"Okay, I'm ready." his voice rings deeply in my ears as I rest my head on his chest. After a long day of work we're enjoying some together time in our living room across the lit open fireplace. Jo and Rory have already gone to sleep and so did the two boys in our family. The silence feels strange but also weirdly welcomed.

I lift my head and stare at him, "Ready for what?" I ask him back. I have no idea what he means.

"Ready for... for you know, the songs." he adds with a shrug.

I sit up straight on the couch and look at him, "I didn't..." I shake my head.

He frowns at my words, "You didn't write any songs?"

I open my mouth to try to explain it to him, but nothing comes out.

"But last time you wrote a whole freaking terabyte of songs that you still don't allow me to hear." he mumbles.

He's right. But that was last time. This time was different - very different. "I haven't touched an instrument in two years. I have not composed a single melody, wrote a single word and produced a single song." I shrug at his open mouth. "I did paperwork. I drowned myself in paperwork, which was far easier than I thought it would be."

His mouth is still wide open and so are his eyes. He's in complete shocked.

"You wrecked me, Troy. And there was no song - nothing - that could fix me." I whisper. "All I felt was excruciating pain that I tried to hide from everyone. From our family, from our children. But unlike last time the pain didn't motivate me. It tore me apart. It made me go insane. It wrecked me. You wrecked me."

He closes his mouth before embracing me. I feel safe and sound in his arms; Arms that I thought I'd never feel again. But I will forever remember the pain he made me feel.

My bare leg is resting on his thighs. I let my fingers travel down his upper body, moving along the dents that his muscles made his skin form. God I love this man. Every single inch of that man. I can't believe I have him back. Let alone naked on our bed again.

"A penny for your thoughts." His deep erotic voice creates a fire within me. With his fingers, he is softly brushing up and down my left arm.

I rest my chin on his chest before brushing through his hair. "I love you."

He grins at me, "That's going on in that stunning mind of yours? That you love me? There's gotta be more than that."

"I love your hair, your turquoise coloured orbs that only I get to see." I fingers travel down his face, "I love those stubbles and that smile you show when you think I don't notice your stares." My hand moves down his neck, "I love your neck, your shoulders and that huge heart." My left hand rests on his beating heart. "I love your scars, I love your abs..." my hand moves down his upper body. "I love your toned legs and that beautiful thick long cock." I say as I softly stroke his hard-on. I lift myself before bestriding him. Slowly, I let him glide into my until he's balls deep in me. A growl escapes my lips as I feel him stretching me to a point I feel that discomfort I learned to love so much. He folds his arms and rests his head against them, clearly enjoying the view and position. "I love your outer layer as much as your incredible soul. I love your dominant side as much as your submissive side. I love your controlling side, although it drives me nuts sometimes. I love you as my best friend and father of my children. I love you as my lover and husband for over twenty two years now. I have loved you since the day we met, twenty four years ago, and I still do - more than I ever thought I could. There's nothing I would change about you, or me, or our past together. You brought me incredible, excruciating heartbreak, but I even loved you then. I love all of you, Troy Bolton, from the bottom of my heart." I breathe out as I cup his face. The smile I love so much appears on his lips just a second before I lean down to kiss him. He deepens the kiss before taking the momentum to roll us over. Our tongues start dancing as the heat inside of me rises. After minutes he lets go of my lips, slowly gliding out of me. Without a word from his lips he starts thrusting into me, hitting my sweet spot every time. Moans start escaping my lips as I feel the pleasure building between my legs. "I love you, too, my angel." He whispers into my ear as I start moving with him. Our bodies create a sound that's better than ever. I dig my nails into his steel hard butt as the orgasm rushes through me with no warning, making me cry out in ecstasy. He continues rocking into me as a dirty grin appears on his lips. Suddenly he exits me, rolls me over and pulls on my thighs until my butt is in the air. Before I can say anything he starts thrusting into me from behind, already building my orgasm again. "Troy," I breathe out as my fingers pull on the sheets of our bed.

"You deserve to come the whole night, Mrs. Bolton." His hot breath clashes against my left ear before he kisses the nape of my neck. He continues thrusting into me until I feel the orgasm about to explode in me again. "Come for me, my angel." His lips kiss the right corner of my mouth and I explode, seeing the stars of our love. I feel him pumping into me before he comes in a loud growl as well. He stirs as he fills me up before I feel his bodyweight on me for a moment. He glides out of me, rolls me over on my back again and gives me one of his best smiles yet. His whole body glows with love for me and I know I do, too. "A million times more, my angel." he whispers as his forefinger runs over my lips.

