Giovanni’s voice rang out while cutting through the tension, “Don’t forget that it’s my son’s birthday. Cut the cake, go home, and then you can all deal with your relationship issues.”The chaos of the moment eased as the guests reluctantly shifted their focus, heading toward the dining area where the birthday preparations were in full swing. Ronan made his way toward the gathering in the dining room where his gaze landed on a familiar, frail figure assisting Niall with the decorations. Niall was laughing and turned to her with an easy smile. “You know, I have been your biggest fan for ages. I really like you a lot. Can’t believe we are meeting today.”Adeline smiled warmly, her eyes shining with genuine appreciation. “Thank you, Niall. That really means a lot to me.”Before she could say anything else, Gideon raised his voice carrying with that familiar demanding tone that he used with everyone. “Addy, can you give me the juice?”He was sitting on the sofa and the juice was on the d
In the washroom, Regina was bent over the sink while throwing up. Anastasia didn’t realize someone was already inside. She thought about leaving but really needed to use the toilet. Since Regina was using the sink, Anastasia quickly slipped into the toilet.When she came out, she saw Regina sitting on a stool, looking completely exhausted. Without saying a word, Anastasia pulled out a small bottle handed it to her and avoided eye contact. Regina raised an eyebrow but took the bottle but was curious about Anastasia’s sudden gesture. A faint smile tugged at her lips at the awkwardness of it all.She took a small sip and immediately felt some relief from the awful taste in her mouth. Surprised by how good it made her feel, she gulped down the rest of the liquid.“What is this?” Regina asked, her nausea easing for the first time in hours.“I experimented with some herbs,” Anastasia said simply. “I made it for Adeline because she had bad nausea all the time due to her pregnancy and so I ke
When they returned downstairs, Adeline was seated beside Anastasia, casually chatting. Without thinking, Anastasia blurted out, “Regina is pregnant.”The secret was weighing heavily on her soul. Now that she blurted it out, she could breathe. Adeline’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Wow. Who is the father?”Anastasia smirked. “Probably Abel.”Adeline’s eyes widened even more. Something was going inside her but she could neither express it nor understand it so she quickly said, “I think I ate too much cake. I need a walk in the garden.”Anastasia nodded knowingly and let her go.Adeline strolled into the cool evening air and it had the faint scent of flowers in the breeze. The moonlight painted soft shadows along the garden paths as she wandered. Suddenly, a faint voice called out, “Mom. Mom. Mom.”Startled, she stopped and looked around as her heartbeat quickened. The garden was quiet except for the rustle of leaves. No one was in sight. Brushing it off as her imagination, she walked
Adeline didn’t find anything suspicious at first while scrolling through Ronan’s phone. But then, she noticed the hidden folder option. Her heart raced as she selected it and, once again, used his face ID to unlock it.The folder opened, and Adeline froze in shock. It was packed with pictures of her—pictures that weren’t publicly available, ones she had only shared with her online friend. There were more than a thousand of them. He had saved every photo she sent, even the random ones. Not just that, but quotes she liked, screenshots of things she shared, everything was there. It was as if it was his second life that he was hiding from everyone. Her chest tightened as she scrolled through the images. A mix of emotions flooded her including anger, betrayal, and disbelief.She clicked on the social media app they used to chat back then. Two accounts were logged in. one was his personal account and the other was that she recognised. Her hands trembled as she opened the one she recognised
Adeline took a shaky breath and said, “He was standing in the dark so that I couldn’t see his face clearly. I have only ever seen him from a distance, and he has always kept himself hidden. But tonight, when I met Ronan in the garden, I started having doubts. I threatened him, checked his phone… and everything was there, Anna.”Her voice cracked as she added, “Ronan is Roman. The man who lied to me all these years. The man who left me pregnant and alone.”She might sound insane while saying that Roman was Ronan but it was truth. She could not change the truth even if she wished to change it. Anastasia’s face filled with anger. She turned to Damien and said firmly, “Drive. Take me to Ronan right now.”Adeline couldn’t say anything else. She sat quietly, tears streaming down her face and was too overwhelmed to speak. She stared out the window as her pain was written all over her, while Anastasia’s anger burned like fire, ready to confront the man who had hurt her friend.At the Arenello
At that moment, two powerful figures entered the living room,their presence instantly drew attention. They stopped briefly, taking in the shocking sight of a furious young woman who was swinging a baseball bat at Ronan who was the pride and apple of their family.Matteo Arnello’s face contorted with rage. “Anastasia Spencer, you are crossing the line!” he roared. “If you lay another hand on my son, I swear you will regret it!”Anastasia whose eyes were burning with anger, didn’t back down. She tightened her grip on the bat and turned to face him head-on. “Oh yeah?” she shot back defiantly. “Bring it on, Matteo Arnello. I’m not scared of you!”“Guards!” Matteo bellowed, his voice reverberated through the room.Sensing the situation spiralling out of control, Damien gently handed Adeline over to Caleb and stepped forward to stand beside Anastasia. His expression was calm as he addressed Matteo. “With all due respect, sir, my wife isn’t wrong.”Matteo’s glare shifted to Damien, disbelief
The next morning, everyone gathered around the dining table: Damien, Anastasia, Caleb, Adeline, Abel, and Austin. Mrs. Luna was busy serving breakfast to everyone everyone’s presence was making the room feel warm and lively.For some reason, Adeline woke up feeling different. Unlike the previous night when she was filled with sadness and tears, today she felt refreshed. There was no trace of the distress that had consumed her before. Her face, once marked by sadness, now held a peaceful expression and there was a calm satisfaction in her eyes.Austin, noticing her change, smiled and said, “Addy, I brought you cookies that Poppy made for you.”Adeline returned his smile. “Austin, I like Anna’s cookies more. But don’t tell Poppy, okay?”Austin grinned, playfully teasing her. “Well, why do I feel like you are going to steal Anna from Damien? If it were up to you, you would marry Anna.”Adeline laughed, her voice full of admiration. “Anna is my superhero. You should have seen how she hand
With breakfast wrapping up, everyone split up to handle different tasks for Adeline’s new house. Austin called the interior designer to make sure the house reflected Adeline’s personal style. Abel and Caleb found work around the house, checking in on the progress as the workers worked. Meanwhile, Anastasia, Damien, and Adeline headed to the mall to buy things for the baby’s nursery.As they walked through the store, Adeline turned to Anastasia, her tone thoughtful. “Anna, what colour should we decorate the baby’s nursery?”Damien, who had been walking beside them, raised an eyebrow. “Why are you asking her? You can decide for yourself.”Adeline smiled at him, then turned back to Anastasia. “You see, Anna already knows the baby’s gender. And I have been so overwhelmed with the pregnancy that I forgot we need to think about the nursery, too. My brain is stuck between blue and pink. So, I thought I would ask for her opinion.”Damien said, “You know the gender?”Anastasia nodded. Damien
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