Chapter: Chapter 299Reina “Do you want a new car? Or a new apartment?” Ethan teased. “Anyone, my love. A Lamborghini won't be bad, you know.” I turned to face him, and there it was, the smile I had come to know and love over the years. It was the smile that had carried me through the darkest days, the one that had reassured me when I didn’t know how to move forward. The evening was calm and beautiful qne Andrew was at a friend’s house for a sleepover, and Ethan and I were alone for the first time in a while. Alone, but not lonely. We were never lonely when we had ourselves. “I’m looking,” I said softly, walking toward him. “And I see a family that’s been through hell and back, and yet we still survived it.” Ethan reached out to pull me into his arms and held me tight as if he was scared to let me go. “We have always been strong. It was just a matter of time before we realized it.” I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. This was home. This was everything
Last Updated: 2024-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 298Reina It was a morning like any other, except it wasn’t. I had just received the news I had been waiting for, hoping for, but still uncertain if it would ever come true. I had gotten another job. It was a job that would challenge me, push me out of my comfort zone, and finally allow me to make a real name for myself in the world I had always longed to be part of. As I stood in the kitchen, staring at the email, I could not stop the tears that filled my eyes. I had worked so hard for this moment, and now that it was here, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief. “Reina? What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, stepping into the room. His voice was soft, and his concern was evident in his eyes. I couldn’t speak at first, so I just handed him my phone, pointing to the email. He took it from me, his eyes scanning the screen. His face lit up as he read the words. “Wait… you got it? You really got it?” I nodded, my throat tight. “Yes. It’s real, Ethan. They offered me the position. I t
Last Updated: 2024-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 297Reina The day had finally come. The day I had been both dreading and hoping for. The day Ethan and I would renew our vows. I had spent so much time imagining what it would feel like, but now that the moment was here, I was filled with excitement and a little nervousness. After everything we had been through, I was not sure how I would feel standing up in front of our friends and family, saying the same vows we made years ago. But this time, I was going to say them with more meaning, more depth, and more love than I ever had before. Ethan had gone above and beyond to make this day perfect, and I had already walked into the garden where it would all happen. It looked like a dream. “Mommy, you look beautiful!” Andrew said, his eyes wide with admiration as he helped me adjust my dress. I laughed softly. “Thank you, baby. You look very handsome too.” He beamed in his little tuxedo, looking just like his father. When Ethan walked in to check on me, I could not help but smil
Last Updated: 2024-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 296: A New Beginning (Ethan POV) --- I never thought I’d feel this nervous again. The last time I felt anything close to this was the first time I asked Reina out. But now, standing in our living room with the small box in my pocket, I felt like a teenager unsure if the girl would say yes. Andrew was asleep in his room, and Reina was curled up on the couch, reading a book. Her hair was loosely tied back, and she was wearing one of my old sweatshirts. She looked so comfortable, so at peace, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching her. “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked, not even looking up from her book. I chuckled nervously. “Do I need a reason to stare at my wife?” She finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “No, but it’s weird when you’re just standing there silently. What’s going on?” I took a deep breath and walked over, sitting beside her. “Reina, can we talk?” She frowned, closing her book. “Is something wrong?” “No, nothing’s wrong,” I assured her. “In
Last Updated: 2024-12-28
Chapter: Chapter 295Ethan “ A therapist? We are going to see a therapist, Ethan?” Reina blurted out and I had to calm her down that it's for the better. “Yes. I made that decision and I have already paid for a session. It is a good thing and I think our marriage will get better.” “Oh dear. I'm just scared.” *** Sitting across from Reina in the therapist’s office felt a little weird and I was trying to keep up. This was the first time we had actually met with a therapist about us. The therapist, a calm woman in her mid-50s named Dr. Laura smiled gently at us. “Thank you for coming today. The first step to healing is often the hardest, so I commend you both for being here.” I glanced at Reina, who gave me a small, nervous smile. “We are ready,” I said, squeezing her hand. “Good. Why don’t we start with why you’re here? What made you decide to seek therapy now?” Dr. Laura asked. I looked at Reina, silently asking if she wanted to go first. She nodded and took a deep breath. “I think we h
Last Updated: 2024-12-27
Chapter: Chapter 294Reina Evans was at my house again. This time, I was very convinced that he had something off his sleeves. How can someone who I haven't seen in years suddenly show up in the new country where I relocated to? Has he been stalking me all these years? Evans stood at the door, his hands shoved in his pockets, and today he looked so confident in himself. But, I was here to destroy whatever confidence he had. I had hoped I would see the last of him after his first visit, but here he was again, uninvited and unwelcome. “What are you doing here again, Evans? Haven't I told you that I don't want you around me?” I thundered and my pulse was racing. “I needed to talk to you,” he responded calmly, despite my raging anger. “I don’t think we got to finish our conversation the last time.” “There’s nothing left to talk about,” I said, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind me. I didn’t want Ethan or Andrew overhearing any of this. “Reina, please,” he said, his eyes pleadin