I grin, "A million times more." I agree with him.

I print out the application documents three times in Troy's study. The laser printer just needs a few seconds for those documents that are going to send my children to Switzerland. Suddenly goosebumps start covering my arms as I feel a burning gaze on me. I pick up the pages from the printer and turn around. My husband's standing in front of his pool table. His blue eyes are glowing as they stare at me. "You look so sexy in my study." He says as his eyes dance down my body. I'm dressed in a simple black leggings and a beige long sleeved shirt as I wanted to do some yoga this evening.

I smirk at his comment, "I've rarely used my study in the last two years." I admit. "I felt closer to you when I worked here." I walk over to him with the papers from Le Rosey, the boarding school our triplets want to attend so badly.

"What are those?" He nods towards my hands.

I stop across him and turn them around.

He smiles, "This is the right decision."

"For you."

"For them."

I sigh, "But don't you feel sad at all?"

He places his hands on my hip, "I want what's best for them. And if my absence had one good thing that it's that they are more independent than ever. They'll manage it."

"I'd like them to stay here."

"The media is going to be merciless when they find out I'm back. They'll chase us like never before. And with us, I mean our children as well. Della and Ana can manage that, but the triplets? They'll be scared. And that will mess with their psyche, their concentration... their stress level. Trust me, this is right. At Le Rosey they'll be far away from this chaos and they'll be with other kids their age and status. The students there don't judge or harass them."

"Okay, fine." I give in. "But I won't let them fill out the forms without presenting some rules."

He grins, "I love you in Mommy-mode."

I chuckle and hit against his chest which makes him chuckle as well, "Shut up! Where are they?"

"Library. The twins are doing homework. Nate's studying."

I grab his hand before walking out of his study. "Elias is still asleep?" I ask as I look over my shoulder. Our baby boy is laying in his white swinging baby crib in the living room. That boy has been the easiest baby by far. I love my little angel.

"Does he ever cry?" Troy asks me with a smirk.

"Only when he's hungry." I say before we walk down the hallway. The door to our library is open and to my surprise there's complete silence. No whispers. They really are studying. Jo and Rory are sitting at the round mahogany table doing homework and Nate is reading a biology book in the dark red armchair across the fireplace in which the flames are dancing. It started raining on this gloomy day.

Am I in the right house?

"Guys, I have something for you." I say before holding up the applications.

Their heads look up and as soon as their eyes recognise the papers they smile before running over to us.

"You're letting us go?" Jo asks, trying to rip the forms out of my hands.

I hold them up, out of their reach. "I'm letting you apply. But before I let you fill out these forms, I want you to understand how this process works."

"Oh we know how it works." Rory starts and Jo as well as Nate nod.

"Yeah, we fill out these forms. Send them to Le Rosey and wait for their answer." Jo explains.

"After the reception of all required documents we will be invited to spend a day on the campus as soon as possible after the start of September to get to know the school and to take entrance tests in Mathematics, French and English."

"We are also interviewed by academic heads and we have the chance to ask questions." Rory says with a nod.

I frown at them before looking at Troy.

"You really did read the homepage, didn't you?"

"Of course!" They say out of one mouth.

"Well those are their rules." I say before looking back at the triplets. "But here are my rules: No tantrums, no fighting, no truancy... you will listen to the teachers and always do your homework. You'll study in your free time during the week and you promise to do your best in every test. No more Ds, Es and Fs."

They nod, "Got it."

"You guys will stick together like glue and you will make great friends-"

"Mom!"

I gulp down the lump in my throat. "But most of all... most of all you're going to miss us as much as we will miss you." I say with welled eyes.

"Mom, we aren't even gone yet and you're already crying." Nate says with a sigh.

I wrap my arms around them. "I love you guys so much."

"Mom, are you sure he's in a good mood today? Because we can still turn around and drive back." I hear Della ask me over the phone. I turn around in the kitchen and stare out of the windows. Troy's in the rose garden, cutting some fresh pink peonies. He spent the last three days at home. He wants to go back to work tomorrow. There's a whole new surprise waiting for him there as he still doesn't know I'm a Co-CEO of Bolton's Enterprises. He also doesn't know that Relentless is now part of the firm. He doesn't even know I changed the name of my firm. He doesn't now that Kelsi is my Co-CEO. He doesn't know that his office is now mine.

"Yes. He's in the garden right now. The twins are still out until six. I just put down Elias, he should sleep for a few hours." I explain. It's noon now. "You have to tell him one day or another."

"You sound like Wlad."

"He's as right as I am." I answer as Troy walks back into the house. "What's your plan?"

