"I noticed how you didn't appreciate her advances. And that's why I promised myself that although, because of my love for Evelyn, I have to put this forward, I would never force you into this commitment. No matter how much she requests!” he took a deep breath, finishing his words. I stared at him silently for a few good minutes. Soon all his words started making sense in my mind. A wave of relief and annoyance washed off me altogether.Relief for the fact that he had thankfully observed my disinterest in his niece, and made up his mind beforehand to not force me into this. But the annoyance was for the reality that despite knowing this he was still trying to convince me.Taking a sharp breath, I let my annoyance take over. "If that was the case then why did you put on this extravagant show?" I asked, pointing to the delicacies on the table. "Is this also a bribe to me?" My words sounded mocking, even though I didn't wish it to.His eyes widened in a second and he shook his head fever
Kiara's POV:-I was preparing an Excel sheet of the expenses estimated for the new equipment we were purchasing for the project. Hunter had decided to visit the factory today only, thus I was working fastly as I had to report it to him before three PM. With my eyes focused on the screen and my fingers working diligently on the keyboard, I heard my phone vibrating on the desk. I ignored the disturbance as I was feeding the numbers in the system, but when it kept vibrating for a longer time; I had to break my concentration and shift my gaze to the phone screen.Pissed off at the caller for disturbing me in the middle of my work, I picked up my phone, only to read Viaan's name flashing on the screen.Responsively, my scowl turned into a smile and I didn't know where the annoyance flew away. "Hello!" I picked up the call, chirping.Okay, how come this sudden change in tone? I wonder what effect this man has on me!"Had your lunch?" Ignoring my greeting, he asked grumpily.Oops! Seems l
GRACE:-Kiara’s POV:-"I don't even have enough money to hire more than five staff!" His revelation had my eyebrows shot up to the ceiling. "What? Really?" I wondered, astonished at the information.Hunter Brown saying he doesn't have money was like believing a gold mine doesn't have gold.Too bad an analogy? I know! But that was so unbelievable to me that I couldn't think of any other example. Heck, I couldn't even think of anything else at all. Hunter probably was expecting this reaction from me as he sat unfazed at my remark and waited patiently for a second before his calm response came."Yes, you heard right! At that certain point in time, I didn't have enough money to hire an entire team and then start a company with all the resources." He averted his gaze, which was gloomy suddenly, and exhaled a deep breath. "So, the only thing I could do then was hire a man whom I can trust with everything in the company." When his eyes met mine again, I saw how he was trying to hide man
6:00 PM, Heaven's Abode:-*Visiting Aaron. Will be back by 8.* Typing the text for Viaan, I tapped the sent button. I was in the cab, going to Heaven's Abode when I thought of informing Viaan otherwise he will get worried about me.My phone vibrated with his reply. *I'll come to pick you up!* I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes as I read the sentence.This man!*No, Viaan. I don't want anyone to notice it unnecessarily. And even Aunty will question if we got home together.* I typed and sent.Does he seriously never think of repercussions before doing anything?Aunty is right when she says her intelligent son becomes a dimwit at times.*Alright then Mark will pick you up and no more arguments over this!* His reply came within seconds. The nerve of this man. I wanted to retort this but I know if Mr. Stubborn Adams made up his mind over something then no one can make him undo it. *Ok.* I replied briefly, with a straight-face emoji, letting him know, I was irked with this.Sigh
Her ears perked up at his name. Her eyes instantly held vulnerability just like I had yesterday. "You went there? You went to meet Tyler? Is he making any progress, Kia?" She asked in a rushed voice. Unknowingly, her fingers tightened on my hand. I squeezed them back to calm her down before I broke the good news to her. "That's what I had to inform you, Sister. After the long wait of six years, Tyler had started responding… finally!" My voice turned into whispering by the end. Sister Mary widened her eyes, letting my words sink into her mind. She held my arms immediately, asking "You're telling the truth? Did he really respond?" Her voice cracked at the end, just like my heart twisted again.I had fresh tears welling up once again as I bit on my lips to control myself."Hmm… he did…" My own voice broke. "Not very much, just visible enough. But he is finally making progress.." I'm sure the pain I was feeling in my heart was inflicted on my tone. With my eyes burning with tears, my t
“Haven’t we all?” I couldn’t help but ask. “Didn’t Sophia and I?” God knows when my tone menaced.And why?She shifted her gaze back at me, scanning my face. “You and Sophia are suffering the most, I agree, but that kid doesn’t know a thing. He will be ten in some months but has no knowledge of the biggest truth of his life. You tell me, Kiara, how come we compare these two things?” Her tone was neutral but her eyes blazed with fire.Was she taking Aaron’s side?I was amazed to see the change in her. Aaron, indeed, has changed Sister Mary to the extent that she was speaking on his behalf to me, her favorite child!I didn’t know whether to be happy or mad at this change. But if it was in the favor of my boy, I’d rather be happy.“Sister, I didn’t ask you to compare. I simply stated the fact that Aaron isn’t alone in this. Agreed, that his age is terribly less for the lies we have fabricated, but we all are sailing through the same!” I held her hand in mine, conveying my thoughts.She s
