Truly, he had done that. Her billionaire ex-husband had kept his promise to her. It was over now. It was finally over! She hadn't been exposed. "Nina, come have a look, baby," Adrian's suggestion jolted Hayley out of her reverie as she glanced at Leonardo. Hayley flinched, lowering her gaze as she felt a pang of embarrassment. Adrian then lifted his gaze towards Hayley and beckoned her, his naive brown eyes staring at her. "Baby, come have a look. You might have seen her before during the time you collaborated with some other artists from across the country, three years ago."Hayley swallowed, her gaze faltering as she could barely lock eyes with Adrian. It felt like Adrian's eyes were piercing through her soul. His innocent and pathetic look only intensified Hayley's guilty heart to tighten even more. When would she tell him the truth? Could she ever?"I highly doubt that Nina has come across her before, Adrian." Leonardo chimed in, noticing Hayley had gone dumbstruck without her,
Hayley was rendered speechless for a moment, trying to process the news Adrian had just revealed to her. It really wasn't Wendy's program. She had thought it was. But if that was the case, this meant she stood a chance, right? A chance to participate in the competition and pursue her career. Becoming a renowned artist had always been Hayley's long-life aim. With this program, her dreams could finally come true. The prospect of using the upcoming competition to showcase her talent to the world excited Hayley. Even if she didn't win the cash prize, the recognition and exposure she would gain from it were invaluable. But there was a downside to think of. Hayley realized. This was an international program that would definitely be discussed on the world news, meaning all participants of the competition would automatically go viral on the internet. Going viral had its consequences when it came to Hayley. Her facade would be shattered if someone recognized her, especially if that person wa
Raising his brows in realization, Leonardo nodded curtly and handed Hayley back the bowl, adding politely. "Please be careful, baby. I don't want you to choke on your food again.Hayley replied playfully, her tone sassy. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine." She said after taking the bowl from him.Leonardo let out a light scoff, reclining back in the chair as he watched Hayley resume eating, her attention solely focused on the food bowl. A serene and comfortable silence enveloped them and the only sound that could be heard in the office was that of the slurping noddles as Hayley continued eating. Leonardo found her eating style amusing as Hayley clung the bowl to herself tightly like she was scared someone was going to snatch it away from her. Hayley practically looked like a child, holding onto a candy. It was undeniably cute.Leonardo enjoyed watching her as she ate on, bringing back memories of the days when he used to bring Hayley lunches in her studio, then in Cl
Locking eyes with Hayley for some time, Leonardo contemplated his response. Disregarding her last taunting question, he gave her a curt nod and explained. "Her name is Ivy Hart. She's my childhood friend. I was surprised, baby, because I hadn't seen her in ages. The last time I saw her was ten years ago. A year before you and I got married."Hayley huffed dismissively, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right." She paused, sighing heavily before asking again, voicing her curiosity. "But how, Leonardo? How did you do it? How are you even doing it? I just don't get it. Don't you think Wendy would have figured out by now that I'm not the one going viral on the internet as her long-lost daughter?" Hayley asked, her voice laden with skepticism and confusion. Chuckling boyishly, Leonardo replied with a smug smirk. "Not unless she's in this country or this city... Honestly, baby, I don't know how Massimo had done it or is doing it. But I can assure you that you won't be exposed, okay? Everything is
"Please, my son, I'd love it if you could give the lady a chance. It's just a date. One date with her. She's a nice girl from a good family, and I'm certain you'll like her. But if you don't after the date, I promise I won't bring it up again. I won't pressure you about her anymore. Please, give her a chance, Adrian." She pleaded, her voice echoing in his ears through the phone. It was the same request she had been making for weeks now, and Adrian was sick of it.He felt frustrated as he listened to his mother on the other end. The woman just wouldn't let him be or stop nagging him until she had gotten what she wanted. He couldn't understand why she was so insistent on him going on a date with the Forbes girl. His mother was so eager and determined to see him married off. It was tiring. Fed up and not in the mood to argue that somber evening, Adrian replied sedately. "Okay, mom. I've heard you." He said flatly, finally giving in to his mother's persistent wish.The next thing Adrian
It was yet another blissful Saturday morning. Just like the other one, Hayley decided to spend some quality mother-daughter bonding time with her daughter again. The last session had been abruptly disrupted by Leonardo's unexpected appearance, leaving Hayley unsettled and Daisy hanging in the middle of the truth Hayley was about to reveal.After the incident with Leonardo the other day, Hayley became pissed and frustrated, causing her to lose interest in revealing the truth to Daisy again. The toddler, who had been engrossed in the movie she was watching, completely forgot about her mother's impending confession too. Hayley couldn't deny the sense of relief. It was also a good thing for her since the child hadn't pressed her for answers since after that day. It seemed Daisy had already grown accustomed to living without her dad, which made Hayley slightly proud.But now, Hayley felt a newfound readiness as she was finally ready to disclose to Daisy, some aspects of the truth about her
