Olivia nodded, her vision blurring as an emotional smile spread across her face. “You too, my love.”
Logan watched the scene unfold in silence, a profound sense of satisfaction warming him. After they had selected a complete new wardrobe for each girl, along with shoes, coats, and a few carefully chosen toys, he took them to a cheerful, sunlit restaurant for lunch.
During the meal, the twins chattered away excitedly, their spirits lifted by the day’s events. Olivia watched them, a feeling of immense relief washing over her as she saw genuine, carefree smiles on their faces for the first time in years.
“You’ve done so much for us today, Logan. Thank you,” she said, her sincerity unmistakable.
“I’ve only done what any decent person should do,” he replied, deflecting her gratitude. “You all deserve this.”
Olivia lowered her gaze, the familiar specter of shame creeping back in. She knew he was being kind, but she couldn’t silence the nagging memory of how cruelly she had once treated him.
“You’re a much better person than I ever was to you, Logan,” she murmured, her words almost lost in the restaurant’s ambient noise.
Logan’s brow furrowed. “Olivia, the past is irrelevant. What matters is the present and what we do from this point forward.”
She nodded, though the guilt remained a stubborn weight in her heart. When they returned to the penthouse, the twins immediately ran to the playroom to show off their new toys. Olivia watched them from the living room doorway, a genuine smile gracing her lips. For the first time in a very long time, she felt a profound sense of security.
Logan came to stand beside her, breaking the comfortable silence. “They’re incredible little girls.”
“They’re the reason I kept going,” she confessed. “Even in the darkest moments, they were my reason to fight another day.”
He looked at her with an expression of deep admiration. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Olivia. To endure everything you have and still be standing… that’s a rare kind of strength.”
She sighed. “I don’t know if it’s strength or just stubbornness. But either way, thank you.”
Logan smiled. “If you ever need anything, you know you can count on me.”
Olivia nodded, and for the first time, she truly felt that she could trust someone other than herself. As she watched her daughters play, a fragile but persistent thought took root in her mind: maybe, just maybe, starting over was actually possible.
The following morning, Olivia woke to the gentle light of a new day. Harper and Hazel were still deeply asleep, their small faces serene and untroubled. She watched them for a moment, a powerful wave of relief and burgeoning hope washing over her.
After dressing, she made her way downstairs and found Logan already in the kitchen, sipping coffee while he scanned the morning’s financial news on a tablet. He looked up as she entered and offered a warm smile.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you. And you?”
“Like a log,” he replied, setting his tablet aside and rising from the counter stool. “I made a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Thank you,” she said, feeling a strange comfort in the simple domestic routine that was beginning to form between them. As she poured herself a cup, Logan sat across from her at the kitchen island.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began. “Now that the girls are settled and more comfortable, we should start focusing on you.”
“On me?” she asked, taken aback.
“Yes. You mentioned wanting to find work. What kind of job are you looking for?”
Olivia considered this for a moment, the reality of her situation weighing on her. “I don’t have a college degree, so my options are limited. I’m willing to do anything, really, as long as it allows me to support my daughters.”
Logan nodded thoughtfully. “That’s understandable. But what if you had another option? What if you could go back to school, finish your education, and pursue a career that truly fulfills you?”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Go back to school? That’s impossible, Logan. I have neither the time nor the money for something like that.”
“You would have both here,” he countered gently. “I can cover the tuition and expenses, and Mrs. Harper can ensure the girls are well looked after while you attend classes.”
Olivia shook her head, overwhelmed. “You’ve already done far too much for us. I can’t possibly accept more.”
Logan leaned forward, his expression earnest. “Olivia, this isn’t just about you. This is about providing the best possible future for Harper and Hazel. Empowering yourself is the most important gift you can give them in the long run. Please, just think about it.”
His words struck a deep chord. She knew he was right, but her pride and the deep-seated shame of her circumstances were formidable barriers.
That evening, after she had tucked the twins into bed, Logan asked her to join him in his home office. He had something he wanted to discuss with her.
“Olivia, I have a proposal for you,” he said as she entered, handing her a sleek portfolio.
She opened it to find brochures and enrollment information for several business and entrepreneurship programs at a local university.
“I want you to seriously consider this,” he said. “You’re intelligent and incredibly determined. I believe you have the potential to achieve remarkable things. This will give you the tools you need to become self-sufficient and build a better life for your family.”
Olivia stared at the documents, her mind reeling. “Logan, I… this is too much. I’m not sure I’m capable of this.”
“You are far more capable than you realize,” he insisted. “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. Just consider the possibility.”
Olivia clutched the portfolio, feeling a tumultuous mix of paralyzing fear and exhilarating hope. Over the next few days, she mulled over Logan’s proposition. The idea was daunting, but with each passing day, she began to see it not as charity, but as a lifeline—a chance to rewrite her story and, more importantly, to give her daughters the future they deserved.
Finally, after a great deal of soul-searching, she made her decision. She would do it. She enrolled in the courses and, with Logan’s unwavering logistical and financial support, she began a new chapter. During the day, while the twins were happily occupied with Mrs. Harper, Olivia studied. The beginning was incredibly challenging; she felt rusty and overwhelmed. Yet, with each new concept she mastered, she felt a part of her old self—the confident, capable young woman she thought she had lost forever—slowly reawakening. Every day was a small victory, and she held on to the idea that she was building something real and lasting.