“How come we never know this?” Sophia slumped back to the chair, feeling betrayed.“That’s the major drawback here that you guys don’t know about it.” Ryan resigned.“A drawback?” Kiara wondered. “Is there anything more to it, Ryan?” She asked, terrified. Sophia, too, looked at him through her wet lashes. Her breathing heaved in anticipation.God knows what was more left to strike them as a thunderbolt.Ryan gave them a look of sympathy, but he needed to break this news for Tyler’s life, which knew by now was indeed in danger.“Unfortunately, yes.”“What do you mean?” Kiara asked, gulping down her spit. She was not ready to hear one more miserable truth, but was forced to.“I will conduct some tests on him tomorrow for I have one more doubt and if that comes out positive, then we need to find a donor for him as he would be needing an entire blood transfusion!” Ryan informed them. “And it would be great if someone blood-related to him becomes the donor.” He looked at the ladies, not kn
Viaan’s POV:-It was nine in the night when I was in my mother’s room after having our dinner half an hour ago. Kiara had excused herself soon after the meal, as she needed to do some urgent work. And since I was not sleepy, I came to my mother to spend some time with her, which I was not able to do for a few days.We both kept talking for some time when in one of the topics I was reminded of our family photographs. And got the idea of going through the old albums once again.Those halcyon days once again made us emotional. We kept looking at the precious moments captured in those still images.After some time, I felt Maa was having her eyes drooping low again and again.“Now go back to your room! I’m feeling sleepy!” She yawned finally, closing the photo album.Her voice stretched with the thickness of sleep, and I took my cue to call it a day. Taking the album from her hand, I gestured for her to lie down.“I’ll keep this!” I said and stood on my feet, letting her slip under the duv
Writer’s POV:-Mr. Moore wiped the sweat off his forehead while waiting for the call to be received.“Hello!” The reply came as soon as the call was received.“I have done my work. Now give me my thing back!” He said over the call.“I am impressed with your quickness, Mr. Moore.” a masculine heavy voice was heard from the other side. “I thought you would still take a few more days. But no. You proved why this is priceless to you. Excellent, old man.” With a dark chuckle, the man added. The words were more like a mocking of Mr. Moore’s efforts, and that made the elderly man clench his fingers.Mr. Moore’s entire body shook with rage. At that moment, he wanted nothing but to thrash everything around. To get the man in a chokehold and punch him straight across the face for making him dance on his fingers. However, the helplessness of the situation had him holding from behind. He can’t act repulsive. Not at this stage when he is so close to the one thing that he has been finding for sever
Viaan’s POV:-I helped Maa get down from the car, supporting her gently as she stepped onto the gravel path. As soon as her eyes fell on the scene in front of us, she froze. Her fingers tightened around my palm, clutching mine with a grip that spoke volumes.“Viaan, this…” She began, her voice trailing off as disbelief washed over her.Not believing what she saw, she was struggling to find the right set of words. Her lips wobbled putting an impromptu pause. She looked back at me, her gaze searching for confirmation, her body trembling slightly.That was my cue to confirm her doubts.With pride and emotions lacing my own voice, I squeezed her shoulders and nodded. “Paradis d’Amour, Maa. Our dream.” I announced, taking my mother in a half hug from sideways, holding onto her as tightly as I could.She averted her gaze back to the property. With a dip in her brows, she looked at me once again, “Huh?”I knew, I knew she was getting the meaning of my words but the yearning self of hers want
Writer’s POV:-“Where are you taking us, Viaan? At least tell me now.” Leena asked for the nth time, getting annoyed at her son’s silence over the matter.Viaan, like the previous times, smiled mischievously and answered without looking back. “Patience, Maa, patience. You’ll come to know soon.”Leena scoffed audibly, narrowing her eyes at her son’s mischief, and scolded him lightly. “That ‘soon’ of yours has not come since the last three and a half hours of our journey. How long more would you keep it a secret?” Her eyes wrinkled at the corners while her nose flared in annoyance.Her anger didn’t seem to affect Viaan a bit as the man chuckled loudly. “As I said, it is a surprise, Maa. I’m not telling you to spoil the fun already.” He refused to reveal, making his mother smack his arms from the backseat.“You have become too naughty these days.” She said through her gritted teeth, only to get a burst of hearty laughter from her son.Huffing, she crossed her hands across her chest and s