"Wlad will tell him alone. I'll join him with you once the first shock wears off."

"Okay..." That sounds like a good plan.

"Wlad wants to bring a gun inside the house and hand it over to Dad."

"No, that's not a good idea." Troy would pull he trigger, no doubt. "No guns, no knives - no weapons at all." I tell her, although that won't minimise the chance of Wlad getting hurt. Troy is going to loose it even worse than I did. He might beat him to death. For a second the image of Brad in our girls' school hallway appears in front of me. Boy, he really lost it that night, but this... this is a million times worse.

"We'll be there in a few minutes. Keep him in a good mood." with that she hangs up.

I chuckle as Troy enters the kitchen.

"What's so funny?" he asks me, placing the pink roses on the white marble kitchen countertops before striping off his gloves.

I shake my head in response, "Nothing. Della will be here with her boyfriend soon."

He washes his hands in the sink. "She was on the phone?"

I nod. "She's nervous."

"She doesn't have to be. If he makes her happy then I'm happy. All I want her to feel is loved and protected."

Wlad is definitely making her happy. He loves and protects her. I bite on my lip. He won't think that way in a few minutes.

"You look worried. Why are you so worried?"

"Let's just say I didn't take it so easily..." I say with a shrug. I almost beat Wlad to death, despite being pregnant with Elias.

Troy raises an eyebrow at me, "You?"

I open my mouth to answer, just when the front doors open. "Keep an open mind. Don't try to kill him the way I did." I say before rushing by him.

Troy grabs my wrist, "Kill him?"

"Keep an open mind." I repeat myself and he lets go of my wrist.

I rush down the hallway and into the foyer, surprised to only see Della standing there. "Della?" I ask her confused.

"Change of plans. I will tell him first." my daughter says with a shrug. She's dressed in a skinny jeans, high heels and white chiffon blouse. Her long chestnut brown hair is straight and open. It nearly reaches her hips. The only jewellery she's wearing is the rose gold Cartier ring on her left middle finger and the silver Cartier watch on her left wrist. The Panthére de Cartier watch was Wlad's birthday gift when Della turned 20.

I lick my lips, "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Della, where is he?!" Troy stops across her, his blue eyes dark out of the sudden.

"I... I want to tell you alone first." she stutters. It's the first time my daughter is nervous and stutters. She usually has her father's confidence but it seems to be all gone now.

"Alone first? Della, what's going on here?! Who is your boyfriend?! Where is he-" he stops talking as Wladimir appears in the open front door. Troy's eyes turn black immediately, he counts one and one together before either of us can say anything. His body tenses up immediately. He looks like a volcano that's about to erupt. He runs over to his best friend, "Get out of my house!" he yells at him, sending chills down my spine.

"Dad, please don't hurt him!" Della says to him, following him immediately.

"Troy!" I cry out as my husband stops across Wladimir.

"Troy, listen-" Wlad tries to calm him down.

"OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Troy yells, pushing him out of the doorframe and onto the pebbled driveway.

I close my eyes, of course this would end badly. I thought those adult men would talk about, being mature - but no one's mature when it's about their own child. When I hear Wlad hitting the pebbled ground, I open my eyes again and rush outside. I stop at Della and turn her around as Troy continues to hit on Wlad without any mercy. "Della, go inside."

"But-"

"Inside. I'll clear that." I promise her. I don't want her to see her father like that. "Go!" I yell as Wlad doesn't even try to stop my husband. He lets Troy beat him the way he let me beat him. My heart is bleeding.

I can hear Della leaving us alone as her light thuds fill my ears. "Alright, enough!" I hiss as Wlad's face is covered in blood. The open wound above his left eyebrow is bleeding heavily. I walk over to the two men as Troy didn't seem to have heard me. He continues punching his best friend, our daughter's boyfriend. "Hey," I touch my husband's shoulder, feeling chills going down my spine. He doesn't even turn around at my touch. He is focused on his target, his enemy... his best friend. I can't watch this any longer.

I step in front of Wladimir and watch my husband striking out, but his left fist stops right next to my cheek. "Enough." I say into his face, trying not to show the fear those black orbs make me feel. I know he wouldn't hurt me. Not with his hands.

He lowers his fist, but his eyes are trained on the man on the pebbled driveway behind me. I can hear Wlad rising to his feet again without having to look at him. 45 years old men and those two act like teenagers. "Are you done?!" I hiss at Troy, getting his attention.

His black orbs slowly turn into a dark blue, "Yes."

"Good. Inside." I order, nodding towards the open black wooden door.

"But-"

I snap with my fingers, "Inside!"

