Chapter 45: The Todd Family's Past
Kai Todd's first wife, Isabella Wood, came from a wealthy family of antique dealers. At 23, he married the beautiful Isabella, a match envied by all. Their marriage was initially happy, and they had a son, Giovanni Todd, within the first year. Tragically, Giovanni died at the age of two due to illness, and Isabella's health deteriorated afterward. Kai's career, however, continued to thrive, and he became involved with Thatta Spence, his leader's daughter. During this time, Isabella became pregnant again.
Eight months pregnant, Isabella discovered Kai's affair with another woman, Thalia, who even flaunted her own pregnancy. Enraged, Isabella went into premature labor and died from excessive bleeding. Their unborn child, Iker, grew up without a mother and was withdrawn.
The Wood family, unwilling to sever ties with the Todds, considered marrying another Wood woman to Kai. Unexpectedly, Kai, one night, slept with his sister-in-law, Poppy Wood, Isabella's sister. This made Poppy his third wife. Threatened by the Wood family, and with Iker needing care and Thalia pregnant, Kai married both Thalia and Poppy simultaneously. Thalia gave birth to Davon Todd, and two years later, Poppy gave birth to Sophie Todd. Poppy was a Harvard University finance and management student.
Just when it seemed Kai's romantic entanglements were over, he adopted a six-year-old girl, Erica, who eventually became his fourth wife on her eighteenth birthday, three years prior. The marriage announcement garnered significant media attention, particularly given his son's recent accident and the age difference—Kai was in his fifties, Erica only eighteen.
Kai showered Erica with affection, buying her family a house and paying off her brother's multi-billion-dollar gambling debts. Last year, Erica gave birth to twins, further solidifying her favored position in the family. Poppy, without a son, relied on Thalia, affectionately calling her "sis." Thalia, however, harbored resentment. She believed she'd finally secured Kai after Isabella's death, only to have Poppy join the family on the same day.
The Spence family, while not a business powerhouse, was still prominent. Countless suitors pursued Thatta, but she was devoted to Kai, unfazed by his existing family. Just as her situation stabilized, another rival emerged: Erica.
For years, Thalia and Poppy clashed. However, Erica's arrival united them in a shared resentment. Both in their forties, they found themselves competing with a woman young enough to be their daughter for Kai's affections. The situation was both humiliating and heartbreaking; Erica's brazen behavior, even publicly displaying affection for Kai, further fueled their resentment.
Kai, fearing conflict among his wives, purchased a large villa where they lived separately. Erica resided with him in the main house. Thalia lived with Davon in a luxurious clock tower, and Poppy occupied a separate villa. Kai visited his other wives occasionally, but primarily spent time with Erica. Iker, reclusive and moody after a leg injury, rarely left his nearby villa.
Cheyenne, surprised by Kai’s lifestyle, witnessed Erica's public display of affection. Erica, after losing a poker game, kissed Kai and asked for her losses to be covered. Kai readily complied, highlighting his preference for Erica. Erica's subsequent encounter with Cheyenne and Mr. Edwards, displayed her jealous nature. Her initial coldness towards Cheyenne transformed to apology after learning Cheyenne’s identity and purpose – treating Iker. Thalia’s attempt to smooth the situation only increased Erica’s displeasure. Layne, impatient to treat Iker, observed the women's unfolding conflict.