Writer’s POV:-“Thank you so much, Guys.” An emotional Viaan expressed his gratitude to the two of the constant pillars of his life.Receiving brotherly pats on his back as a response, he reluctantly broke the hug. His dull face was uplifted with the pure essence of their support throughout his life.“You —” Ryan started to speak, but then his eyes narrowed as he studied Viaan’s features more closely. “Were you crying, Viaan?” His eyes scanned Viaan’s face with concern.On cue, Leo also took a closer look. “Yeah, you look off!” He exclaimed, pointing out the obvious signs of distress.Viaan stilled. His smile dropped into a thin line. Immediately, he averted his eyes away from them and looked everywhere around.How come Ryan observed that? His shoulders tensed once again.“No. Why would I cry?” He chuckled nervously shrugging his shoulders, not wanting them to read his face further.“Then why are your eyes red and moist?” Ryan scoffed, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t lie through your teeth
Back in the present time, The PenthouseViaan’s POV, :Looking at the keys, I fisted them tightly. I was in my penthouse where I had come just an hour ago to get freshened up. Last night, I had to lie to Kia and Maa as I had spent entire hours in planning for the surprise for Maa. Then this morning the leftover documentation took my time while I also went to check for last-minute preparations. I just happened to come here one hour ago as I can’t go directly to home. And as soon as I came here, the first thing I did was to call Maa. She deserves the surprise the most.All through this while, I also kept myself reassured that this was not a dream anymore but a reality.A beautiful reality.A certain kind of peace filled my heart. I felt the cores of my eyes moistening up. Our dream was finally completed.“Paradis d’Amour is finally ours, Papa. I completed your and Maa’s dreams.” My voice choked with emotions as I looked at the picture frame on my desk while placing the keys reverently b
Writer’s POV:-“Did Viaan tell when will he come?” Leena asked Kiara who was serving her breakfast.Her hands stopped in the air and she raised her head to her mother-in-law. “No, Maa. He had just dropped the text last night that he wouldn’t be coming home tonight as he had an urgent meeting and some important work. So, he is perhaps staying at the penthouse itself.” Kiara sighed, continuing to fill Leena’s plate.Leena nodded recalling the text Kiara showed her last night. Viaan had specifically mentioned to tell Leena about it, he himself didn’t text her thinking she must be asleep by then.It was around eleven in the morning. Both the ladies were having a late breakfast today, as Kiara was nauseous and not feeling good this morning; thus she had delayed her meal.Although Leena had something light earlier as she had to have medicines as well, she still joined Kiara in the late meal.It was Leena’s assistance that she was even eating, lest she was all ready to ditch the breakfast to
Writer’s POV:-“And the man said that Mr. Adams is ready to meet at the earliest possible date,” Daniel revealed, sounding serious and firm.Hunter sat straight with a jerk, his brows dipping in. “How come he agreed this early? Didn’t he and his lawyer want time?” The question triggered his mind, he inquired in a disbelieving tone.The frown went deeper on his face; his eyeballs moving constantly as he tried to figure out Viaan’s step. One thing was crystal clear neither Viaan nor his lawyer saw this proposal as a simple invitation to get rid of legal troubles. Hence it was very much acceptable for his rival to seek time to agree or even deny.That’s why, even when this frustrated Hunter, he was ready for any secret investigation Viaan did on him. But little did he expect, that his acceptance would come this early and fast.He heard Daniel huffing from the other end and came out of his thoughts. “I have no idea, Sir. But if they are ready then why not proceed? This was the plan after
Writer’s POV:-“Kia, calm down. Ryan said that he won’t reveal anything to Viaan.” Sophie tried to calm her down, but the girl was far from calming down.A ready havoc was created in her mind and heart and she had no idea how to deal with it.“But he didn’t even give me any time, Soph. All he allowed me is tonight.” Kiara retorted, holding her breath in apprehension.She can hear her heart pounding in her ears, and sweat beads adorning her temples even after the decreased temperature of AC.Her words followed a silence before Sophie sighed audibly. “You have taken more than you should, Kia. You can’t avoid it any longer. Dr. Ryan was right when he said the more delay you are making the harder it would be to make Viaan understand.” Sophie indirectly quoted Ryan’s words from the last evening.“Out of all people, you should be understanding my dilemma, Soph.” Kiara clicked her tongue, getting annoyed at not finding any solution. “I didn’t wait for Tyler to just wake up, but I needed to k
Writer’s POV:-“Not only this but also the fact that Aaron is Tyler and Sophie’s son!” Ryan’s voice was steady, but there was a hint of solemnity in his tone.As Ryan dropped the bombshell, Kiara and Sophie froze, their eyes widening in shock. The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the revelation.A revelation that Kiara least expected today.The room fell into a stunned silence. The only thing audible at that moment was the ticking of the clock and the lazy evening wind coming through the open windows of Ryan’s cabin.With a composed face, Ryan watched the two women in front of him, trying hard to digest the truth he just disclosed.He knew this was going to be their reaction once her tells them the truth, but still watching them doing so, made him amused.Did they really think they would keep this massive truth away from him?Did they seriously think he wasn’t going to find it out, ever? He was a doctor, for God’s sake. It was impossible for this truth to be a secret fr