He growls at me, shoots a hostile glance at Wlad and turns around before heading inside. I feel my hands starting to shake as soon as he's inside. I shake out my wrists, releasing some of the tension I inhale deeply before turning around.

My best friend, my daughter's boyfriend, looks really beaten up. The cut above his left eyebrow has stopped bleeding, but his face still looks horrible. His jeans and light grey Oxford shirt are full of dirt and ripped. He looks even worse than after I beat him up.

I sigh at him, "You're coming with me." I tell him before turning around and walking into the house. I don't know where Della is, but I definitely don't want her to see him like this. I can hear Wlad's footsteps behind me as I walk up the left staircase. He follows me like a lost dog, but honestly there's nothing I could say to ease this.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" I hear Troy yelling as I stop at the gallery. He's standing in the living room across our oldest daughter.

"Daddy, I-"

"No you weren't thinking at all!" He yells at her so loudly that not Della but me as well wince.

Wlad turns on his heel in the corner of my eyes but I grab his hand in order to stop him from interrupting them. He wants to save her from Troy but there's nothing than can safe her from her father.

"Let them talk." I whisper to Wlad before walking further down the hallway.

I walk down the left wing in our house until I reach the last door, our bedroom. I head straight to the dressing room and get out fresh clothes for my best friend, knowing he is about the same size as my husband. I pick out a pair of jeans and a light grey cotton T-shirt, as Wlad's bulkier than Troy. His arms won't fit into Troy's Oxford shirt.

I walk out of the dressing room and hand him the clothes. "Change into these."

"Ella-"

"Do as I say. I'll check on Troy and Della. We'll meet downstairs in the living room." I tell him before leaving him alone. I don't have the time to argue with him.

I rush down the hallway, the marble staircase that leads to the kitchen, through the dining room and stop at the scene in front of me.

I gasp as I hear the strength of Della's hand clashing against Troy's left cheek. My husband's head swings to the right with the force of the slap.

"You are disgusting!" She hisses at him with tears in her eyes. "You refuse to see the love we feel because of stereotypes that you think are right. You-"

"Adaline!" I cry out in shock.

She turns around at the sound of my voice. "Where's Wlad?" Her navy eyes are as black as her father's. She furious and for the first time she actually scares me.

"Upstairs." I breathe out.

She walks past me and I can hear how heavily her heels clashes against the wooden floor of the living room.

"Troy,"

My husband stares at me with black eyes before turning on his heel as well. He storms through the living room in the other direction. He disappears in the hallway and I hear him opening the door of probably our gym before the door slams close again.

I let out a sigh. My hands are shaking from all the stress. I inhale deeply, trying to calm down my nerves. After a few breaths I open my eyes again and decide to look for my daughter and her bodyguard boyfriend.

I walk through the living and dining room before stopping in the kitchen. Della and Wlad are standing at the kitchen island, talking to each other in fluent Russian without noticing me. My daughter is holding a cooling pack on to Wlad's face to help with the swelling. Suddenly, I hear her sob. Della's in tears. Not because of what her father said towards her but because of the pain he caused Wlad. My throat tightens at the image. Wladimir looks horrible. His left eyes has swollen so massively that he can't even see. His right cheek is bruised and his lower lip is bleeding. I don't even want to know how bad it looks like underneath the grey T-shirt and pants. "Della,"

She winces at my voice like I did this to her. "We're leaving." She explains in a high voice, still facing me with her back.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, feeling the need to apologise for my husband's actions.

Wlad's right eye looks at me, "It's not your fault."

Somehow it feels like it is. Adaline grabs his hand and I follow them outside. The beige pebbles in the driveway have changed colour as some of the pebbles have soaked up Wlad's blood. I close my eyes and tears start forming. I don't know why I thought telling Troy could be a normal civilised conversation. If I knew he freaked out that much I... I probably had told him myself. Just to ease off his anger a little bit.

But they wanted to be the ones to tell him.

And now that's what they have from it.

"Della please call me." I say as I open my eyes again.

"I-I need time to think." She tells me as Wlad gets into the black Porsche Cayenne. "I think it's best if we let Daddy cool down before I come here again. I reckon a week, maybe two."

I gulp. She's turning 23 in less than two weeks. "I will see you on your birthday." I promise her.

She nods. "Okay." With that she gets into the car, starts the engine and drive off. I watch the car drive down the white pebbled driveway that has lavender on either side along with big oak trees that are about twenty years old.

I have a feeling this will be the last time I'm going to see her here for a while.

I gulp down the tears and head back inside on the hunt for my husband. My bloody husband who lost control when Della and Wlad finally got the courage to come clean!

