In the living room, Caleb returned with a glass of water and Damien wrapped his arms around Anastasia while providing her with a sense of comfort. “Damien,” she said earnestly, “If one day I die, you have to take care of Addy and my godchild on my behalf. Do you get it?”“Baby, don’t talk nonsense,” he replied, concern etched across his face. “Nothing will happen to you. I promise, I will take care of Addy and our godchild.”They had already taken the role of god-parents. They were the self declared god-parents! Even if Adeline did not make them the godparents of her child, they would love the baby so much and protect him or her from all the dangers. Caleb chimed in, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I will always look out for Miss Addy and my god-niece or god-nephew.”Anastasia hugged both Caleb and Damien tightly. “Thank you, guys.”In the evening, a doctor visited to check on Adeline. After a thorough examination, the doctor informed them that Adeline’s health was fragile and that she
As Adeline peacefully enjoyed her meal, Damien turned to Caleb and said, “Mom is calling you back home.”He had spent almost two weeks with the couple and now Carolyn was insisting that Caleb should be sent back home. Even grandmother was missing him a lot. Caleb immediately grasped Anastasia’s hand, his eyes wide with both determination and desperation. “Anna, I don’t want to go.”He was so used to living a free and great life here that he did not want to go. Damien and Anastasia were not nosy. Nor do relatives come here every other day. Those two were very concerned about him in all the ways. He would get a very healthy but delicous breakfast that Anna designed for him. She would buy him cool clothes and she would also get him subscription for all the games that he liked. When Damien was against him playing videogames all day, she made Damien understand that it was caleb’s way of interacting with friends. Although he could play videogames without any worry, he just had to join Dami
Anastasia walked confidently into her father’s office, her face glowing with pride as she placed a file on his desk. Harold looked at her with a raised brow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He picked up the file and his expression changed as he saw the signature.“This is Princess Nasrin’s signature. We got the deal,” Anastasia declared with a satisfied smile.Paul who had been lounging casually on the couch, nearly fell over when he heard her words. He quickly reached for the file and reading through its contents, then looked up at Anastasia with genuinely stunned expressions. “This girl really got the deal?” he muttered in disbelief. Then, turning to her, he asked, “What did you offer them?”“Nothing. I used the contract you drafted,” she replied casually, “And just made them agree to the conditions as they were.”Paul’s curiosity deepened. “How did you do it?”Anastasia’s tone turned playfully accusing. “First, you left me out there to deal with the aftermath in case I failed and
Since Anastasia left the office early, she decided to surprise her husband by picking him up from work. First, she drove to a flower shop as she was searching for the perfect bouquet. Her eyes landed on a small and delicate arrangement of sunflowers. Suddenly, Damien's radiant smile flashed in her mind.He is like a sunflower, she thought, and without hesitation, she purchased the bouquet. Next, she swung by a coffee shop to grab him a nice drink, making sure to choose his favorite. With her gifts in basket, she drove to his office as her heart fluttering with anticipation. How would he react on seeing her there? Would he be happy? Would he feel special? All these things were going on in her mind. As she arrived, she flashed a bright smile at the receptionist. “I’m here to see Damien Callahan.”“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked, raising an eyebrow.The other receptionist leaned in and whispered something in her ear, then turned to Anastasia, “This way, ma’am. I will
When Anastasia returned, she noticed the sunflowers arranged in a vase on Damien's desk, brightening up his usually serious office. A soft smile lit up her face.They sipped their coffees together and she began telling him about her day, “I met with my dad.”Damien looked at her, curious. “What did he say?”“I convinced him to let me handle the hotel project alone,” she said, her voice holding a trace of pride. “But he will be supervising.”He nodded approvingly. “That’s fine.”This was a good progress. For some reasons, he could sense that his wife wanted to stay more with her father. He did not know the reason behind it but it was fine. Whatever her goal was, he just hoped that she achieve it. She sighed. “I will need to go to Spencer Mansion twice a week to report on the progress.”He met her gaze, his tone firm. “I will come with you every time.”She hated going there. Since he could not see her being bullied there, he would accompany her there. A look of relief softened her fea
