And the London trip ends here
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
The ride from Adeline’s house to their mansion was filled with silence as Anastasia appeared equated as she was looking out of window with sleepy eyes. It had been quite late at night. As they were going home, Damien got a message from his secretary who said, “Boss, someone is trying to a do a back up check on Mrs Callahan. We saw someone trying to follow her today.” Damien was alarmed. He turned to look at Anastasia who was still looking out of the window and replied, “It must be Harold. Keep an eye on what he is upto.” He then called her name softly, “Anastasia?”She turned to face him, blinking away the sleep. “Hmm?”“Someone is trying to run a background check on you,” Damien said. Anastasia’s drowsiness evaporated as his words sank in. “Do you want to allow it?”Anastasia frowned slightly. “Who is it?”“I believe it is your father,” Damien replied.Anastasia nodded thoughtfully. “Can I decide what he finds out?”“Of course,” Damien assured her.“Then I will let you know what he
Later that afternoon as Anastasia was about to leave for the office, a maid approached her and said, “Madam, master didn’t take his lunch box. He doesn’t eat outside food.”Anastasia checked the time. It was around the time Damien usually ate and she was already running late. “Okay, give it to me,” she replied. “I’ll take it to him.”She drove to Damien’s office. Since the car was registered under his name, she had no trouble getting into the parking lot. As she stepped out of the car, she happened to see Regina nearby. Anastasia immediately turned her face away as she was not in the mood to deal with the scheming woman.It wasn’t Anastasia herself that irritated Regina, it was the car she was driving. The car was extremely precious to Damien. He wouldn’t even let Abel or Ronan drive it, yet here was Anastasia who was known for her reckless driving,driving it. Seriously? Regina was fuming with jealousy and anger. For years, she had loved Damien and spent all the time caring for him af
Today, Damien had an important meeting scheduled at the Nyx Nightclub. It was a confidential and slightly dangerous affair as the other party had ties to the Mafia. As they negotiated, the deal wasn’t progressing and the two sides took a break to discuss their terms privately. Damien was seated in another VIP section with his team. While waiting, he happened to spot Regina chatting with a member of the other party.Soon after, the man walked toward Damien with Regina by his side. Taking a seat next to Damien, the man said, “Mr. Callahan, you didn’t mention you brought your fiancée with you. No need to hide such a beautiful lady.”Damien was about to respond but Regina quickly responded, “Thank you, but I will leave you gentlemen to your discussion. I’m here with a friend.”As Regina walked away, Damien noticed the man’s lewd gaze following her. He could tell what the other party was aiming for. These people were known for using underhanded tactics to close deals. They likely thought th
Anastasia stepped out of the banquet hall and found Regina sitting on a bench in the expansive garden of the Callahan mansion. Regina who was usually poised and sophisticated held a paper plate with a large slice of chocolate cake and was eating it with an unabashed delight that seemed out of character.For a moment, Anastasia simply stared at her but her curiosity was piqued by the rare sight.Regina’s gaze lifted and when she noticed Anastasia, she extended the plate with her used plastic fork. “Destiny was right. The birthday cake was awful, but this—” she gestured toward the cake with a satisfied sigh, “This tastes like heaven.”Anastasia raised an eyebrow.Regina grinned and said, “I walked an entire mile in these heels to get this cake from a bakery. The reviews didn’t lie. It’s worth every step.”Anastasia gaped. “You walked a mile? In those heels? Why didn’t you just tell Abel?”Regina shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t want to disturb him. He was with his friends. Besides, I ne
Regina replied softly, “I wish I could answer that.”Abel’s expression tightened as he whispered, “Claire isn’t your birth mother?”What on earth did he just see? Wait, she let him see this information? Did it mean, she really trust him with her life? Before he could get happy, she began saying. Regina shook her head. The DNA test had confirmed what she never imagined—Claire was not her birth mother. She didn’t know how to process it.She said, “The doctor told me there was a possibility I was adopted. Since I recently did a DNA test with my dad, I was certain that Harold is my biological father. All my life, Claire told me Harold wasn’t my father when they both knew the truth. Then suddenly, the doctor pointed out that with their blood types, they couldn’t have had a child with AB+. I was racking my brain, trying to figure it all out. Finally, I decided to test my DNA against the rest of my family.”Regina took a deep breath before continuing. “My DNA matched with my father... but,
After the cake-cutting ceremony, Regina stood far away from the crowd when a little girl approached her with a plate full of cake slices. The girl stopped near her and said, “Hello, this is for you.”Regina looked at the little princess, who had become the apple of everyone’s eye tonight. She crouched down to the girl’s level and said, “Thank you. Did you bring this for me?”Destiny turned around and pointed at Anastasia. “Anna asked me to give cake to everyone who didn’t get any.”Regina asked, “Did you give cake to everyone?”Destiny shook her head. “No, just you.”Regina chuckled. “Thank you.” She took the cake and bit into it. “Oh, it’s delicious.”Destiny made a face and said, “No, it’s not.” Leaning closer, she whispered in Regina’s ear, “My mommy makes cakes with real sugar and cream. This one has fake sugar and cream.”Regina laughed again. The cake was low-fat and low-sugar, but since she rarely had sugar or dairy, she didn’t notice the difference. She said, “I will try a rea
