Over the weekend, Anastasia and Damien flew to London, as planned. They spent hours at Fiona’s grave while sharing updates about their lives, laughing and reminiscing about everything. They had even prepared one of her favorite meals and ate it there while letting the memories make them feel closer to her.That night, they wandered the streets of London. The next day, they returned home.That evening, they joined Carolyn and the Callahan family for dinner. As soon as Caleb sat at the table, Matriarch Callahan eyed him sharply while wrinkling her nose. “You stink, boy. Do you even remember where home is?”Caleb retorted, “Why did you throw me out in the first place?”Carolyn sighed, “No one threw you out, Caleb.”This boy.. Sometimes, he was ruthlessly honest. And they did not throw him out of the house. He was still holding a grudge against them. He crossed his arms. “You both did.”Both women exchanged a resigned look while letting out a sigh. Meanwhile, Matriarch Callahan took in C
As Caleb finished recounting his time at Damien's home, Matriarch Callahan shook her head in amusement. “It must be so hard for you to handle this mischievous boy.”Damien replied smoothly, “I didn’t have to do much. Anastasia took care of him the whole time.”Matriarch Callahan turned to Anastasia with genuine gratitude. “Thank you, Anastasia.”Anastasia smiled. “It is nothing. He is a wonderful kid.” She glanced at Carolyn and added with a playful gleam, “Besides, he is been giving Damien and me some practice for the future.” She laughed softly, “When Damien and I have our own little one, I will already know what to do, right?”Carolyn nearly choked, eyes widening as she registered Anastasia’s words.Matriarch Callahan’s eyes shot open in surprise. “Are you... pregnant?”Damien bit back a grin, thoroughly entertained by his wife’s clever approach. Anastasia was always a step ahead.“Well,” Anastasia replied, shrugging, “We are not sure yet. But even if I’m not, Damien said that we k
“Mrs. Spencer!” A half-bald man came limping over as he saw Claire step out of the car. A bright smile filled his eyes as he went ahead to receive her. “How are you doing, Henry?” Claire asked with a smile which smooth and poised. Although her appearance was elegant, it did not match her malicious heart. “Great, Madam,” Henry replied, though his voice held a trace of nerves. He disappeared inside briefly before returning with a file of sketches. He handed it to her. “This is what I have got.”Once a year or twice a year, his boss would come to see him and get the work that he had to take care of. This time, his boss came after a whole year. Usually, he would be excited to see her but this time, he was nervous as he had not done the work that he was supposed to do. Claire’s expression soured as she flipped through the pages. “A year, Henry, and this is all you have? Five new sketches? Don’t try to fool me and these others are old that were unfinished at that time.”Just as he had exp
"Ah!""Anna?" Damien woke with Anastasia's distressed scream. She was drenched in sweat while crying out in her sleep as if she was trapped in a nightmare. Gently, he tried to wake her by whispering her name, but she was lost somewhere deep and her unstoppable cries breaking his heart.It was as if she was caged in a place where he could touch her, feel her but he could not make his voice enter her ears. She clung to him unconsciously while her voice was trembling, she was just calling for one person, "Mom! Don’t go!" Damien held her close in his embrace warm and to make her feel that she was protected, hoping she could feel his presence and find some sense of safety in his warmth. He stroked her hair softly, murmured soothing words while he was feeling utterly helpless as he waited for the nightmare to fade. His wife was so much in pain that it was unbearable for him to see her like this. After half an hour, her breathing slowed and she finally fell into a peaceful sleep. When she
At that moment, Anastasia returned with a big smile and placed a fruit plate in front of Damien and Adeline. “I peeled and cut these myself. I want you both to finish it!”They groaned in unison, “Okay.”Why was this woman always obsessed with feeding them healthy food all the time? She never let them eat anything from out but twice or thrice a week, she would be found stuffing burgers. Then, she would give a sheepish smile and say she needed them for her emotional wellbeing. Anastasia giggled, “I want my godchild to come out healthy and rosy.”Adeline rolled her eyes. “I swear I have gained at least ten pounds since staying here for two weeks! And it is not all pregnancy weight.”Anastasia looked around playfully and said, “Husband, is there a third person here? Because I can’t see anyone else.”Damien chuckled, feeding her a slice of apple. “No, just us. But don’t try to avoid your own share. Take care of your health, too.”Anastasia pouted. “Why should I worry about my health? Don’
Anastasia was focused on her workstation in her father’s office as she was immersed in the details of the hotel design. The architecture had finally been approved, the investors were on board, and the selection of companies for the project was finalized. She had decisively removed all partners loyal to Armanis from the list and opted instead for neutral firms like the Callahans and others. When she presented her choices to Harold, he nodded in approval without any hitch which was surprising to her. With the official work complete, the construction in Noorstan was set to begin, and Anastasia confidently estimated the hotel would be ready in three to six months. As she wrapped up her tasks, she realized it was lunchtime. To her surprise, her father was in the office and busy with his own work. He usually liked to work from home and rarely come here. Harold glanced over at his daughter, noting how focusedly she stared at her screen. He cleared his throat, hoping to catch her attentio
