Chapter 7 - The Ripple Effect
By the time our helicopter touched down on the private helipad in Aspen, the internet had already caught fire.
Uncle Raymond and several other estranged relatives had not kept quiet. In fact, a fifteen-second video clip recorded by a cousin had leaked onto social media under the caption: Billionaire CEO crashes ex-husband’s engagement with quadruplets he abandoned 8 years ago.
Within three hours, the video had garnered over twelve million views on TikTok and Facebook.
Commenters across the globe were merciless:
""The way she stepped out of that helicopter like an absolute queen!""
""He really traded four beautiful kids and a self-made empire for a woman who dumped him in front of his whole family!""
""Karma didn't just come back around; it arrived by chartered flight!""
Sitting by the roaring stone fireplace of our Aspen chalet, my phone buzzed continuously with notifications. My head of PR, Brenda, called with sheer delight in her voice.
""Keahu, our stock valuation just jumped six percent in after-hours trading,"" Brenda laughed over the line. ""The public is obsessed with you. Forbes and Bloomberg want exclusive features on how you built Vance Logistics while raising quadruplets as a single mother. You're an international icon!""
""Let them write whatever they want, Brenda,"" I replied with a warm chuckle, watching my parents play board games with the children across the living room. ""Just make sure the children’s faces remain blurred in any official press release. I don't want their privacy invaded.""
""Understood, boss. Oh, and by the way... Terrence's consulting firm released a public statement claiming he is taking a 'temporary leave of absence.' Rumor has it his partners forced him to resign this afternoon to protect the firm's reputation.""
""Actions have consequences,"" I murmured.
I hung up the phone and set it face down on the cedar coffee table.
My father, Marcus Rivera, walked over and handed me a steaming mug of spiced apple cider. His hair was completely gray now, but his eyes carried the deep, unwavering warmth that had kept me alive during the darkest months of my life.
""You held your ground today, Keahu,"" he said softly, sitting in the armchair opposite mine.
""I did, Dad,"" I replied, taking a slow sip. ""For eight years, I thought I needed closure. I thought if he just saw how well we were doing, the pain of being abandoned would finally disappear.""
""And did it?""
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I looked over at Mason, who was currently giggling as his grandfather made silly faces, and Delilah, who was carefully placing a star on the chalet’s Christmas tree.
""The pain disappeared years ago, Dad. Today wasn't about closure. Today was about closing a chapter so tightly that neither Terrence nor his toxicity can ever cast a shadow on these children again.""
