"Lexi's swim classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All her documentation is inside a pink box, in her closet. Also, don't give her too much sugar after five, or she won't sleep through the night."

Today was the day I would be going to court, attending the trial David's team had so cordially invited me to. Gregory and Charlotte would be obviously coming with me, since they were officially my lawyers, and would be representing me in this case. And boy oh boy... did I need their help!

"I'm going to sign a note that says you'll be responsible for picking her up from school. And if she gets sick, the number and email of her paediatrician is on the fridge. He's really great, he usually always answers."

"I don't need you to tell me any of that. You'll be coming back home in one piece."

I wasn't totally sure about that, and I seemed to be alone in all of the doubts. Everybody else were very positive about the development of the case, I couldn't help but feel like I was going to hand myself in a silver platter for David's team to use and abuse me and my reasons to save his lousy ass. Sébastien had full confidence in his friends who were helping me, and Lucas, despite being caught off guard and being sad that I had never told him about it, was very supportive of me and kept telling me that I'd be okay and everything would work out.

But it is so hard to think that everything will turn out for the best when so many things can go wrong. It's difficult to see the bright side.

Sébastien really wanted to come with me today and be there for me, but I was quick to tell him no. I didn't want to bring anyone with me to sit on the benches and my lawyers were the first to agree that that would be a nice move. This is between me and David, and he's clearly out of blood... I don't want anyone I love near him when he doesn't get his way. If he doesn't.

So, I thought today would be the perfect opportunity for Sébastien to stay at home with Lexi and watch her. Lucas and Nicole volunteered and I promptly thanked them but declined their offer.

Plus, after I got to think of everything, the worst case scenario would include me going to prison, when I would be forced to leave Lexi. And if there was one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't or wouldn't leave her with David, nor would I let him ever get close to my baby. I had made my decision. If, when Lexi grew up and learned the whole truth, she still wants to get to know him and spend time with him, that's a choice she would have to make herself.

Considering that possibility, I couldn't simply just count on my brother. I knew Lucas wouldn't mind and I knew that he would gladly take her into his home and treat her like his own daughter, like he always has, but at the same time, it isn't fair to do that to him, not when he's always, without exception, been there for me and Lexi. He's got his own family now.

When that realisation hit me, I was faced with a choice I had to make and I knew that despite not being an ideal decision, Sébastien was one of my first answers to my issue. It also helped that he promptly offered to stay with Lexi right before I even put my doubts and questions into words. And Lexi does love Sébastien. I knew that if it came to that, leaving her with him would be a good option.

"Mel, everything will be okay today. I trust Charlotte and Gregory with my life and if they think that your chances are good, I believe them."

"I can't help but think about the what ifs."

"What what ifs?"

"What if his team has a trick up their sleeve that neither Charlotte or Gregory can see coming?"

Seb sighed.

"What if they know more than they're letting on? What if they have witnesses and evidence and... what if they charge me for hiding Lexi from him?

"Honey, that's not breaking the law."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I'm not." He sighed again, this time with his hands cradling my face, his thumbs running circles on my cheeks. "But I'm almost certain. However, Charlotte and Gregory know the whole story and if they thought that that would be a risk to you, they would tell you."

I bobbed my head up and down, nodding in agreement, holding onto his words for dear life. Today was going to be hard enough as it is, I didn't need my prickling anxiety and self doubt to overwhelm me anymore than I already am.

"I'm gonna say goodbye to Lexi." I whispered before curling out of his embrace and walking upstairs to her room.

The morning light that entered Lexi's room through her windows caused her blonde hair to glow, making her look like she was some kind of magical fairy or something.

"Hi, lovely." I whispered, my head resting against the threshold as I watched her comb her own hair in the mirror.

"Hi mummy." She smiled brightly at me as she looked at me through the mirror reflection.

"Can I talk to you for a second, love?"

She nodded and I took it as my cue to step inside her room and sit down next to her.