“Anna!” Adeline protested as her voice was muffled as she curled deeper into the couch. “I don’t wanna go.”Anastasia sighed, hands on her hips. “Why not? You haven’t left this house in a month!”Adeline mumbled, “I did. I went to meet Austin.”A week ago, Adeline had finally come clean to Austin about her pregnancy. His reaction wasn’t terrible, but he looked more terrified than she felt. In the end, he insisted that she stay with him. But Adeline held her ground as she had refused to leave Anastasia’s place just yet. They compromised that she could stay with Anastasia until she felt ready to move in with him. At least she hzd have someone looking out for her.“Addy, staying cooped up is not good for your mental health,” Anastasia coaxed. “All day, you are either here or in the kitchen.”Adeline pouted. “I’m learning to cook from Mrs. Luna, and she is teaching me about baby care.”Anastasia smiled softly. “That is great, but you are doing nothing just for you. Your life doesn’t have
Meanwhile, the waitress hurried over to the manager, her face flushed with worry. “Summer, I’m so sorry! I really messed up. I accidentally spilled hot coffee on a guest!”Summer was a beautiful and gentle looking woman in her late forties with a warm but had a kind presence and she looked at Lily with genuine concern. “Take a deep breath, Lily. Just make sure she is okay and offer any help she needs. Accidents happen all the time.”Lily’s hands twisted nervously. She said while catching breath, “I don’t think she is badly burned and she poured ice water over herself immediately and rushed into the restroom. But what if she is scalded?”Summer nodded thoughtfully. She said, “We shouldn’t take any chances. I will call my friend Eliza. She is a doctor and happens to be babysitting my daughter. Let us also grab the first aid kit, just in case.”Just then, a tall, middle-aged man with a strong and attractive presence walked over. He gave Summer a gentle look as he noticed the frown on her
Damien asked, shocked, “What happened to Harold?”Jack replied, “He suffered a stroke. His condition is serious.”“Is Claire there?” Damien asked urgently.“Not yet, but the butler is. Claire has been informed and will be arriving soon,” Jack explained.Damien’s tone turned sharp. “Jack, get Harold out of the house as soon as possible. Don’t let Claire catch wind of it. Until she arrives, the butler has the authority to assist you. Once she’s there, she’ll take control. Warn the butler that this is all part of Claire’s grand plan. To eliminate Harold and seize everything. She is already plotting against Regina and Anna.”“Understood, sir. I will take care of it,” Jack assured him.When Damien ended the call, he turned to find Asher who was standing nearby and observing him quietly.Before Damien could talk to his eldest son, Darcy entered the room, followed closely by Summer who was carrying a sleeping Destiny. Despite the late hour, the couple had arrived, uncalled but concerned.Dam
While Ronan, Adeline, and Abel were at the hospital, Damien found himself pacing back and forth in the living room. He had been trying to contact Anastasia, but now her phone was switched off. She had been keeping him updated on the situation but with no recent word, his worry began to grow.“Dad, Rio is crying,” Maxey said softly, tugging at Damien’s sleeve.Damien turned quickly, his thoughts momentarily interrupted. “Oh…” he muttered, glancing toward the baby.As he turned, he noticed Asher holding Rio in his arms, while gently rocking him. To Damien’s surprise, Asher was singing the lullaby that Anastasia usually sang to soothe the baby. His voice was sweet and homely and before long, Rio’s cries quieted as he drifted off to sleep.Damien smiled faintly at the sight, feeling both pride and heartache.“Dad, when will Mom come home?” Asher asked, his voice filled with worry. “Is everything okay?”Damien ruffled his son’s hair, trying to reassure him. “Everything’s okay, kiddo,” he s
Anna made sure all the exits around the hospital were blocked. She was determined to stop anyone from escaping, especially since she was certain the kidnapper hadn’t left and the missing baby was still inside the building.She didn’t waste any time and searched every corner of the hospital. She checked rooms, hallways, and storage areas, leaving nothing untouched. The guards were also running around, doing their best to find the child, but no one seemed to have any luck.As Anna moved through the hospital, she noticed a nurse heading toward the terrace, holding a cigarette packet. The nurse tried to open the door but found it locked.“That’s strange,” the nurse muttered. “Why is the terrace door locked? It’s never locked.”Anna’s instincts kicked in. Something felt off. She walked up to the door and tried opening it herself, but it wouldn’t budge. The lock was solid and the door wouldn’t move. Without hesitation, she decided to break it open.She hurried downstairs to find something h
