Why Is He Back??

Zacks birthday

Dinner that evening was a lighthearted affair. Zack, Olivia, Zivia, and Emma sat around the table, enjoying a simple yet delicious meal Olivia had prepared. The girls, still full of energy, were animatedly talking about their favorite shows, filling the room with laughter.

"So, what did you watch today?" Zack asked, spearing a piece of chicken with his fork and popping it into his mouth.

"*Peppa Pig!*" Emma exclaimed, her face lighting up as she spoke about the adventures of the cheeky little pig. "Peppa got muddy and Daddy Pig had to clean her up! It was sooo funny, Unca Zack!"

Zivia, not wanting to be outdone, chimed in, "Yeah, and then George started crying because he lost his dinosaur!" She made a dramatic face, mimicking the tiny dinosaur's wails. "Rawr! But then they found it!"

Zack chuckled, amused by the girls' enthusiasm. "Well, sounds like Peppa and George had quite the day, huh? But not as fun as the time we had today, right?"

"No way!" Zivia giggled. "Our day was the best!"

Olivia smiled as she watched them interact. For a moment, the horrors of the day seemed far away, and they were just a family enjoying dinner together. But she noticed the way Zack's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and she knew his mind was elsewhere, likely on the attack earlier. He was trying to mask his anger, but Olivia could see right through him.

As dinner wound down, Zack stood up, placing his napkin on the table. "I've got some work to finish up in my office," he said, ruffling Zivia's hair as he passed. "You ladies behave while I'm gone."

"Work, work, work," Olivia teased lightly. "Don't stay up too late, Zack."

"I won't," Zack promised, but his expression was distant, already shifting to the task at hand.

Once Zack was out of sight, Olivia sighed softly. She knew he was still livid, but she didn't want to dwell on it now. There was a birthday surprise to prepare. As she started clearing the table, there was a knock at the door. Olivia opened it to find Natalie, Zack's only female assistant, standing there with a smile, holding a few bags.

"Here you go, Ms. Olivia, the items you requested," Natalie said, handing over the bags.

"Thanks, Nat," Olivia replied warmly. "It's good to have you back."

Natalie returned the smile and pulled Olivia into a hug. "Thank you, Ms. Wilson. It's good to be back."

As the hug ended, Zivia and Emma, having just finished their episode of *Peppa Pig,* wandered over to see what was happening. Zivia's eyes grew wide as she saw the bags. "Mommy, who are these things for?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

Olivia crouched down to their level and grinned. "Well, we're planning a surprise for Zack."

"A surprise for Unca Zack?" Emma repeated, her voice rising with excitement.

"Yes!" Olivia scooped the girls up in her arms and carried them towards the kitchen, casting a cautious glance down the hallway to ensure Zack wasn't nearby. "Tomorrow is Zack's birthday, and we're going to bake him a cake so we can surprise him at midnight."

"But why at midnight, Mommy?" Zivia asked in a whisper, her little forehead furrowing in confusion.

Olivia smiled at her daughter's innocence. "Because, sweetie, it's fun to surprise someone the moment it's their birthday. It makes them feel extra special."

The girls' eyes sparkled with understanding, and they both nodded eagerly. Olivia set them down on the kitchen counter and handed them each a small apron. "Now, we have to be super sneaky, okay? We don't want to ruin the surprise. So, I'm going to bake the cake, and then I'll wake you both up when it's time to decorate it."