I tear the wooden door of the gym open and stare at my husband who is punching against the black leathered punching bag. He took off his shirt, so I can see exactly how the sweat is running down his chest. There are lines of sweat glittering over his abs.

I gulp, no I won't get distracted by my husband. I slam the door shut so loudly that Troy winces and stares at me. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I yell at him.

"What the fuck is wrong with me? What's wrong with them?! With you? How can you support them? How can you protect them? How-"

"Because they are in love, Troy! In love!"

"NO!" He yells back at me so loudly that the walls vibrate.

"Yes, Troy!" I disagree. "Wladimir loves Adaline."

"No, he's using her!"

"For what?!" I hiss at him. "Wladimir has everything he needs. He has money and he's successful in his job."

"I don't know! But they can't be in love! They can't!"

"But they are, Troy!" I hiss at him. "And unlike you I don't have any strength anymore to try to keep them apart."

He frowns at me, "What?"

"I didn't like them together at first as well." I admit. "Because I thought it was weird. But then they reminded me of how miserable they both were when they broke up. I saw Wlad's pain and I felt Della's pain when she finally opened up to me." I explain to him. "They were both heartbroken and now they flourish, they are glowing... they are in love, Troy. Accept that."

"Never." He says before punching against the boxing sack so strongly that it crashes against me. I stumble backwards but don't fall. He doesn't even apologise for it. He continues beating the crap out of the boxing sack.

I turn on my heel and leave him alone in the gym.

After showering I change into my pyjamas. The sun has set as I was under the shower head so I turn on the lights in the master bedroom as I walk out of the dressing room. I walk over to my nightstand that's next to our Hästens bed in solid pearl check and pick up my iPhone. I unlock the screen and decide to call my oldest child.

She must be heartbroken right now.

I press the call button and wait for her to pick up. The line rings... and rings... until her mailbox fills my ears. I hang up and decide to call Ana.

"Hi. Is everything alright?" My daughter asks me. She always knows when something's wrong. She feels it.

"Della and Wlad we're here. They told Troy about their relationship."

"I see. It didn't go well?"

I sigh, "Not much better than when I found out."

"And now you want me to call them?"

"Maybe see in person if they're okay. Della refuses to pick up when I call and she's probably not going to open the door when I stand there."

"Yeah you're probably right. I'm going to check on Della and Wlad and text you afterwards."

"Okay. Tell her I love her."

"She knows that, Mom."

"Tell her anyway."

"Mommy,"

"Just do it."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you, too." I say before hanging up. The door to the master bedroom opens and I see my husband standing in the doorway. He's holding his shirt in his right hand and I notice how bloody his knuckles are. His torso is drenched in sweat. His muscles are glittering in the lights.

My heart skips a beat but then I remind myself why he looks like that and anger starts filling my boy again. Anger, frustration and disappointment. Lots of disappointment. "If you're here to ask if you can sleep here than my answer is no."

But to my surprise he walks inside. I watch how his abs shift as he walks over to me. "I'm not sleeping in a guest bedroom. This is my house. This is my bed."

I straighten my shoulder at his dark gaze, "No, Troy, that's where you're wrong. This is not your house and bed. It's ours!" I explain to him. "And if you won't sleep in a guest bedroom than maybe I should."

"Don't be ridiculous, Gabriella! You're just mad at me because I threw a couple of punches at Wlad. He got barely hurt!"

A couple of punches?! "I'm sorry but have you forgotten how damage really looks like? He may not be dead but that doesn't mean you haven't hurt him very badly!"

"He'll be fine." He snorts.

"I hope so!" I hiss at him. "And you better hope so as well!"

"Della-"

"God, Troy, did you had to do this?!" I hiss again. "I get that you're upset but you didn't had to hit him! I thought you guys would clear that as civilised human beings. You know with your mouth instead of your hands."

"Gabriella-"

"No! You crossed the freaking line! You have not just hurt Wlad but Della. And me!"

"They shouldn't be together-"

"Oh cry me a fucking river, Troy! They don't care what you or I think! All they care about is one another. As they should."

He licks his lips. "No. I refuse to accept them together."

"Then you are not welcomed in this bedroom."

He sighs and grabs my hands. "Gabriella,"

I ignore the electric shock that runs through my body at the touch. "No, Troy, I am serious."

"What happened to through good times and worse?"

I fake a laughter. Is he serious? "You're throwing this at me now? NOW?!" I yell at him before pulling my hands out of his grip.

"Okay, fine. But let me at least take a shower before moving downstairs."

I wave to the bathroom, "In case you have forgotten the way."

