down the controller," he said sternly, his gaze shifting to his other son. "And you, Jake, sit down. We need to talk."

Jake nodded and went to sit on the couch, his expression guarded.

Vik, sensing the seriousness in his father's voice, immediately turned off the game and joined his brother.

They both stared at Zak, curiosity mixed with fear in their eyes.

Zak took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"How would you both feel about having a mother?" he finally asked, his voice measured.

Vik's face lit up instantly, his eyes wide with excitement. "Really? That would be amazing, Daddy! I want a mommy who can tuck me in at night, take me to school, and make us dinner... I want that so much!"

Zak felt a pang in his chest.

Vik's enthusiasm only highlighted the gaps in their lives, the ways in which he had fallen short despite his best efforts. Apparently, he never did enough.

But Jake's reaction was quite the opposite.

"Well, I don't want one," he said bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Zak furrowed his brow, looking at his son. "And why is that, son?"

"Because then she would just be my stepmother," Jake replied coldly. "And I don't like stepmothers. Besides, having one brother is already more than enough. I don't want anyone else."

He paused, his small face tightening with an unexpected seriousness. "Dad, you better not have another family somewhere. I don't want trouble from strangers just showing up out of nowhere." Vik stared at Jake, confusion written all over his face. He didn't quite understand what Jake was getting at.

Zak also stared at Jake, trying his best not to frown. Jake was becoming too bold, too cynical for his age. Zak needed to address this attitude, but not right now.

"You can rest assured, son. I don't have another family," Zak said calmly, although the strain in his voice was evident. "I only have you two. But..." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Things might change in the future. Just... keep that in mind. Anyway, have you both finished your homework?"

He decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"I have, Dad," Jake replied. "I don't need you anymore. For that."

Zak sighed, nodding before turning his attention to Vik.

Vik's eyes sparkled, and he grinned from ear to ear. "I have been waiting for you, Dad!"

It was Monday morning, the beginning of a new chapter in Amy's life-her first day at her new job. Hopefully a secretariat.

She stood in front of the mirror, taking a final look at herself. Today had to be perfect.

Dressed in a crisp white pantsuit paired with a white blouse and blazer, she felt confident.

White was her signature color, so nearly all the suits she had tailored were in this shade.

Her long dirty blonde hair was styled straight, cascading down her shoulders in a sleek, polished manner, complemented by subtle makeup and white stiletto heels.

Satisfied with her appearance, she left her apartment, looking every bit prepared for the day ahead.

After a short taxi ride, Amy arrived at the towering headquarters of Vance Conglomerate. The sleek glass facade of the building gleamed under the morning sun.

Upon entering the lobby, the receptionist guided her to the CEO's office, all the while casting curious glances her way.

She kept her head high and her expression calm, knowing that first impressions were important.

The elevator ride to the top floor was brief, but it felt like a lifetime. She focused on her breathing, calming the fluttering nerves that threatened to disrupt her poised exterior.

Finally, she reached the designated floor. She walked down the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the floor, and stopped in front of the grand office doors.

Steeling herself, she knocked.

Inside, Zak sat at his desk, his eyes glued to his computer screen.

The knock made him look up, and when he saw her silhouette through the frosted glass, he felt a strange jolt of recognition.

He blinked, momentarily confused, before calling out, "Come in."

Amy pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Zak's eyes were locked on her.

For a moment, he simply stared, his jaw slackening slightly at the sight before him.