"Thanks for letting me stay, mi reina," Leonardo expressed gratefully to Hayley, moments after he had gotten settled into her home.Hayley stole a glance at him and shrugged. "Don't thank me. I had no other choice." She stated curtly before returning her attention to the second batch of pastries she was diligently glazing. Despite her nonchalant demeanor and the sassy tone she had used on him, deep down, Hayley was secretly pleased that Leonardo was there, in the kitchen with her and Daisy. She was glad he was the one she had met at the door. Her heart fluttered with a warm feeling of affection. However, as she reminisced further, her mind couldn't help but ponder about the bond Daisy had with Leonardo, recalling the father-daughter they had shared moments earlier. Daisy seemed to have taken a liking to him, despite having only met Leonardo a few months ago. Unlike Adrian, who had fought tooth and nail for two years before Daisy finally acknowledged his presence in their lives and g
Later that morning, after the second batch of pastries was ready, Hayley proposed they all see a movie indoors. Though she had initially set up for just her and Daisy. However, now that Leonardo was present, there would be a change of plans, which included Hayley, holding in the information she had wanted to share with Daisy about her dad.Hayley and Leonardo were seated behind Daisy in the cozy living room. While Daisy solitary occupied the small love sofa, Hayley and Leonardo shared the couch behind her. That way, they'd been whispering and engaging in a conversation, careful not to disrupt Daisy's focus on the cartoon they were all enjoying. It was only a few minutes into the movie when Hayley suddenly questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her. She had been wanting to ask Leonardo this particular question for some time now, but she hadn't been able to as they were always at work. Hence, This seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask him. Hayley thought.Without turning
A brief wave of disbelief washed over Leonardo as he stared at Hayley in astonishment. "What?" he blurted out absentmindedly, a hint of excitement seeping into his voice.Hayley felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed his reaction, realizing this was the first time she had seen his response to her pregnancy news."Are you serious, baby?" Leonardo asked, his eagerness palpable as his gaze shifted to Hayley's abdomen, contemplating whether she was teasing him or if she truly meant it.A genuine smile spread across Hayley's face as she rolled her eyes at his question. "Yeah, duh...""Mi reina!" Leonardo exclaimed, a surge of pure excitement bubbling within him. He could hardly fathom it. His joy was boundless as he reached for Hayley's hand, holding it gently.Hayley reveled in his excitement, her eyes filled with affection as he began to speak."Hayley Forbes..."She interrupted him, shaking her head playfully. "No, it’s Nina or Hazel now. I can't go by that name anymore, Leona
Hayley hurried with overwhelming joy and excitement toward Leonardo's room, with Daisy beside her. Her elation was palpable as she realized that Leonardo was awake; she could hardly contain her eagerness to see him. At the same time, Leonardo engaged in conversation with his brother, Lorenzo, who had remained by his side since the women had departed an hour earlier following his awakening. Leonardo had undoubtedly been taken aback to see his family upon waking. However, his initial surprise gradually shifted to confusion when he noticed the absence of both his woman and daughter. However, they had reassured him that Hayley had stepped out briefly and would return shortly, while Daisy was in another room with Rosalie and Emily. With this information, his anxious heart began to settle as he accepted their reassuring words. After a further thirty minutes had elapsed without Hayley's return, Leonardo's concern began to intensify. Unable to contain himself, he called out to Lorenzo, who
.Hayley returned to the hospital after delivering the lawsuit documents to the wardress at Wendy's prison. Approximately an hour prior, the prosecutor, Alexa, who was overseeing Hayley's case, had provided her with the papers following their meeting. Hayley then drove to the prison, where Wendy and Lillian were incarcerated, and handed the documents to the wardress, choosing not to visit any of them. That was the least of her concerns; her only interest in seeing them was during the court proceedings, where the judge would render his final decision. With a sigh of frustration, Hayley pulled herself back to the present as she made a right turn onto the highway, heading towards the hospital. She recalled that the love of her life remained unconscious when she left earlier, and a wave of anxiety washed over her as she wondered if he had awakened from the coma. Thoughts of Leonardo tightened around her heart, causing her anguish. Hayley eventually regained composure as she caught sight