"Come here." I patted on my thighs, gesturing for her to come lay on my lap, like she used to when she was younger. I ran my fingers through her hair and fought back the tears that I could feel starting to form.

"Sébastien will be watching you today, while I'll be away."

"Hm-hm." She knew this already, I had told her about it a few days earlier. "Where are you going?"

"To see an old friend." I changed the subject before she thought of any more questions I didn't want to answer, at least not today. "I need you to be good for Seb. You know, he's really important to me, and he's helping us out in a lot of ways. And I really like him."

"I really like him too."

I smiled. "Good. That's why you need to be good around him."

"I'm always good."

"That's right, so... you just need to be yourself then. Your perfect," Word after word, I would tickle her belly. "silly, cute, little self."

She giggled and curled into a ball, trying to get me to stop tickling her.

God, I really wish I could permanently tattoo the sound of her laughter into my brain, so I would never, ever forget it. And her smell. And the feeling of her embrace.

This kind of love will always be the definition of magical to me.

* * *

From inside the cab, as the vehicle stopped its engine, I could see the lights were still on inside the house and I smiled. It was a very, very long day and all I wanted was to come home.

When I walked through the front door it was almost eight o'clock, already past dinner time, but from the sound of the joyful shrieks and laughter, I could tell Lexi was still up and clearly having fun.

They didn't acknowledge my presence, and I assumed the two of them hadn't even heard me come inside the house or lock the door behind me, and I chose to take advantage of the situation, let myself in quietly and surprise them.

I spotted white footmarks on the floor, both big and small, and followed its path that it laid out on the tiles.

"Seb, now you have to try to catch me!" I heard right before turning around the corner in the direction of the kitchen.

The view before me as I walked through the archway was one that up until that moment, I didn't even know I needed to watch.

Sébastien Martin in dark denim jeans and a plain, red t-shirt, all covered in flour from head to toe, smiling wide as he threw flour at Lexi, who was running around the kitchen with one of the best smiles I'd ever seen on her beautiful face. She was wearing leggings and a t-shirt as well, which were starting to turn white as the powder slowly started to settle on the fabric. I quickly made a mental note to put all of their clothes in the washing machine before going to bed tonight.

"Are you having fun? I can't tell..." I feigned ignorance.

"Mum!" Lexi ran towards me and I bent down to her level to hug her tightly.

"Hi, love."

"I didn't give her any extra sugar."

"He didn't. But we were making something for you."

"Oh, really?" I looked around the kitchen. "It does smell very good. What were you making?"

"A chocolate ganache cake." Seb announced, sounding every bit proud. I relished in his self pride and his French accent that every now and then would show in conversation.

"Well, thank you." I looked down at Lexi and kissed the top of her head. "I'll make sure to grab a bite before going to bed."

"You little missy, need to change into your pyjamas and get to bed. And please put everything you're wearing in the laundry basket." She nodded and ran up the stairs, the familiar sound of her feet stomping on the steps pulling at my heartstrings.

"So?" Sébastien put his hands on his hips. "I wanna know what happened."

"I really want to put my daughter to bed tonight, tuck her in."

I let out a sigh of exhaustion, knowing that wasn't the answer he was hoping to hear from me. "But I'll be right back to tell you all about it and eat some ganache."

And just like I'd known he would, Sébastien understood me and waited patiently for me to come back to the kitchen. 

* * *

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Ahhh cliffhanger! But don't worry, I won't leaving you hanging too long 😉

I feel really bad to have to say this again but I am so sorry it's taking me so long to update Plot Twist. As a writer sometimes your inspiration just goes into a different direction and I have to follow wherever it takes me. I hope you can understand that.

In other news, we've been getting a lot of new readers lately so, thank YOU so much! And welcome <3 

I know I said we were getting into the last half of the story but I've been reviewing everything and the last half might have started a few chapters early, which just means that there won't be that many chapters until the end as I'd planned. But we've still got quite a lot so don't worry ✨

And last but not least, don't forget to vote and comment! 

Xoxo, Mars