He turns on his heel and I watch him walking into our bathroom. He closes the door and I'm left with silence again.

I finish my yoga session with my hands in prayer position in front of my heart. The hour long session was tough on my body, I was shaking through the asanas like I've never had before. But getting back into shape after a baby it's always like this. It seems impossible at first and then it starts getting easier until eventually I am able to do the crow posture or the scorpion without much resistant. The scorpion in a year is my goal.

I pick up the pink towel that's matching my pink yoga mat and wipe away the sweat that has rolled down my décolleté, stomach and back. It's still early on this chilly morning. I stare at our backyard through the glass front at the end of our gym. Rory is already playing tennis on the court with Andy Murray, I notice as I see a tennis ball flying through the air and hear how she hits that green ball. The tennis court we build is down the hill, but if Rory hits the ball high enough I can see it. Ever since she signed the application documents for Le Rosey she has been training even harder with her trainer that will work with her in Switzerland as well. Not only because Le Rosey will pay him a fortune, but because he believes in Rory's dream.

Winning all four Grand Slams before she's eighteen.

It's only six thirty and those two have been training for at least an hour already. I walk over to the glass front and open the double doors that lead to the backyard. Rory hitting the tennis ball fills my ears even more now. The sound is steady and it reminds me of a ticking clock. But then she starts hitting harder and grunts start filling the silence along with the sound of her hitting the ball. A deep grunt fills my ears along with a deep yes from Andy.

Then silence fills the backyard again. I inhale deeply before walking through the cold grass of the backyard. I walk past our infinity pool and the rose garden that is going to start to blossom shortly. I walk down the steps that lead down the little hill on which we've built our house on. The guesthouse comes to my view with its own pool. I haven't been in there ever since Valentina left this household two years ago. I look to my right and see the cobalt blue tennis court that's about a hundred meters away from us. As it's still dawn all the lights around the tennis court are on. Rory is wearing tights and a long sleeved shirt by lululemon while her trainer Andy Murray is wearing a warm down jacket over his clothes.

I walk over to them as Rory takes a sip out of her water bottle. "Good morning!"

"Morning." Andy greets me with a wide smile on his lips.

"How's the training going?"

"Good. We're working on my posture today." Rory explains and Andy nods. "I need to get a bit stronger in the back as well as the core. I have to stabilise more when I hit the ball. The strength has to come from my core and not arm, right?"

Andy nods again, "We're getting her in shape for the Australian Open Juniors in January."

It's still early April. I can't believe how far ahead they're planing already!

"Australian Open Juniors in January next year and then the year after that I'll do the four Grand Slams: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon at home and US Open at last."

Rory is going to be sixteen the year she wants to tackle the four Grand Slams. I look at Andy, "Do you think she can do that?"

Andy tears his gaze off of Rory who has started to stretch her quadriceps. "Yes. She may hasn't played in the last year and a half, but she's still by far the best young tennis player I've ever worked with. She can win all four Grand Slams in two years." He smiles at me, "And maybe she can write history and have a Golden Grand Slam if she wins gold at the Olympics."

"Olympics? That's a bit too much, isn't it?" I ask with worry in my voice. Grand Slams are a lot of work already.

"Mom," Rory says with a sigh, "it's all or nothing. I won't be able to pay tennis forever. I want to take home as many medals as possible. Besides a Golden Grand Slam is a pretty rare opportunity. The last time someone won that was Steffi Graf in 1988. It's time for a British woman to do that. It's time for me."

I am amazed by her confidence. She reminds me of Della, who hasn't been home ever since the catastrophe. "Okay. I'm going to let you guys back to work. Breakfast is in an hour."

"We'll be done by then." Andy assures me.

As I walk back into the hallway I notice how the door of Troy's study is open. Sounds of a working printer are filling the room. I open the door and walk inside. Troy is sitting behind his mahogany desk. There's a huge pile of paper in front of him. When I left the bed an hour ago, he was still fast asleep.

"What are you doing?" I ask as I've walked around the pool table in his study.

My husband looks up at my voice, "Good morning, angel. How did you sleep?"

"I slept just fine." I answer back although I felt lonely in the bed without him. It's crazy how fast I got used to Troy in my bed again.

"How long will you have me sleep downstairs?"

I lick my lips, I can't bare sleeping without him. Last night was pure torture. "You may sleep in our bed tonight again."

He nods, "Thank you."

"But that doesn't mean I forgave you. I am still mad at you. I just want to sleep properly again. What's that?" I ask and nod towards the pile of paper in front of him.