Wendy collapsed on the ground, her head buried in her palms as she absorbed the news of Alison's sudden accident. It hit her like a thunderbolt, shattering her heart into pieces. Her daughter had been involved in an accident and according to what the wardress had mentioned, Alison had also fallen in a coma after the incident. Wendy swallowed, her face flooded with tears. Her heart ached painfully as she grappled with the reality. How could this be? How did this happen? She felt a pang of guilt constrict her heart tightly, knowing she was mostly responsible for the unfortunate circumstance that had befallen her daughter. If she hadn't gotten herself in trouble in the first place, none of this would have happened. With that, her cries intensified as she remained on the ground. "I'm very sorry, ma'am," The wardress tried to sympathize, her tone laden with pity. But that did little to console Wendy, whose thoughts were all over the place. Meanwhile, Lillian had also been shocked upon he
"What are you saying? He has a guardian! You can't take that action."Lillian's heart raced with anxiety as she absorbed the unsettling information relayed to her over the phone. Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her hand trembled slightly as it pressed the receiver to her ear. Beads of sweat began to form on her temples, and her anger flared as the caller finished her statement.Her grip on the phone tightened, and Lillian shot back, her frustration palpable. "What do you mean by that? You can't do that! He has a mother! I am his mother!"She fell silent as the caller replied, a response that clearly unsettled her. Lillian started again. "Listen, you cannot do this to me. Ethan is my son. I’ll be out of here very soon. Just be patient, please." Lillian pleaded, a tear streaming down her cheek that she quickly brushed away.She listened closely to the caller's words until the line beeped, indicating the call had ended.Her heart shattered, and fresh tears flowed down her
Hayley headed out of the hospital as soon as she received the news about Freya's capture. Right after Lillian was apprehended, she had instructed an officer of the law to discreetly conduct a search for Freya, ensuring that she returned to the city in one piece so she could serve her fair punishment for her actions. Hayley was quite surprised by the speed of the development, however, that was the least of her concerns at that moment. A blend of satisfaction and annoyance brimmed within her as she headed out to the awaiting car, parked in the hospital lot. She had nearly forgotten Emily was trailing behind her until Emily's voice sailed into her ears, pulling Hayley from her thoughts. "Where are you going, Hayley? Who was it on the phone?" Emily pressed, her tone filled with concern. Realizing she hadn't shared the news with her, Hayley stopped midway and turned to Emily in an attempt to placate her confusion. "I'll be right back, Em. I need you to stay behind and watch my mother a
Hayley made her way to the restroom section of the hospital and leaned against the door once she stepped inside. Her heart raced, stirred by memories of her confrontation with Clara.Painful tears stung her eyes despite her efforts to remain composed and resolute. She felt she didn't deserve to cry. If anyone ought to shed tears, it should be Clara, not herself. She hadn't done anything wrong.With this resolve, Hayley sniffled back her emotions, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand before heading towards the sink to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror afterward, her chest heaving. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before further questioning herself if she had been too harsh on Clara or if she truly deserved what she got from her. Her thoughts were disrupted as the door to the bathroom swung open, startling Hayley. Without moving an inch, Hayley caught a glimpse of the person who had just walked in through the mirror and saw it was Emily."Hey, ar
Meanwhile, Clara watched in silence as she absorbed the affectionate scene unfolding before her. Occasionally, her gaze would trail from the newfound couple to Hayley, who watched with enthusiasm and joy. Clara felt her heart pricked painfully, once again remembering that she and Hayley were no longer friends. And it was all her fault. She literally betrayed Hayley. Abandoned her when she needed her the most and turned her back to her in her times of trial and peril. She wondered if Hayley was ever going to forgive her for her actions.Sure, she had only acted out because she didn't like the way Hayley's deception affected Adrian. But recognizing Hayley's other predicament with Wendy and Lillian, she had now come to understand why Hayley had lied to them about her identity in the first place. She was obviously running from something and just didn't want to get entangled with her past again. It was unfortunate that Leonardo had just shown up to thwart those plans of Hayley.Reflecting
A momentary, awkward silence enveloped the trio as Hayley and Adrian's gazes remained fixed on each other, each moment stretching painfully. Hayley was obviously heartbroken, recognizing Adrian still didn't remember her at all. She couldn't believe all the memories they shared had all been erased from his mind. It was a painful realization.However, she inhaled deeply after a moment and forced a smile to appear on her face as she started, "It's good to see you, Adrian. I'm glad you're doing okay," Hayley said, her smile faltering as she averted his gaze.Adrian's response was curt. "Yeah, you too." He paused before adding. "And I apologize for not recalling who you are. My memory's quite messed up at the moment..." He apologized, seeing Hayley's devastation was palpable.Hayley lifted her gaze to him again, her eyes flickering between his face. She stared into his naive emerald orbs and her insides fluttered with warmth. At least he apologized for not recalling her. That was somethin