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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
It had been a week since Regina moved in with Damien. Today, she felt a bit confined inside the house, so she decided to step out for some fresh air. She had been very unwell. Ever since she was discharged from the hospital, she had been experiencing nonstop bleeding. When she asked the doctor, she was told that they had found a cyst in her uterus and had to operate on her. Because of this, she was facing several symptoms.But Regina felt as though her body had gone through too much. She was not the same person she had been a few months ago. She had gained a lot of weight, and her breasts were always achy and swollen. She didn't understand what was happening to her body, but the doctors assured her that it was all due to the medication.Stepping out of Damien’s house, she exited the main gate and began strolling through the neighborhood. It was a quiet and charming place with beautiful houses and families playing in the gardens. Suddenly, the sound of a baby’s laughter caught her atte
At Abel’s house, Ronan was patiently guiding him on how to handle the babies. The twins kept them both busy, and although Ronan’s parents were around to help, he wanted to learn everything himself. Abel, too, was determined to learn despite the exhaustion; he wanted to be there for his daughters in every way possible.“Yes, look, you rocked her to sleep,” Ronan praised, watching as Abel gently cradled one of the babies, soothing her into a peaceful slumber.Abel carefully placed the sleeping infant into the crib before turning to the other. He repeated the same motions, soft rocking, quiet hums and soon, the second baby was asleep as well.A breath of disbelief escaped him. “I can’t believe I did it,” he whispered, staring at his daughters in awe.Ronan smiled. “They know you, Abel. They recognize your scent, your touch. You make them feel safe.” He patted Abel on the back. “The more time you spend with them, the easier it’ll get.”Abel nodded, his heart swelling with both pride and s
The two of them lay tangled in the sheets as their bare skin pressed together. Damien held Anna close, his arms wrapped around her as he kissed her between moments of quiet peace. She lay there with a soft smile, feeling safe in his embrace.After a while, they shifted positions. This time, Anna curled around him, pressing gentle kisses along his shoulder and neck, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin. It was her turn to spoil him, to love him the way he always loved her.Later, they sat on the floor together as they began to share the meal Damien had brought. The warmth of the food and the comfort of their closeness made everything feel peaceful.Anna took a bite and sighed happily. “Mmm… I missed this,” she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. Then, her voice softened with guilt. “Damien, who is taking care of your meals? I’m so sorry I haven’t been paying attention to you.”Damien chuckled. “Come on, baby. I’m fine. Just like you told me, no alcohol, no sugar, and no extra
Ashton sat on the couch in the living room, his small hands clenched into fists as he frowned. His frustration was clear. "Why is Aunt Regina living in our house while we have to stay here?" he asked Adeline, his voice filled with confusion and hurt.Adeline looked at the little boy, seeing the sadness in his eyes. But then, in a much softer voice, he whispered something that broke her heart. "I can’t sleep without Daddy… Is he sending us back to the orphanage?"Her chest tightened. Ashton and Asher had been through so much, and even now, after finding a family, his fear of being abandoned hadn’t gone away. The instability of his life had left deep scars, and now, with his mother missing and everything changing again, he was scared.Without a second thought, Adeline pulled him into a warm hug, holding him close. "No, sweetheart. No one is sending you back. You have Mom and Dad, and they love you so much. And Aunt Addy and Uncle Austin? We love you, too. You are never going to be witho
"What happened here?" Ronan and Adeline rushed in but looked tense as they saw the two other men with tensed expressions. "Regina woke up," Abel answered."Really?" Ronan's breath hitched as he stepped forward to enter her room and meet his bestfriend. The moment Ronan saw Regina sitting up in bed, his vision blurred with tears. She was awake. Alive. Looking around in confusion as if nothing had happened. The past few months had been a nightmare as she had suffered so much, more than anyone should endure. And still, here she was, sitting before him like it was just another day.Without thinking, he rushed to her side and pulled her into a tight hug."Ronan," Regina muttered, startled by his reaction.He felt her stiffen in his embrace, and when he pulled back, her brows furrowed as she asked, "Why are you acting like I died and came back?"Her words sent a chill down his spine. She truly had no idea."You gave us the scare of a lifetime," Ronan admitted, his voice filled with emoti
Just then, the doctor entered to check on Regina. Seizing the opportunity, Damien grabbed Abel by the arm and dragged him outside.The moment they were alone, he turned on him. "What the hell did you just say?! She is my fiancée? I am a married man, Abel! Anna is going to kill me!"His pulse pounded as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I have kids! I am not sending my children somewhere else so I can play house with your wife!"Abel looked at him with an exasperated expression. "Then what was I supposed to do? Tell her the truth? That she is actually married to me?"Damien gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the urge to throttle Abel. "You could have said literally anything other than ‘Damien is your fiancé!’"Abel sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, we need to take this one step at a time. Her mind is fragile right now. If we push her too hard, we could make things worse."Damien exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. "Fix this, Abel. Fast."Abel ran a hand through h
"Regina!"Abel’s voice cracked as he rushed to his wife, wrapping his arms around her the moment her eyes fluttered open. He had dreamed of this moment. Heck, even prayed for it, but now that she was finally awake, the reality felt almost too cruel to bear.For weeks, he had watched over her lifeless form, hoping against hope. And in those weeks, everything had fallen apart. Too many things had gone wrong. Too much had changed.But as he held her, Regina stiffened. Her hands pushed against his chest, her brows furrowing in confusion."What's wrong with you?" she demanded, looking at him like an outsider. Her voice carried no warmth, only suspicion. "Why are you hugging me like this?"Abel pulled back while searching her face, but all he found was cold detachment and the same distant, disdainful expression she had once reserved for him."Why are you looking at me like that?" he whispered, his heart pounding.Regina ignored his question, her gaze shifting around the hospital room, takin
Anna’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Something is missing. Something I don’t know yet. A piece that doesn’t fit. Regina worshipped her mother, and yet, suddenly, she named me as the guardian of her children in case of her and her husband’s death. Why? She hated me to me death." Her eyes narrowed. "There is something deeper at play, and I need you to find out what it is."Damien nodded. "I will get on it."Anna took a deep breath before revealing the most critical information. "And there is something even more important. The drug that Claire injected Regina with, I managed to steal a sample of her blood and sent it to a lab for testing."Damien’s grip tightened on her arms. "And?""The results came back. The drug has severe side effects. If Regina wakes up, there is a high chance she will suffer from amnesia. The extent of it is unpredictable, as she might lose all her memories or have selective amnesia. It depends on how her body reacts to it."Damien added. "Her pregnancy already weak
"What are you doing?" Lisa tried to ask without letting her voice tremble.Damien’s arm snaked around her waist while pulling her close with effortless ease. A smirk tugged at his lips as he whispered, "What do you think?"She stiffened, placing her hands on his chest to push him away. "You are a married man. Stay away from me."His grip didn’t loosen. Instead, he tilted his head as his eyes gleamed with mischief. "Am I?"Lisa’s breath hitched. "I know that you are.""Then tell me why I can’t seem to stay away from you," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.Her pulse quickened as she tried to hold her ground. "Your wife won’t appreciate this."A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Oh, I don’t think she will mind me having you."That was the last straw."Ouch!" Damien groaned as she elbowed him hard in the stomach. He staggered back, clutching his side."You jerk! You absolute asshole!" she fumed, eyes blazing. "I disappear for a few days, and you’re already out here seducing