Alaric The party was over, but the warmth lingered. The city passed by in a blur outside the tinted windows of the car, all glittering lights and distant noise. But inside, everything was quiet, peaceful. Anna was curled up beside me, her head resting gently against my chest, her breath soft and even. I held her close. Her head was tucked against my chest like she belonged there, like she'd always been meant to fit into my life, into me. And she did belong there. The diamonds on her wrist caught the light now and then, but they were nothing compared to the spark she brings to my life just by being near. I looked down at her. Her lashes fluttered with each breath, her lips slightly parted in sleep. She looked so content, so safe. And all I could think was how close I had come to missing this. if I hadn't been attacked in the alley and been incapacitated, I wouldn't have been in this position right now. I remember thinking about how cute she looked, like a dear caught in h
LisaI watched the livestream in silence.The room was dark, except for the pale blue glow of my laptop screen, casting shadows on the peeling walls of the ward. The charity ball played out like a movie—a glittering, mocking hallucination—and I couldn’t look away.I should have closed the tab. Should’ve rolled over, pretended to sleep like everyone else in this godforsaken place.But I didn’t.Couldn’t.The camera panned slowly across the grand ballroom, chandeliers dripping light over champagne flutes and designer gowns. Then it landed on her.Anna.Wearing a gown like it had been spun from moonlight. Her hand resting gently on Alaric’s arm—the country’s most powerful heir. The man whose face alone could send a company’s stocks soaring.The man who should have been mine.But no. His eyes were locked on Anna like she was the only woman alive.My jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might crack.The crowd had parted around her like a scene from some stupid fairytale. All eyes on Anna—t
The ballroom at the Carlton Grand was the kind of place that made you forget where you came from.It was bathed in golden light, with chandeliers dripping crystals that cast soft sparkles on everything they touched. Orchids in white, pale lilac, and blush overflowed from massive glass vases. The centerpiece of the hall was a marble staircase wrapped in silk garlands and fairy lights, descending into a sea of people dressed in their finest. Music from a live string quartet danced softly in the air, setting a dreamy tone to the night.But nothing, not the flowers, the champagne, or the camera flashes, could drown out the pounding of my heart. Is this really necessary? Is there a window I could jump out from?“Ready?” Alaric asked, offering me his arm.I turned to him.He looked like a painting, a classic black tuxedo tailored to perfection, the tiniest hint of cologne that made my pulse skip, and a sapphire pocket square that matched my dress exactly. I had no idea how he always managed
Biological Mother - MotherAdoptive Mother - Mum-----------------The charity ball was only a few days away, and naturally, Mum, Ellie, and Mother declared it a fashion emergency. “We’re going to Lux,” Ellie had said with the kind of gleam in her eye that made me feel like I was about to walk into a makeover montage. “And no, you don’t get a say.”So, here I was, barefoot on a velvet pedestal in the middle of Lux’s elite fitting suite, trying on what had to be my hundredth dress. I was fairly certain I’d tried on every shade of gold known to man and possibly one that hadn't been invented yet.“Nope,” Ellie said for the eighth time in a row, waving her hand like a disapproving judge on a reality show. “Too much sparkle. You look like a sentient disco ball.”I groaned and flopped onto the chaise lounge dramatically. “I’m pretty sure I’ve aged ten years in this fitting room.”Mum chuckled. “Oh hush, you look beautiful in everything.”“Which would be helpful if we were shopping for every
As dessert was served—rich chocolate cake with a generous swirl of whipped cream—I leaned back in my seat, letting the warmth of the evening settle into my chest. The conversation had flowed so easily all night, filled with laughter and sharing memories.It still felt surreal—sitting here with my biological parents, with Damian and Ellie, like it was the most natural thing in the world. A week ago, they were strangers. Now? They were mine. And I was theirs.I was mid-bite when my mum set down her wine glass and tilted her head at me, her eyes shining with something suspiciously close to mischief.“So,” she said casually, though I wasn’t fooled for a second. “What about Alaric?”I blinked. “What about him?”Her grin only widened. “Are you two serious?”I nearly choked on my cake. “Mum!”She raised her hands in mock innocence. “What? I’ve always wanted the son of my best friend to marry into the family. I gave up hope, of course, but now…” She gave me the most satisfied smile I’d ever s
The office was quiet, the usual morning hum of keyboards and clinking mugs a strangely comforting background to the storm of thoughts in her head. She stared at her screen, a spreadsheet open but untouched, and found her eyes drifting to the photo frame next to her monitor. It was a picture of her and Brian at her last birthday, smiling in the kitchen with a cake that had sunk in the middle.They’d laughed so hard that night. That used to be her whole world—her job, Brian, the quiet comfort of routine.Brian had missed the whole thing as he was away on a business trip in Singapore, but the moment he found out, he called her. She’d barely gotten two words in before he started gushing, saying he always knew she was special, that it all somehow made sense now. His voice cracked when he told her how proud he was, how happy he was that she’d found where she belonged. “You’ve always had a big family, Anna,” he said gently. “We were just waiting for the rest of them to find you.”And then th