Ronan took a deep breath and confessed his feelings, “Because I love her.”Adeline froze, her eyes locked on Ronan.Ronan turned to her and his gaze was so intense. “I love this woman more than my life. I was a jerk. I was a jerk for putting unnecessary things above her. I would die before letting any harm come her way.”Adeline was still shocked but did not forget to point a jab at Regina. “By unnecessary things, he meant you.”Regina’s jaw clenched, her face hardened with anger. “You are just as stupid and petty as your best friend.”Ronan’s frustration boiled over. “Regina, please. Don’t overwhelm Addy by bringing up Anna. Anna is her bottom line. She may love Anna more than her own blood brother. She is just one shock away from labor. Please.”Regina crossed her arms, clearly irked. “What did I even do?”Ronan looked up at Adeline, his face filled with regret, and dropped to his knees. “Adeline, I know I don’t deserve you. I know I have hurt you more than anyone should ever be hu
While Adeline had already been rushed to the labour room, Giovanni and Regina arrived at the hospital. Austin was pacing back and forth like a panicked madman, completely at a loss for what to do. He looked on the verge of tears.“Hey, calm down. Your sister is going to be fine,” Giovanni said, trying to reassure him.“How do you know?” Austin snapped. “You were threatening her not long ago, and you even supported your bastard brother who hurt my sister.”Giovanni sighed and said, “He is my brother, and my first instinct was to protect him. I didn’t know the full story or that he was in the wrong. I’m sorry for threatening your sister. I didn’t realize she was pregnant with his child.” She added earnestly, “I really am sorry.”Austin studied her for a moment. With her phoenix tattoo and rebellious demeanour, she seemed bold and unapologetically heroic. Finally, he relented, “Alright. I’m just really stressed.”She stepped forward with a calm smile and said, “Your sister will be fine. I
Anastasia glared at Claire and said, "Have you lost your mind?"Claire's fury only escalated when she saw who was speaking. Madness flickered in her eyes as she retorted, "Now you will tell me how to treat my own daughter? Who the hell do you think you are?"If there was one person that Claire hated more than anything in his life, it was Fiona and his spawn! If she wished, she would kill this bitch! Anastasia glanced at Regina who looked pale and fragile and was barely holding herself together. She turned to Damien and said, "Damien, please take her to a doctor first."She would not be kind to Regina but the fact that her step-sister was pregnant, she felt pity for her. As a human, she could not see fellow humans suffering. Maybe? She knew that she was not that great of a person yet she could not see Regina in this condition. Damien hesitated, his gaze shifting between Anastasia and Regina. It was unusual for his wife to care about Regina or even ask him to help her. What had change
On the other hand, Damien was stunned to learn about Regina’s pregnancy. As she asked the doctor to check on her baby, he was frozen in place, watching in a daze as the doctor bandaged the few cuts on Regina’s body from Claire’s beating.“One of the babies is slightly hurt, Miss Spencer,” the doctor said, after reviewing the ultrasound image.Regina couldn’t hold back her fear and tears. She asked, “Will she be okay?”“We will do our best,” the doctor reassured her. “I suggest you get some bed rest for a while.”The doctor hesitated for a moment, then looked at Damien before continuing, “If you are suffering any kind of abuse…”Regina quickly interjected, “He is not the baby’s father. He is family.”The doctor nodded in relief. “Please report the abuse and take care of yourself. You are in a very delicate situation.”The doctor then added, “You are borderline anemic. I will put you on the blood transfusion list.” She handed Regina a form. “Please fill this out.”Regina looked at the f
"It's a boy!"Someone shouted, and the entire waiting room burst into cheers and clapping. Anastasia and Damien immediately hugged each other. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she couldn’t find the right words to describe what she was feeling. It was like pure magic. A mix of overwhelming joy and relief. Despite her excitement, she had been more afraid of this day than Adeline herself.Her best friend was too weak. She was scared that she might loose her best friend. But now that everything went without a hitch, she could breathe and celebrate with everyone like she always wanted to do. On the other side of the room, Giovanni and Austin hugged each other in celebration, though the moment quickly turned awkward.“Sorry,” they muttered in unison.“It’s okay,” they both said at the same time, laughing as they hugged again. They were overjoyed about their sibling becoming a parent, and nothing could dampen that.Anastasia turned to the nurse with concern. “How is Adeline?”“She is doing
"Eat slowly! No one will snatch your food from you," Austin said, watching his beautiful but messy sister gobble down sushi. She was on her 10th piece, and for a woman who had just given birth, she sure had a lot of energy."What if they do?" Adeline replied, chewing with her mouth full.Ronan, sitting beside her, gently wiped her mouth with his handkerchief. "Take it easy. I won’t let anyone touch your food."After the labour, they two of them had gotten pretty close and everyone with two eyes could see that the air between them had shifted. Since Austin was quite happy, he did not say anything to Ronan, the bastard. "Where is Anna?" Adeline asked, looking around the room. Ever since she gave birth, her best friend only came once to hug her and congratulate her and after a few minutes, Damien came. Both of them did not come together as she was hoping. Austin let out a sigh. "She is outside, pacing back and forth. She is convinced someone’s going to steal your baby.""Is Damien with
Regina was lying in her hospital bed, feeling weak and confused, when the door suddenly opened. She looked up and saw someone entering, her heart racing with worry. “What are you doing here?” she asked in a panicked voice, her mind racing with questions.Did he knew that she was pregant? She was suddenly so concerned about her secret. Abel, looking concerned, walked over to her bedside. “Why are you here? What happened to you? Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.Regina's eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. “Why are you here?” she repeated, still in shock.Abel hesitated for a moment before answering. “I was just worried about you,” he said. “Damien told me that you were hospitalised, that someone tried to hurt you. Who did this? I swear, I’m going to beat that woman black and blue.” His anger was evident as he spoke, his fists clenching at the thought of anyone hurting her.Regina, frustrated and exhausted, responded sharply. “It was my mother.”Abel stared
“Is he okay?” Regina asked the doctor, her voice was filled with both amusement and embarrassment. She couldn’t believe Abel had fainted when he found out about her pregnancy. He had always acted so tough, talking like he could handle anything, but when it came down to it, he was all talk, like a paper tiger.The doctor reassured her, “He is fine. He just needs a little time to recover.” Then, the doctor seemed to shift focus. “Miss Spencer, I need to talk to you about something. I was reviewing your family’s medical history and noticed that you made a mistake when filling out a form.”Regina felt a knot in her stomach. She hadn’t been feeling well that day and maybe, just maybe, she had made the mistake in a hurry or out of confusion.The doctor continued, “It’s no problem. Let me get the correct information, and I will update it in the system.” The doctor took out a notepad and pen, ready to write down the right details.Regina nodded, trying to shake off her unease. “Okay,” she sai
“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