"Your list." He says simply. "After Della told me about her..." he grimaces at the thought. Clearly, he is still not over it. "Anyways, I forgot to print out the list you asked for. The one with my safe houses and contacts. Sorted by continent and country." He explains and gets out the last few pages out of the laser printer.

I frown, "But that's a five hundred paged book."

"536." He corrects me before placing the last pages on top. "You can read it now or I can just place them in our safe."

My eyes widen. He is serious, isn't he? "The safe is fine for now."

He nods before rising from the chair and walking over to our safe. He unlocks it and places the 536 pages into the safe, on top of thin folders that contain the Trust Fonds of our children, our prenup and other contracts.

"Did you give me addresses of the houses?"

"No. I gave you coordinates as most of them don't officially exist." He says as he closes the safe again.

Of course they don't officially exist. "Okay. Do I know any of these contacts personally?"

"No but I think you've heard of Sarah Victoria Lawrence Ravenscroft."

I frown, "That society whore?"

He chuckles, "I think they are called it-girl right now. Sarah's an undercover agent."

"What kind of agency does she work for? FBI? CIA? Interpol? MI-6?"

But Troy shakes his chestnut haired head. "You don't want to know."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Another secret agency?"

Troy nods. "But this time it's British."

I nod although that information doesn't help me. Then I brush through my hair, "I'm going to take a shower. You can start making breakfast. Rory's already training with Andy so she's going to need a lot of protein after her session. Oh and you will drive the girls to school today as you fired our nanny."

"I love taking care of my family."

"Well then you're going to love bringing and picking them up from school." I say before turning on my heel.

I'm working on emails as I suddenly feel a burning sensation filling me. The laser printer is printing out some documents that I need Lucas to sign as soon as possible but I'm not going to go to work this morning. Maybe in the evening when the kids are asleep.

"What's on your mind?" I ask as I sent off the email. I look up and stare at my husband who is dressed in dark grey slacks and a white Oxford shirt underneath the matching jacket. "Why are you dressed like that?" I ask, frowning.

"I'm ready to get back to work."

"Oh, no you're not." I disagree and push the office chair I'm sitting in back.

"Yes I am. I've been home for the last week. I'm ready."

I shake my head as I walk over to him. "No you're not, Troy. A lot has changed over the last two years and you need to slowly ease back into work. You can't just show up at the office and give everyone a heart attack."

His lips form a thin line. "So, what do you suggest?"

"How about we go to the office after working hours? You can look around without any distractions and get used to the new vibe."

"New vibe?" He echoes concerned.

I nod. "And then, maybe tomorrow, we can have a meeting with Lucy and Andrea."

He frowns, "Lucy? Lucy Winterbottom?"

I nod.

"You brought her back?"

"Yes. She's part of my assistants-team."

"You have a team?"

"How else would I have worked two jobs in the last two years? I did mine and yours on top." I say with a shrug.

"You did my work?"

I nod again, "And mine. Just last year I decided to fully jump into Bolton's Enterprises and become Co-CEO."

He grins, "I always wanted you to become part of the firm."

"I know. We used the letter you left in our safe. I found it when I was looking for evidence why you left. It made sense for me to become Co-CEO. Less questions and a tiny bit less work."

He wraps his arms around my waist and I feel my body reacting with a strong need to his touch. "I like it. We'll be working side by side."

I wrap my arms around his neck, "Literally because I took over your office. Now that you're back we're going to have to buy another desk and do some new decorating."

"I can't wait to be working next to you."

We walk through the empty hallway of Bolton's Enterprises, passing many wooden doors and artwork that's hanging on the wall. My heels are echoing as we slowly but steadily reach the lobby. The lobby is held in beige tones that match the white marble on the floor. Big mahogany desks are placed in front of a wall. We're alone as it's long after working hours. I didn't want anyone to see Troy until we're ready to announce his comeback.

"That's where Lucy and Andrea usually work." I explain as my husband's eyes scan the area.

"A lot has changed in the last two years."

He has no idea how much has changed. "And that's our office." I turn around and point at a dark wooden double door. A golden tile that has my and Troy's name engraved on it in a black curly writing is next to the door. He walks over to the golden tile and runs his forefinger over the words. His lips stretch into a big smile before his left hand opens the double doors.

I watch him walk inside before I turn on my heel and walk into his brother's office. Luc works down the hallway. His office is a little smaller than mine. It's also held in dark blues, light grey and lots of steel and glass. I lay the folder with the documents I need him to sign on his glass desk. Framed photos of Miley and Liam are standing on the edge of the desk. There's even a photo of their wedding day on his desk. Time has flown by so quickly.

