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
Adeline's new house was beautifully decorated, and the nursery was ready for the baby. After visiting the doctor the day before, she was told that labour could happen any time now. Thankfully, her nausea had finally stopped and for the first time in a long while, she felt like a normal pregnant woman. She was finally able to enjoy her pregnancy. Today, she asked Anastasia to go to a specific restaurant to satisfy a craving she had been having. Anastasia wasn’t sure, but she agreed to accompany her best friend. As they sat at their table enjoying their food, a sudden figure appeared near them.With a wide smile, the little girl jumped toward Adeline and exclaimed, “Princess Elsa!”Adeline’s eyes widened in recognition. “Destiny?”The girl grinned, wrapping her arms around Adeline for a hug. “Des Des likes Princess Elsa!”Adeline laughed softly. “Where is your mom and dad?”“Momma is in the kitchen,” Destiny answered, her voice full of childlike excitement. “Daddy is out working. Des D
“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