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
“Mrs. Spencer, Miss Spencer is back.”Claire’s sharp gaze flickered toward the housekeeper, her fingers stilling over the rim of her teacup. The words sent a ripple through her carefully composed demeanour, but she did not let it show.She set her cup down with measured grace and asked, “Which one?”The housekeeper hesitated only briefly before answering, “Miss Regina.”Claire’s lips parted slightly, a glimmer of intrigue flashing in her eyes. She let the silence stretch, allowing herself a moment to absorb the unexpected news. Regina was back.Finally, she asked, “Where is she?”The housekeeper shifted uneasily. “She arrived with luggage. She went straight to her room. We did not ask any questions, but… it seems she is here to stay.”Claire leaned back into her chair, pressing her fingers together in thought. “Get her whatever she needs. Make sure she is comfortable.” Then, after a calculated pause, she added, “And keep an eye on her.”She had anticipated something like this. The dru
As they strolled through the garden, the evening air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers and the soft rustling of leaves. Damien glanced at Anastasia, his fingers brushing against hers lightly before he asked, “How are you feeling, Anna?”Anastasia let out a slow sigh before a small, thoughtful smile curved her lips. “You know, when I first returned to New York, I was consumed by my desire for revenge. I wanted to burn everything to the ground. I wanted to kill Claire. And I still do.” She paused, inhaling deeply. “But not at the cost of myself. Somewhere along the way, I realized just how beautiful my life is. I found my courage, Damien. I finally found the strength to come to you and—by some twisted manipulation—make you my husband as well.”He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “I still can’t believe you pulled that off.” Then, after a beat, he asked, “Can I ask you something?”She nodded, turning her gaze toward him.“Why did you propose marriage to me?” His expressio
“Welcome home, Mommy!”The children’s voices rang with excitement as they ran to embrace Anastasia with their little arms wrapped tightly around her. It was a simple moment filled with warmth, laughter, and an overwhelming sense of belonging. The family of four was whole again.Nevertheless, even as joy swelled in her heart, a shadow of bitterness lingered behind. Regina was gone. The sting of her departure wasn’t something Anastasia could easily ignore, but for the first time, she found herself truly understanding Regina’s reasons and doings. Regina had chosen to leave on her terms, and in doing so, she had finally earned Anastasia’s respect. Regina’s love for Damien had always been complicated, but at least now, there was honesty in it.What unsettled Anastasia more was that Regina had chosen to go back to the Spencers’ house. The thought of her returning to that place sent an uneasy chill through her. But Damien had reassured her. “She’ll be safe,” he had promised. “Regina isn’t as
As the letter slipped from his trembling fingers, Damien snatched his phone and dialled her number, his heart pounding in his chest.The moment she answered, he didn’t hesitate. “You stupid girl,” he muttered, his voice thick with frustration and desperation. “What the hell are you doing? Come back.”Regina let out a breathless laugh. One that was laced with the sound of silent tears. “No, Damien,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “You lost your chance.” A heavy pause. “Don’t make this harder for me.”Damien closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against his hand as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. “Regina, where are you?” he asked, almost pleading.“I’m going back to my house,” she said, her voice flat. “To the Spencers’ house.”His heart lurched. “Don’t go there,” he almost yelled, gripping the phone tighter. “Regina, don’t go back to that place! Just—just come back to me instead!”But she wasn’t listening. Or maybe she couldn’t. Instead, her voice took on an eerie calm