I turn on my heel and walk back into my office that I will share with my husband from now on.

He's standing in front of the glass facade in our office that makes the fourth wall. London's skyline is glittering at night, creating a soft lightning. Troy has switched on the desk lamp but that's the only light source here.

I changed the interior of the office a bit in the last two years. The cold steel and glass has disappeared. Instead I introduced a marbled desk and round table for meetings in here. As always a fresh bouquet of pink peonies stand in a vase on it. I've kept the teal coloured velvet couch and the glass coffee table but I replaced the grey rug underneath it with a white fluffy on. The bookshelves on either side of the white open fireplace have been untouched as well. But I've added framed photos of our children to the mantelpiece. I've hung down all the artwork that was here and instead hung up a Monet that I bought a few months ago at an auction. It's the bridge over a pond of water lilies. Since waterlilies by him is hanging in our gallery at home, I thought this would be a great match.

"What do you think?"

He winces at my question before turning around, "I like it. You made it your own."

I had no other choice. I had to step in and help Luc out. "I thought we could put a mahogany desk next to my white marble on. Or I could move my desk further right."

My husband shakes his head, "We will work side by side. Literally. My desk will be next to yours." He scans the room with his bright blue eyes again. Our office has its own ensuite bathroom and closet. His eyes stop at the Monet that's hanging above the teal coloured couch. "You bought another Monet?"

"Just a couple of months ago. I thought it looked better than the sailing painting that hung there before."

He smiles before meeting my gaze, "I like how you made this your own. I like the subtle changes as well as the big ones."

"Then you should get ready to take on the world with me."

He grins before wrapping his arms around my waist, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

I listen to the ringing line for the sixth time on this late evening. I don't know why I try to talk to Della when she obviously has declined every single one of my tries.

I growl before throwing the phone on one of the two armchairs that are across the fireplace in the master bedroom. I can't believe Troy ruined her birthday! I can't believe that after two weeks he's still as mad at her and Wlad as on day one! It took me a great deal to get Della to Bella Cosa, her favourite Italian restaurant, tonight and then my husband ruins her birthday dinner by arguing with her! She even compromised and didn't bring Wlad because she knew that would only end up in another fight. Through the whole dinner she kept being distant and cold but then at dessert Troy lost it. I will never forget the look on her face when she turned on her heel and left the restaurant. She broke my heart.

Because Troy broke hers.

I will never forgive him for this!

Suddenly, the bathroom door opens and my husband walks out.

"We will turn into Victoria and Franklin." I yell at him, losing all of my cool. "Because you can't get your shit together!"

My husband's face stiffens at my words, "Gabriella, this is wrong! Their relationship is wrong. They need to see that, they need to understand that! Just because you guys seem to have accepted that, doesn't mean I have to. He is 22 years older than her, he could be her father! Her father, Ella!"

I let out another frustrated growl, "You don't get it, do you?!" I bury my hands in my scalp, "She will choose him over us! She will turn her back on us because she loves him more than-"

"She doesn't even know what love is! She's 23 years old!"

"I was her age when we got married!" I hiss at him, "And I bloody knew that I loved you."

"But she doesn't love him. She has a father complex because I left you guys."

I let out a laugh, "A father complex?! Troy, she does not have a father complex! We've raised a confident, independent young woman who is capable of anything! She can heal Parkinson's and she has a heart that's full of love for Wladimir. She loves him not less than I love you. I talked to either of them separately when they weren't together. I saw how much they suffered and how heartbroken they were. And I can see how happy he makes her now that they're together again."

"They broke up?"

Obviously, he doesn't know that. "Talk to Adaline and apologise to her."

"I didn't do anything wrong! I stood up for my opinion."

He... is he serious?! I stare at him in disbelief but his face doesn't change. He is serious. "Okay, out." I breathe out.

"I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. You will not sleep in this bedroom until you've talked to our daughter and apologised to her. I will not turn into my mother. I can't bare not being in her life. You may live without her but I certainly won't. I stand behind her and Wlad and as long as you don't open up to the possibility of their love, you will not share the same bed as me."

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

I hope you enjoyed it. What do you think of Troy's reaction of Della's relationship with Wlad? Do you think Troy is going to change his mind? Was Gabriella's decision to kick him out of their bedroom justified?

Are the triplets going to have a good time at Le Rosey? Are Nate and Rory going to fulfil their dreams of becoming an Olympian and winning a Golden Grand Slam?

You'll find out soon. ;)

To find out what happened on Della's 23rd birthday, please read chapter 24 of My Shadow.

As always, please review. I love getting feedback on my work.

In gratitude,

Nicole