The next morning, Anastasia woke with a sharp cramp twisting through her stomach. Her discomfort must have stirred Damien as he blinked awake beside her, immediately noticing her pained expression.“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. He started to sit up, saying, “Do you need something? I will get you water—”But she reached out, she grabbed his hand to stop him. “Don’t move,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. For some reasons, she did not want hin to get out of the bed. It was not because she was suddenly clingy of him. It had an entirely different reason. Damien’s brow furrowed, but he stayed still while lying close to her. They had fallen asleep in a spooning position with her body curled up against him and her back pressed into his chest. Her voice was soft and tinged with regret as she said, “Husband, I’m… I’m so sorry.”“What happened?” he asked, his voice gentle, though a flicker of worry crept into his gaze. Just then, he felt someth
As Anastasia lay there on the bed, Damien brought breakfast to the room and set it carefully on a tray. Normally, he didn’t believe in eating in bed but for her, he was more than willing to bend the rules. She watched him with a lot of dmiration as they had food together and that day, he got ready quite late and went to office. He even took time off and went to office late so he could make her feel better. When he was ready to leave, he leaned down and kissed her forehead softly. “Take care today,” he murmured. “Call me if you are not feeling well.”She looked up at him, a hopeful look in her eyes. “Can you come home early?”He smiled. “Sure.”“Can I borrow Jack for a day?” she asked after a moment’s pause.“My assistant?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow.She nodded, a playful smile on her lips. If she gets Jack, she had big plans for him. She wished that she had a multitasker employee like Jack. “Okay,” he agreed without hesitation.“Aren’t you going to ask why?” she teased.“Just us
Anastasia was working on her strategy when Damien walked in. The moment she saw him, she abandoned everything and ran to hug him. It was like a child greeting a parent after a long day. Seeing her so happy, he wrapped his arms around her. “Happy to see me?” he asked.She nodded with a smile.He kissed her forehead and they settled onto the couch. His gaze fell on the scattered papers, filled with words like break marriage, kill two birds with one stone, and various mind maps. He quickly understood that his beautiful and scheming wife was plotting to take down an empire. “I think the girl’s mother might be the easiest to manipulate,” Damien observed, piecing together what he could from her notes. He had no idea who they were talking about at this time but from the knowledge and the background that he could understand. “But isn’t she divorced?” she asked.“All the better,” he replied with a smile.“Will you help me craft a more detailed plan?” she asked.Though he didn’t know all the
They continued talking, mainly about Anastasia as shw was their mutual friend. Soon the conversation shifted and they shared stories about their careers and dreams. When Adeline excused herself to go to the restroom, Abel stayed at the table with a warm smile. His heart was so guddy. After such a long time, he liked someone. Not just to tangle in sheet but someone who he really wanted to get to know and spend more time together. Just then, someone approached him. “What are you doing here?” Ronan asked, grinning. He could see the glow on Abel’s face. The young man was clearly upto something. However, he did not expose him. “I’m on a date,” Abel replied, grinning back.Ronan punched his arm playfully. “Good luck, man. Hope you get lucky tonight.”Abel rolled his eyes. “Nah, this one’s different. I actually want to get to know her, not just... well, you know.”Ronan’s smile softened. “I hope you find the happiness you deserve.”He was very happy for his bestfriend at this time. “Than
It took Anastasia a week to arrange a “chance” meeting with Kiara Armani’s mother. She wanted it to seem like a coincidence, though it was carefully planned. She was in the children’s section, pretending to select clothes for a young boy, when Cara Williams, formerly Mrs. Armani, approached nearby. It felt like a perfect chance where she could execute her perfect plan. She needed to let the woman’s guard down and then plant seeds of worry in her brain. “Oh... Mrs. Armani!” Anastasia said with a friendly smile, making it sound as if they had bumped into each other purely by accident. Sometimes, she was in awe of her acting skills. Cara looked at her, puzzled. “And you are...?”There was a extremely attractive woman standing in front of her. She was surprised to see the beautiful woman in the teenage sections to buy clothes. And what was making her curious was that this lady knew her. “Don’t you remember me?” Anastasia replied warmly. She added, “You came to my seventeenth birthday a
Cara’s expression faltered, caught off guard by the serious question.“In Noorstan,” Anastasia continued, “Things are quite orthodox and conservative there. Kiara would have to follow a specific set of rules and expectations about how she should dress and behave. Her freedom would be limited. Not just that, this freedom that she is having with her family here would be taken away from here.”Cara’s eyes flickered with unease and her voice barely a whisper. “What are you trying to do?”“My best friend was in a relationship with that boy,” Anastasia began, her tone cool. “He is more than ten years older than your daughter. His family was against a white girl at that time. Just imagine the restrictions Kiara will face, not to mention the palace politics for an eighteen-year-old girl. How sad for such a child.”Cara’s face flushed with anger. “How do you know? You are just talking nonsense!” She did not want to show an outsider that her words were impacting her. Anastasia remained calm as
It had been a week and a half since Abel and Adeline went on their first date and Abel couldn’t wrap his head around why she hadn’t agreed to a second one. Everything had gone splendidly, but still, no call or text came from her. He was starting to feel like a contestant on a game show where one that never seemed to get picked for the next round.He wanted Adeline to talk to him and tell him if he did something to upset her biut she would not even see his texts. Why was she doing this? Today, Abel decided to throw a party simply because he had nothing better to do or his heart was hurting too much. He even invited Adeline, but of course, she didn’t reply. As he waited, he heard the click of heels outside his door. His heart raced. could it be Adeline? He dashed to the door, throwing it open with a wide with hopeful grin.But his smile vanished faster than a child’s who dropped his icecream when he saw who was standing there.Regina crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Am I that des
Damien dialed a number and said, “Get here quickly if you want to see them alive.”Within moments, Ronan burst into the room, only to find Regina and Abel in a disheveled condition, looking like they had just survived a WWE match. He rushed over and he pulled out a first-aid kit and applied ointment to both their faces while scolding them like a father would his misbehaving children.“You two are impossible!” he exclaimed, reprimanding them for a solid ten minutes. Finally, he made them face each other and say the dreaded words: “Sorry.”With a reluctant exchange of glances, Abel and Regina muttered, “Sorry,” at the same time.“Now shake hands,” Ronan ordered.They glared at each other like two cats ready to pounce, but after a moment, they grudgingly shook hands. If they do not, Ronan was going to scold more. Abel muttered under his breath, “Wild cat.”Regina shot him a fierce glare. “Shall I show you what this wild cat can do?”Abel turned to Ronan, feigning innocence. “She is thre
“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