As her pregnancy progressed, Kiara began to feel trapped within the walls of her home. Her neighbors, once her only companions, had all found jobs, leaving her in solitude.
It was during a trip to the grocery store that she met Vivian O'Connor. Vivian's laughter was infectious, her words lively and bold. What began as small talk blossomed into friendship. Soon, Kiara and Vivian were sharing lunches and secrets. For the first time in years, Kiara felt she had someone she could truly open up to. The emptiness she felt due to her parents' absence seemed to fill up. Vivian brought a different kind of peace to her. Kiara didn't leave a single detail of her life, even Kyle's disappearance wasn't left out. Kiara felt a kind of security she never felt with anyone, not even Rick.
Vivian even tried to reach out to Kiara's father, but every attempt ended in silence. Still, she stood by Kiara, filling the void her family had left behind.
When Kiara confided her desire to work again, Vivian wasted no time. She found her a position at her company, where Kiara's designs could shine. She knew she had agreed not to work before but she knew she had a talent and could certainly shine. The loneliness at home reminded her only too well of how things were before marriage. Vivian seemed to have brought back the light but that doesn't mean she was completely out of the dark. Kiara was eager to share the news with Rick, but the timing shattered her joy. That evening, he came home with grim news—his workplace had been destroyed in a fire. The entire staff was laid off.
The sadness in his voice made Kiara bite her tongue. She held him close instead of telling him about Vivian's offer, promising herself she'd wait for the right moment. She didn't know that moment might never come.