On Adeline’s side, Damien called her to come to his place immediately with her son. She was already en route when Ronan sent her an SOS with his location. Her brows furrowed at the odd message, but her heart pounded with unease. When she tried calling him, his phone was switched off.Dropping Rio off at Damien’s place, Adeline wasted no time. With her security team in tow, she headed to the location Ronan had sent. It was a private property on the outskirts of New York. The urgency of the situation made her call Delilah to arrange for a chopper to get her there faster.As they landed, her bodyguards secured the perimeter and began a thorough search of the property. Room by room, they swept through until Adeline finally found Ronan.He was lying on a bed. His body filled with discomfort as a naked woman attempted to climb on him. He was intoxicated but was still trying to push her away. Adeline’s blood boiled at the sight, but she forced herself to keep her calm.“Record this,” she or
Regina couldn’t make sense of what was happening. How could it be Fiona? She had been living here for months and hadn’t even recognized her own mother.“Regina!” Anastasia screamed as Regina stumbled against a table and fell to the ground.Both Anastasia and Fiona rushed to her side, helping her to the sofa.“Are you okay?” Anastasia asked, panic evident in her voice.Dazed, Regina nodded.“You hit the table so hard! And you are heavily pregnant. I’m not taking any chances,” Anastasia said, her fear mounting.“Anna, I’m fine,” Regina reassured her.But Anastasia didn’t listen. She quickly called Damien. “Please come to Regina and Abel’s place right away. And increase security around our house.”“Is everything alright?” Damien asked, his concern clear.“Damien, my mom is alive. She is here with me. I need you to come over and make sure she is safe while I look after Regina,” Anastasia said, her voice trembling. “Please, hurry.”When Damien arrived, he was stunned to see Fiona. Anastasi
Abel’s voice over the call was filled with concern. “Hey, Anastasia. Can you please check on Regina for me? I’m out of state for a meeting. She is not answering my calls, and my housekeeper is on leave.”There was a pause before he added, almost apologetically, “I know it is asking a lot, but I’m really getting stressed about her.”Anastasia’s tone was calm and reassuring. “It is not a big deal, Abel. I will go check on her.”“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I have to get back. I called you in the middle of a meeting,” he said hurriedly before ending the call.Anastasia smiled softly after hanging up. Lately, Abel had become incredibly attentive and caring toward Regina. With her due date approaching, it was natural for him to worry, especially when she didn’t pick up the phone. She admired how much effort he was putting into making sure Regina felt supported.“Maxey,” Anastasia called out, intending to get her youngest to join her.Instead of Ashton, Asher appeared in the doorway
Damien and Anastasia lay tangled under the sheet as the afterglow of their passionate love-making session still lingered. He pressed a gentle kiss to the smooth curve of her shoulder and a quiet hum of satisfaction left her lips in response.“Who knew that kids making love would be such an adventure,” Anastasia murmured, her voice filled with exhaustion.Damien chuckled. “I hope for a decade none of them discover sex.”Anastasia rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s not forget about us. We started pretty early. Thank God our parents never knew.”Damien’s grin was mischievous as he pulled her in for a slow kiss. “I missed you all day,” he whispered. Anastasia smirked, “Oh yeah? I heard the laughter downstairs. I know you were having fun with the boys. Did you even have the chance to miss me?”It warmed her heart to no end that their lives had changed for the better and now it was filled with so much love. This was the family that she never knew she needed. But now that she had it, everythi
As Mrs. Luna served Asher’s breakfast, it was noticeably different from everyone else’s. Since Asher loved animals so much that he couldn’t bear the thought of eating meat, the family wholeheartedly respected his choice and ensured he was only served vegetarian meals.“Jellybean, your dad told me about your plans for the day. Are you excited?” Anastasia asked with a warm smile.“Yeah,” Asher replied, though his tone carried a mix of emotions. Glancing at his younger brother, he added, “Maxey isn’t learning to ride a bicycle?”“Nope!” Ashton grinned cheekily. “I asked Mommy if I could skip it, and she said yes.”Asher turned toward Damien with a frown. “That’s not fair!”Damien shrugged with a smirk. “Sorry, buddy. He pulled the Mommy card today, and you know how it is, she is the boss.”Asher rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed.Anastasia leaned in, her tone encouraging. “I know by the end of the day, you will be riding like a pro. We are all rooting for you.”Breakfast was casual an
Many times, blood does not define relationships. Anastasia understood this better than anyone, and now Damien was living this truth as well.When Asher and Ashton were brought to their new home, they were awestruck. It took them an entire month to come to terms with the reality of their new life. Accepting Anastasia and Damien as their parents wasn’t easy, but all four of them were working hard to build a family together.It was the weekend. The boys had recently been enrolled in a new school and adjusting to the fast-paced curriculum of an international private school had been challenging for them. However, their parents were fully committed to helping them succeed.Despite it being a holiday, Damien woke the kids up early.Asher, the older of the two, groaned. “Do I really have to get up?”Though he was respectful to Anastasia and Damien, Asher had a frosty demeanour—his coldness rivalled that of Antarctica.“Yes, you do,” Damien said firmly. “We agreed that today you would learn ho