When Damien woke up, a sense of unease settled over him. Something felt off as if something was missing. Huh, what was this feeling? Anna was finally safe but why was his heart tensed? Before he could fully grasp the feeling, Mrs. Luna entered the room hastily, holding a neatly folded envelope. Her expression was desperate and full of fear. "Mr. Callahan," she said softly. "Miss Spencer left this morning. She asked me to give you this letter."Damien frowned, confusion knitting his brows. "She… left?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. Where did she leave? He saw her last night and she looked fine. Where did she just go? Mrs. Luna merely nodded before stepping back, leaving him alone with the letter.With a deep breath, Damien unfolded the paper as his eyes scanned the words written in her familiar handwriting.Hi Damien,By the time you read this, I will be gone.Not from your life. Not entirely. But from this home, from your family, from the future I once dreamt of with
Rio, seemingly sensing the emotional shift, banged his tiny fists on his high chair. “Mama!”Adeline laughed through her sniffles, reaching out to ruffle his curls. And just like that, the warmth of home wrapped around her again.Suddenly, Rio let out an excited squeal as his chubby hands flailed wildly as he bounced in his high chair. His little body practically vibrated with enthusiasm as he made incoherent noises, pointing toward the entrance.“What’s gotten into you, little devil?” Adeline chuckled, reaching out to steady him. “Why are you so naughty tonight?”But Rio’s wide eyes remained locked on a single spot and his excitement grew by the second.Curious, Asher turned to follow his brother’s gaze. The moment he registered who was stepping inside, his fork clattered onto his plate. Without a second thought, he launched himself forward, his feet pounding against the floor at lightning speed.“Mommy!” he cried, throwing himself straight into Anastasia’s arms.Anastasia barely had
When Damien pulled up to his place, the night air carried a solemn stillness. He turned to Anastasia as he was reluctant to leave.“Go inside,” she told him softly.His jaw tightened. “Why do you have to leave?” His voice was low, almost pleading. He didn’t want to be apart from her, not now, not ever. Being with her made everything feel right, and the thought of stepping into that house without her felt unbearably empty.Anastasia sighed, cupping his cheek gently. “Damien, go home.” Her touch was warm but there was finality in her tone. “I know you could tell Regina you are away on a business trip or come up with some excuse… but I don’t feel right about it. She is sick, Damien. She is all alone, away from her family. And in her mind, you are the only one she has.” She paused, letting the words sink in. “Right now, she needs you more than I do.”Damien clenched his fists, torn between obligation and desire. He wanted to be with Anastasia, to hold her, to lose himself in her warmth,
Adeline sighed dramatically. “And when I woke up the next morning, he was gone. I still didn’t know what he looked like. But I knew it was him. So, I texted him. I said, I know it was you. Then, I deleted all my social media. I told him, If you want me, you’ll have to find me.”Regina held her breath. “Did he?”Adeline exhaled, shaking her head. “No.”Regina frowned.“Long story short,” Adeline continued, “I found out I was pregnant. When we finally met again, he was shocked… disgusted with himself… beaten half to death by my family—” She smirked. “And that was just the beginning. After so many dramatic twists and turns, we found our way back to each other. Now, we are living our happily ever after.”Regina stared at her, almost in disbelief. “You forgave him? Just like that?”Adeline’s smile softened. “You see, Regina… I hated him when I was going through pregnancy alone. The only person who stood by me was my best friend. But in the end, I forgave him. Not because I’m a saint, but b
Adeline had just returned to the table when she heard Regina’s soft and pensive voice.“Hey, Adeline… Have you ever been in love?”Adeline raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden question. Regina had been oddly quiet since she sat back down, her eyes distant, lost in thoughts Adeline couldn’t quite decipher. Something had shifted in her.“Yes,” Adeline answered with a small smile.Regina looked at her intently. “Was your love successful?”A nostalgic warmth flickered across Adeline’s face. “I struggled for almost a decade,” she admitted, “but it succeeded in the end.”Regina blinked, intrigued. “Really? Would you like to share it with me?”Adeline chuckled. “As you know, I’m a model, right?”Regina nodded. “I have heard your name.”Adeline rolled her eyes dramatically. “Girl, I have over fifty million followers, and you have just heard about me? You humble me real quick.”Regina let out a small laugh, and Adeline smirked before continuing.“Anyway, I was still in college and moving