“Why is she here?” Anastasia asked, her voice low but sharp as her eyes fixed on Eleanor standing confidently in the hall. The nerve of that woman to show up at her house after trying to hurt her family.Damien leaned in slightly, keeping his tone casual. “She is Chris’s plus one.”Anastasia exhaled, quickly understanding the situation. “Okay. I will be on my best behaviour.”Though she wasn’t one to bow to others’ opinions, Anastasia had been making extra efforts lately. Damien’s family hadn’t fully warmed up to her, and for her husband’s sake, she was resolved to leave them with no reason to criticise. She wasn’t naturally a people-pleaser, but she knew that making peace with his relatives meant comfort for him and that mattered.Damien wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a side hug. “My wife is always on her best behaviour. It is just other people who know how to get under her skin.”Anastasia smiled faintly, conceding, “You are not wrong.”He chuckled, then flagged down a
The sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air as more guests arrived and the mansion came alive with enthusiasm of the guests. Abel walked alongside Regina, his hand resting lightly on her lower back for support. She looked radiant in a sleek black evening gown, her poise and grace masking any signs of her pregnancy. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, commanding attention with every step.“If you are not feeling well, we can leave,” Abel said, his tone laced with concern. His eyes lingered on her, searching for any sign of discomfort.“I’m fine, Abel,” Regina reassured him with a faint smile. Despite her visible effort to appear composed, Abel remained unconvinced.“You have been pushing yourself too hard,” he pressed. “I don’t want you getting sick again.”Regina’s gaze softened as she turned to him. She understood his worry as the past month had been challenging. Her health had taken a toll, resulting his mother to insist she stay with them until she rega
Grandmother sighed and said, “They didn’t listen to us when we didn’t want them to get married. They went ahead and did it anyway. Now, when we ask them to marry, they are ignoring us again.”Suddenly, Adeline added while trying to get under someone’s skin, “What about having the ceremony on their wedding anniversary?”Claire and Carolyn shot Adeline sharp looks but Grandmother seemed pleased by the idea. “That sounds like a nice idea,” she said eagerly.Damien and Anastasia exchanged glances before responding, “We will give you an answer soon.”Grandmother nodded, a hopeful smile on her face. “Hopefully, it will be a good answer.”At that moment, there was a bit of commotion in the party and a maid quietly whispered into the old lady’s ear, “Mr. Callahan is here.”The old lady’s eyes sparkled as she turned to see her son entering the room, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He looked just as he had ten years ago. Perhaps even more cheerful now. His presence was as captivating as e
It was the 80th birthday of Matriarch Callahan, and dignitaries from across the globe had flown in to celebrate the grand occasion. The weight of organizing such a significant gala rested on the capable shoulders of Damien and Anastasia, leaving them with no room for error.In the backseat of the luxury car, Claire sat poised like the picture-perfect wife, adorned in the finest clothes and glittering jewels. Her carefully composed demeanour, however, was a façade.Harold glanced at her sternly. “Be on your best behaviour tonight.”If not for the important gala tonight, she would still be in the lock-up at Spencer's house. He could not come to Anastasia’s in-law's house without his picture-perfect wife by his side. This would raise questions among people of their high society. Claire pouted, leaning toward him in offence. “Hubby, don’t you trust me?”He didn’t hesitate. “Not after what you did to Regina. No.”Her expression hardened but she quickly masked it with a fake smile. “I was
Damien noticed the furrowed brow and the unmistakable worry etched across Anastasia's face as she stared at the screen before her. He stepped closer, his voice calm but laced with concern. “What is wrong? Are you worried about something?”Anastasia turned to him, her expression conflicted. “Regina is investigating my mom,” she said, her tone tinged with disbelief.Damien’s brow shot up in surprise. “Regina? Investigating Fiona?” He tilted his head slightly, puzzled. “Why? She has never shown any interest in Fiona before. What has changed all of a sudden?”Anastasia shook her head. “I don’t know why she would want to dig into my mom’s past. It doesn’t make sense. Regina’s behaviour has been odd lately, like not sticking to her usual script.”Damien’s frown deepened. “Is she only looking into Fiona?”“Not just her,” Anastasia explained, leaning back in her chair. “She is investigating everyone. Fiona, Claire, and even Claire’s past before she married Harold. She is trying to piece toget
Later, Abel walked into the hospital room and found Regina sitting patiently on the bed, scrolling through her iPad. He smiled hesitantly. “Hi.”Regina looked up, setting the device aside. “Hey, how are you feeling?” she asked gently.Abel rubbed the back of his neck, his expression conflicted. “You are probably thinking the baby’s father is completely hopeless. I’m sorry. I was just... startled. So many scenarios were running through my mind. I never imagined I would end up in the same situation as Ronan.”Regina raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Is it really that bad?”“No…” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s just... I don’t know. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. There are so many emotions hitting me all at once, and... I’m sorry, Regina.”She smiled warmly at him, her tone soothing. “I understand. Don’t feel guilty. You didn’t run away, and that is more than enough for me.”Abel sighed in relief, her words easing some of his tension. “Thank you for t