Last Updated: 2024-12-27
Chapter: Chapter 34Zayde's POVI hadn’t heard from Ariana in days, and I was starting to lose my mind. She didn't bother to check up on me and Every time I called, her phone was switched off. The worst part, I kept getting messages from Isabella and I kept deleting it. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Where the hell was she? I tried to push my worries down so that I could focus on the investigation I was already deep into. That’s the investigation concerning my mother’s secret. But I couldn't stop thinking about Ariana.Out of tiredness, I called the hotel where she was supposed to be staying. Maybe they had answers, or at least some clue as to where she might have gone.The hotel phone rang, and I gripped it tighter after a voice answered.“Good afternoon, how may I assist you?” a sweet feminine but professional voice answered the phone. “I’m looking for Ariana Campbell,” I said. “She was staying at your hotel. Can you tell me if she’s still there?” I asked, hoping
Last Updated: 2025-02-22
Chapter: Chapter 33ArianaI took the next available flight back to my state and town. It was an impromptu decision but I found myself grabbing my gadgets and all my bags when I discovered that the situation I was in needed my presence. And I wanted to meet Gabriel. ***I was back to my state and work resumed immediately. I had barely enjoyed my vacation and I was beginning to regret it. I shouldn't have gone out in the first place. I would have remained here if I knew I was still going to go through a lot of trouble over there. And one good thing? I didn't inform Zayde when I was leaving. I had just come out of the boardroom when I saw him. The man I had expected to run into today. Finally! Gabriel! He was leaning against the wall and he looked pretty good compared to the last time I saw him. His eyes locked on me the second I stepped into the corridor and I began to feel a little shy around him. The tension and energy between us had been suffocating lately, and I didn't know how to deal with i
Last Updated: 2025-02-22
Chapter: Chapter 32Ariana“I'm sorry, Gabriel but we can't,” I answered and he I don't want to see Gabriel now and I was going to tell him that I was out of town. “What do you mean we can't, Ariana? Can you please tell me what I did wrong? Because you aren't making me feel any better,” he said to me and I almost ignored him. “I will call you back, Gabriel. Just remember that I'm not angry at you. I just have a lot I'm handling currently,” I said and hung up when I heard the bell ring out. I went outside to check who it was, especially now that I wasn't expecting any visitors. To my greatest surprise, there was a document at my doorstep in a sleek black envelope and it was unsigned. Inside, I found the purchase contract for my company which was already signed. The only name missing was mine.At first, I thought it’s from one of my rivals, Damian Cross, the businessman who has been circling around me like he didn't have any other serious business. But then I recognize the other name on the contrac
Last Updated: 2025-02-22
Chapter: Chapter 31Ariana“A hotel nereby,” I repeatedly said before moving to the right direction with the help of the map on my phone. I reached the hotel building in no time and my heart began to race. My palms on the other hand began to get sweaty and clammy. The elevator ride felt like so long because he was on the last floor When, the doors opened, I knocked and he ushered me in. “Zayde?” I called his name softly because of how quiet the room was. There was no answer, but I could hear the faint sounds of movement from within the room. He was the first person I had expected to see when I entered but that wasn't the case now. I held my breath as I slowly moved deeper into the apartment.Then, I saw him standing in the kitchen with his back turned to me.The moment he heard me, he turned around and his face went pale as he saw me standing there.That was so unusual. Zayde was already excited to see me. “Ariana...” He said and his voice was strained, almost apologetic, but I couldn’t find it i
Last Updated: 2025-02-20
Chapter: Chapter 30Ariana pov I got to find out that Zayde was in the same country as I am!!!This was very diabolical!After walking out on him that day, the next call I expected was that he was back to work. But, that was not the case. This dude fucking followed me. I thought I had finally found some control in my life. After everything that had happened, I believed I could go through the storm without being dragged all over. A few days away on a business trip, followed by a quick vacation to clear my head was just what I needed.The first day of me being alone made me breathe in a lot of fresh air. And I thought maybe, just maybe, I could start over. I was sitting in my hotel room, scrolling through some emails and drinking some orange juice when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a message from a random number but I didn’t recognize it. Lately, I have been having a lot of random numbers message me and it was not looking funny anymore. I hesitated for only a second before I opened i
Last Updated: 2025-02-19
Chapter: Chapter 29Zayde's POVJust like that? No other word came out of her lips?I acted so surprised, as if she didn’t normally do this.But I wished. I just wished that things had been the same. That she would have said goodbye at least.I wasn’t a stranger. I wasn’t the type of stranger she was trying to get rid of.Fine. I had accepted that she was not hiding the way she felt about me.Ariana walked away from me, and I was left standing there, watching her do nothing while the heat from her lips still burned mine.I didn’t know how to make sense of what had just happened, how everything had shifted so quickly from anger to desire, and then… nothing.Like nothing had happened within the last few minutes.I should have stopped it before it went too far. I should have stepped back when she said it was over when she pulled away from me.But I didn’t. Instead, I let her kiss me, I let her make me believe that maybe, just maybe, we could fix whatever we were.But I felt like I was demanding too much. Sh
Last Updated: 2025-02-19