Adeline nodded. “It’s from that night…”She hesitated before continuing, “When I went home, I realized all those thoughts I had that night… It was him.”Anastasia’s brow furrowed. “Your online friend?”Now she regretted not investigating properly that night. If she had investigated properly, things would have been in control. This online friend.. She wanted to beat him up. Adeline nodded, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and resignation. “Yes, Romeo. I heard his voice… He called me ‘Ed.’ Only he ever called me that. I remember it clearly that it was him.”In the beginning, Adeline could not remember what happened that night. But as days began passing, some things came back to her in flashes. However, she couldn't trust herself. It was only when she realised that she was pregnant, she realised that she could no longe rhide from the truth and she needed to confront it. “Did you tell him?” Anastasia asked softly.Adeline’s lips twisted in a bitter smile. “I texted him, told hi
In the living room, Caleb returned with a glass of water and Damien wrapped his arms around Anastasia while providing her with a sense of comfort. “Damien,” she said earnestly, “If one day I die, you have to take care of Addy and my godchild on my behalf. Do you get it?”“Baby, don’t talk nonsense,” he replied, concern etched across his face. “Nothing will happen to you. I promise, I will take care of Addy and our godchild.”They had already taken the role of god-parents. They were the self declared god-parents! Even if Adeline did not make them the godparents of her child, they would love the baby so much and protect him or her from all the dangers. Caleb chimed in, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I will always look out for Miss Addy and my god-niece or god-nephew.”Anastasia hugged both Caleb and Damien tightly. “Thank you, guys.”In the evening, a doctor visited to check on Adeline. After a thorough examination, the doctor informed them that Adeline’s health was fragile and that she
As Adeline peacefully enjoyed her meal, Damien turned to Caleb and said, “Mom is calling you back home.”He had spent almost two weeks with the couple and now Carolyn was insisting that Caleb should be sent back home. Even grandmother was missing him a lot. Caleb immediately grasped Anastasia’s hand, his eyes wide with both determination and desperation. “Anna, I don’t want to go.”He was so used to living a free and great life here that he did not want to go. Damien and Anastasia were not nosy. Nor do relatives come here every other day. Those two were very concerned about him in all the ways. He would get a very healthy but delicous breakfast that Anna designed for him. She would buy him cool clothes and she would also get him subscription for all the games that he liked. When Damien was against him playing videogames all day, she made Damien understand that it was caleb’s way of interacting with friends. Although he could play videogames without any worry, he just had to join Dami
Anastasia walked confidently into her father’s office, her face glowing with pride as she placed a file on his desk. Harold looked at her with a raised brow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He picked up the file and his expression changed as he saw the signature.“This is Princess Nasrin’s signature. We got the deal,” Anastasia declared with a satisfied smile.Paul who had been lounging casually on the couch, nearly fell over when he heard her words. He quickly reached for the file and reading through its contents, then looked up at Anastasia with genuinely stunned expressions. “This girl really got the deal?” he muttered in disbelief. Then, turning to her, he asked, “What did you offer them?”“Nothing. I used the contract you drafted,” she replied casually, “And just made them agree to the conditions as they were.”Paul’s curiosity deepened. “How did you do it?”Anastasia’s tone turned playfully accusing. “First, you left me out there to deal with the aftermath in case I failed and
Since Anastasia left the office early, she decided to surprise her husband by picking him up from work. First, she drove to a flower shop as she was searching for the perfect bouquet. Her eyes landed on a small and delicate arrangement of sunflowers. Suddenly, Damien's radiant smile flashed in her mind.He is like a sunflower, she thought, and without hesitation, she purchased the bouquet. Next, she swung by a coffee shop to grab him a nice drink, making sure to choose his favorite. With her gifts in basket, she drove to his office as her heart fluttering with anticipation. How would he react on seeing her there? Would he be happy? Would he feel special? All these things were going on in her mind. As she arrived, she flashed a bright smile at the receptionist. “I’m here to see Damien Callahan.”“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked, raising an eyebrow.The other receptionist leaned in and whispered something in her ear, then turned to Anastasia, “This way, ma’am. I will
When Anastasia returned, she noticed the sunflowers arranged in a vase on Damien's desk, brightening up his usually serious office. A soft smile lit up her face.They sipped their coffees together and she began telling him about her day, “I met with my dad.”Damien looked at her, curious. “What did he say?”“I convinced him to let me handle the hotel project alone,” she said, her voice holding a trace of pride. “But he will be supervising.”He nodded approvingly. “That’s fine.”This was a good progress. For some reasons, he could sense that his wife wanted to stay more with her father. He did not know the reason behind it but it was fine. Whatever her goal was, he just hoped that she achieve it. She sighed. “I will need to go to Spencer Mansion twice a week to report on the progress.”He met her gaze, his tone firm. “I will come with you every time.”She hated going there. Since he could not see her being bullied there, he would accompany her there. A look of relief softened her fea
Over the weekend, Anastasia and Damien flew to London, as planned. They spent hours at Fiona’s grave while sharing updates about their lives, laughing and reminiscing about everything. They had even prepared one of her favorite meals and ate it there while letting the memories make them feel closer to her.That night, they wandered the streets of London. The next day, they returned home.That evening, they joined Carolyn and the Callahan family for dinner. As soon as Caleb sat at the table, Matriarch Callahan eyed him sharply while wrinkling her nose. “You stink, boy. Do you even remember where home is?”Caleb retorted, “Why did you throw me out in the first place?”Carolyn sighed, “No one threw you out, Caleb.”This boy.. Sometimes, he was ruthlessly honest. And they did not throw him out of the house. He was still holding a grudge against them. He crossed his arms. “You both did.”Both women exchanged a resigned look while letting out a sigh. Meanwhile, Matriarch Callahan took in C
As Caleb finished recounting his time at Damien's home, Matriarch Callahan shook her head in amusement. “It must be so hard for you to handle this mischievous boy.”Damien replied smoothly, “I didn’t have to do much. Anastasia took care of him the whole time.”Matriarch Callahan turned to Anastasia with genuine gratitude. “Thank you, Anastasia.”Anastasia smiled. “It is nothing. He is a wonderful kid.” She glanced at Carolyn and added with a playful gleam, “Besides, he is been giving Damien and me some practice for the future.” She laughed softly, “When Damien and I have our own little one, I will already know what to do, right?”Carolyn nearly choked, eyes widening as she registered Anastasia’s words.Matriarch Callahan’s eyes shot open in surprise. “Are you... pregnant?”Damien bit back a grin, thoroughly entertained by his wife’s clever approach. Anastasia was always a step ahead.“Well,” Anastasia replied, shrugging, “We are not sure yet. But even if I’m not, Damien said that we k
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Many times, blood does not define relationships. Anastasia understood this better than anyone, and now Damien was living this truth as well.When Asher and Ashton were brought to their new home, they were awestruck. It took them an entire month to come to terms with the reality of their new life. Accepting Anastasia and Damien as their parents wasn’t easy, but all four of them were working hard to build a family together.It was the weekend. The boys had recently been enrolled in a new school and adjusting to the fast-paced curriculum of an international private school had been challenging for them. However, their parents were fully committed to helping them succeed.Despite it being a holiday, Damien woke the kids up early.Asher, the older of the two, groaned. “Do I really have to get up?”Though he was respectful to Anastasia and Damien, Asher had a frosty demeanour—his coldness rivalled that of Antarctica.“Yes, you do,” Damien said firmly. “We agreed that today you would learn ho