Prologue

About 11 years ago...

The dimly lit restaurant was empty save for the seating arrangement by the window. A handsome man sat there staring blankly at the view, seemingly deep in thought.

The door opened, revealing an elegant woman around her mid-twenties. Her beautiful face was unreadable as she sat down in the empty seat. There was an uncomfortable silence as if they waiting for the other to speak.

Finally, the man started, "When... when the kids are old enough, they should meet again."

He snuck a glance up at his ex-wife, who hadn't turned from the window.

"Dianne, you've been an amazing wife and mother. You know that I wouldn't have divorced you if-"

"If you weren't a coward, I know."

"..." He hadn't been planning to say that, but he couldn't refute.

"Taryn Ye, you are taking away my daughter, " Dianne spoke dangerously low, her golden eyes flashing as she reached for the wine.

"Dianne, I-"

"It's Adianne Aubright to you."

"Adianne, " Taryne corrected, "I'm their parent as well. I've raised them with you for 6 years. I am- was their legal guardian."

"Jenni is my daughter."

"Avi and Andri are my children as well."

"I am their mother."

Their voices started to rise-

"Am I not their dad?"

"Did you not give them up so you could marry that woman?"

"I didn't have a choice, my parents-"

"You always had a choice," Adianne's scornful gaze was unyielding.

Taryn looked away, unable to look Adianne in the eyes.

"And I made it. I'm marrying Lauriel in 3 weeks. Will you be there?"

"To watch my ex-husband marry his mistress?"

"She wasn't my mistress, you know that."

"Then why does she have a nine-year-old daughter, after your relationship with her nine years ago?"

"Joriel isn't my daughter. But Adelliette and Jennabel are, as Luciandre is my son. Dianne," Taryn began gently, reaching for her hand, "I don't want our kids to never meet again because of us."

"They will meet again in the future, representing us," Adianne watched as he held her hand, but didn't pull away.

"I want them to be a family. Promise me, Dianne, that before they turn eighteen, they can have the chance to meet again."

"After eighteen."

"I may be a pushover to my parents, but I'm not a fool. They'll be adults when they turn eighteen, and you wouldn't bother by then."

"Fine. For the sake of our children, I promise. After they turn 17, they'll meet at the 200th anniversary of VARYN Entertainment. Perhaps Mr. Varyn can arrange a place for his son and Jenni to meet Avi and Andri."

"Isn't Derik Varyn also friends with Avi and Andri? They're always together," Taryn frowned. Is Dianne planning to take Andri away from his best friend?

"To prevent contact with you, Adelliette and Luciandre will not be playing with Derik anymore." Something in Taryn dropped when he heard. His ex-wife was really going to take Avi and Andre from him.

"I shouldn't have given you custody of Andri," Taryn murmured, "He's my son and heir."

Adianne smirked and pulled her hand away, "Luciandre is no longer your heir... perhaps you could have Joriel be your heiress... or maybe knock-up that Lauriel Tornsey; it's not like you haven't done that before."

Adianne held Taryn's shocked gaze as she raised her glass to him and took a sip, then walked out of the room. Taryn watched her getting into the sedan through the window before getting up. 'It's getting late, I should go pick up Jenni.'