At that moment, Anna noticed Damien standing in front of her. She greeted him with a soft, “Hi.”Damien, feeling slightly out of place, asked, “Do you need help?”Anna looked at him, a small smile playing on her lips. “Do you know how to cook?”He shook his head.“Then it’s fine,” she said.“I can chop vegetables,” he offered. “Just tell me what to chop.”She raised her eyebrows but nodded. “Okay.” She guided him through the task and showing him how to slice the vegetables. To his surprise, he picked it up quickly. While he chopped, she boiled the pasta and reheated some freshly baked sourdough bread that the housekeeper had stocked in the refrigerator.As he watched her cook, Damien was captivated by her talent in the kitchen. Anna heated a pan, drizzled olive oil,and sautéed tomatoes with a mix of other vegetables,. She filled the room with a mouthwatering aroma. She finished the dish by grating cheese over both their plates of pasta.When Damien took his first bite, he glanced at he
The next day was sunny as Damien and Annastasia left the house. She had baked a cake and was carrying a bouquet of flowers. He didn’t ask her where they were going as he simply followed her in silence. They walked for a while and when they reached their destination, he glanced at her. He noticed a shift in her demeanor. She walked ahead but her body was tense and focused solely on moving forward. It was as if she feared that if she looked around, she might lose the courage she had mustered.They stopped in front of a cemetery, a large tree casted a shadow over the graveyard. Annastasia placed the cake and flowers on a nearby stone before kneeling to clear away the dried leaves and dirt with her bare hands.Damien watched her, feeling a lump form in his throat as he saw droplets of water fell onto the grave. It wasn’t the sky that was raining but her eyes. Once she finished cleaning, she gently laid the flowers on the grave. Then she turned to face Damien, her eyes red but managing a sm
Later that evening, Anastasia sat on the swing sofa, wrapped in a thin blanket and was holding a cup of coffee. She had cried so much that her eyes and head ached. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Damien might think her tears were just for attention. She did not want him to think that she did all of this to prove a point to him. As she sat lost in thought, Damien walked in and said, “Let’s get dinner.”She blinked, realizing she had completely forgotten about eating and hadn’t even prepared anything. “Did you make dinner?” she asked.He scratched his head sheepishly. “I’m hopeless in the kitchen. I ordered takeout instead.”A smile spread across her lips. “Okay.”Instead of heading to the dining table, they settled on the rug in the living room and eating the food from takeout boxes. “This is good!” Anastasia exclaimed, savoring her food.Damien nodded in agreement. “Are we leaving tomorrow?”She nodded, “Have you ever been to London?”He shook his hea
The day of competition . All the contestants had submitted their designs and were eagerly awaiting the results. Only thirty would advance to the second round and with at least twenty designs each and then every contestant’s portfolio was evaluated individually. Each design received a score and the top thirty scorers would clear the first round.The setting resembled an exhibition with every contestant's designs beautifully printed and arranged in unique portfolios on tables assigned to each designer. Judges and onlookers walked through the room and reviewed the work. The atmosphere was quite tense as the contestants waited for the results.Finally, the list of selected contestants along with their scores was displayed on the board. Regina Spencer unsurprisingly secured the top score which confirmed her reputation as one of the strongest competitors. Anastasia was ranked around number twenty and she breathed a sigh of relief as she had made it through even if was just passing marks.
Claire stared at the screen as her frown was deepening with frustration. Something had been kept from her and the thought made her tense. She switched off the TV and tossed the remote onto the table. Just then, the door opened and her husband’s wheelchair was pushed into the room. The helper quietly stepped out when he saw her and left them alone."Hubby, how are you feeling today?" Claire asked, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was quite a good faker. "I’m fine," Harold replied, his voice calm. "How was Regina’s competition?"A wide smile broke across Claire’s face. "Regina came first in the first round. You know how she is. She always excelling in everything she does. It is no surprise she will win this contest too."Harold hummed in acknowledgment.After a moment’s pause, Claire spoke again. Her tone was deliberately hesitant. "Hubby, did you know that Anastasia is competing in the same contest?"Harold’s eyebrows rose in surprise. "Anastasia is participating
“Why did you drag me here?” Anastasia asked Adeline as her tone was filled with frustration. They were seated at a cosy table in a restaurant where Adeline had insisted they meet. The contest had so consumed Anastasia that she barely had time for anyone including Damien. She barely sees Damien these days. Adeline leaned in closer and whispered, “I want you to meet someone. She is a love guru. She has solutions to all relationship problems.”Anastasia rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with what her best friend was throwing her into. “Come on, Adeline. They are just fake gurus on I*******m.”Any Tom, Dick or Harry claims to be a love guru on I*******m these days. She did not wish to fall into this trap. Adeline was something too stupid and frustrating! “Anna, please!” Adeline pleaded giving her best puppy eyes. “You have to trust her. If you follow her advice, your problems with Damien will be solved.”Just then, a woman walked into the restaurant. She was draped in an extravagant f
During breakfast, Damien sat at the table as he was pretending to read the newspaper while waiting for Anastasia. The tension between them had been thick since they returned from London and for the past two days, they had barely spoken. It felt like they were living in a chilly silence each of them too proud or what Anastasia said too busy to break it.He heard the click of heels on the floor and turned to find his wife approaching. She looked stunning, dressed in a classy, long pleated white skirt paired with a sleeveless white vest top that had a subtle V-neck which was teasing just enough to hint at what lay beneath. Her new hairstyle framed her face perfectly while accentuating her delicate features and she wore a soft lipstick that made her lips pop. Damien couldn't help but sneak a glance from head to toe, his eyes lingered on her red heels which were the only splash of colour in her monochromatic outfit. Although her attire revealed very little skin, it stirred feelings inside
When Damien arrived to pick Anastasia up, he was greeted by the sight of her in a lovely lilac midi dress, her long and wavy hair dancing with the breeze. She stood at the door waiting for him. As the driver opened the car door, she entered with a soft smile and greeted him. Damien handed her the box with Austin's birthday gift. They soon arrived at Adeline’s house where an enthusiastic Adeline greeted them at the door.“Hey babe,” Adeline said, pulling Anastasia into a tight hug before turning to Damien. “Thank you for coming, Damien.”He gave a polite nod,and the two followed Adeline inside. The gathering was intimate with only five people present. They made their way over to Austin who was seated with an older woman.Anastasia smiled brightly and hugged Austin. “Happy birthday, Austin!”“Thank you, Anastasia,” Austin replied, smiling in return.When Damien and Austin finally came face to face, there was a moment of mutual assessment between them before Damien extended his hand for
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