Anastasia’s first day at the office was nothing short of exhausting. From morning until night, she was expected to follow Paul everywhere following his every step without even a moment to think for herself. She felt more like an underpaid intern than a family member being groomed for company and she could barely squeeze in a quick meal during the day. By the time her workday finally ended, it was already eight o'clock at night. And to add to her frustration, Paul had informed her she would be accompanying him to every meeting even those out of state and abroad.When she stepped outside, she was tired and drained as she spotted Damien’s car waiting. Relief washed over her and she rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Finally, peace in such a bad day. “Rough day?” he asked softly, holding her close.Anastasia sighed, trying to keep her voice normal but all she wanted was to throw a big tantrum and tell him how she ahd been bullied and he must avenge her. She said with
"Take care of yourself," Anastasia said, standing at the door. She turned to Caleb with a warm smile. "And if someone bothers you, call me or your brother. No fighting, alright?"Caleb nodded softly. "Okay, sister-in-law."Anastasia gave him a hug and said, "Enjoy the school trip! Have lots of fun. I made sure Mrs. Luna packed plenty of snacks for you."Caleb was going on a school trip and he only told them about it last night. Anastasia and Damien were unprepared. When the boy went to sleep, the two adults made all the prepearations to send him for the school trip. Anastasia heard about his aggressive nature that she had yet to see and was worried that he would get into fight with some kids. She did not want to give Carolyn a chance to call Anastasia careless. If Caleb even had a scratch on his body, the Callahan family would blame her. After all, the two old women were looking for a chance to find her guilty. Damien raised a brow, eyeing Caleb's large bag. "He is only going for tw
Anastasia knew this deal was about more than just securing a prestigious contract for the company; it was also a personal milestone for her as well. If she succeeded, she would finally earn a place in her father’s eyes and gain the respect that she needed to chase her ambitions.Only when her father trust her, she could execute her main plan. She could neither touch Claire nor her daughter until she had power in her hands. Damien could protect her from Harold but who would protect her ambitions from Harold if she exposed herself? Thus, she needed both the bigshots around her. This deal was going to give a push to her plans. From what she understood, the royal family of Noorstan was deeply attached to the palace which made it a complex acquisition. They seemed to be entertaining offers from both Spencer and Armani but Anastasia doubted the situation was as straightforward as it appeared.When they entered the hotel suite, Anastasia’s gaze fell on two central figures which were a man
“Miss Nasrin,” Anastasia countered, maintaining her composure, “The Moonlight Pavilion is the essence of the palace and crucial to the entire hotel project. If you take it away from us, aren’t you selling us empty utensils with no soup?”Nasrin’s eyes narrowed as she took in the young woman’s boldness. “You…”How dare she use such lowly language? Even the man beside Nasrin looked taken aback by Anastasia’s assertive tone, though perhaps not entirely surprised. He knew that Anastasia Spencer was a force of nature. Her tongue was poisonous. Paul shot a warning glance at Anastasia, hoping to control her behaviour, but she pressed on. “There can be no cooperation if the Moonlight Pavilion is not included.”Narsin asked, “DId uou invite us to insult us?” Anastasia answered, “Princess Nasrin, we are loyal from our side. We are straightforward too. When you agreed to sell the palace, the pavilion was a part of it. In business sentiments have no value. Everything can be bought and sold.”
As Anastasia exited, she spotted a man standing nearby, almost as if he hd been waiting for her. She tried to walk past, but he moved into her path. Clearly, he was there to talk to him. "Anna..." he called softly.She paused, narrowing her eyes. “Adam?” She offered a small and hesitant smile om recognizing him after a moment. They had known each other once a lifetime ago. She never expected to see him here. Especially with people of Noorstan. "Can we talk, please?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of vulnerability.She sighed, glancing at her watch. "I’m sorry, Adam. I’m in a hurry." Her tone was distant, clearly signaling her reluctance."Please," he pleaded, "For old times’ sake."She studied him for a moment. She asked, "I get that, but I can’t help being curious... when did you start working for the Noorstan royal family? Are you with them now?"Adam scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Well… something like that.”Her eyebrow arched skeptically. Then he hesitated befo
Paul had already left, and the evening had grown late. Anastasia texted Damien her location, hoping he would arrive soon so they could leave for home together. She fidgeted with her phone while glancing around the hotel lobby and her mind racing with thoughts of the day’s events.Just as she settled into her anxious wait, her phone rang. The caller ID displayed her father's name, and a knot tightened in her stomach. She took a deep breath while steeling herself before answering.“Come home now,” he commanded, his tone laced with anger and cold authority. The message was clear that there was no room for negotiation. Anastasia's heart sank as she realized she would have to call off her plans with Damien. She quickly sent him another message, explaining that her father had summoned her home and that he shouldn’t come here to pick her up.Moments later, a sleek black car pulled up in front of the hotel. The door swung open, revealing her father’s assistant, who stood waiting there for he
Meanwhile, Anastasia stood in her father’s study with her head lowered as he unleashed his frustration upon her. “Do you think you have more experience and skill than Paul?” he barked, his voice echoing in the room. “How dare you ruin the deal?” His words were like daggers with each one piercing deeper than the last. “I gave you an opportunity and you squandered it!” He paused, his gaze icy as he continued, “You ask me why Regina is better than you? That’s why! She knows her limits! She never ruins things for me!” Anastasia remained silent while absorbing the onslaught of criticism. To be honest, she had seen it coming. He just did not expect that he would openly tell `her that Regina was better than him. He spat in anger, “You have ruined the deal and you will face the consequences. If you don’t, you know who will bear the punishment.”As she left the study, the hurt was still there and she caught sight of her stepmother, Claire, whose face had an unmistakable gloating expressio
As they were leaving, Damien’s arm protectively around Anastasia’s shoulders as they looked undeniably close and they were lost in their own world. Regina’s eyes reddened while her clenched fists trembled with the urge to lash out. Her nails dug into her palms and she fought the urge to contain the simmering jealousy at the sight of Anastasia. This woman was taking away the man she had always envisioned beside her.Claire leaned toward Harold as her voice was a sharp whisper. “Hubby, you have to do something. That girl’s behavior is insufferably spoiled. She needs to be disciplined.”Harold’s gaze lingered on the door where his daughter had stormed out in defiance. Claire’s words had a little impact but he stayed silent. How could he explain that punishment didn’t work with Anastasia? She was stubborn beyond reason and was devoid of the fear he expected her to have. Despite his attempts to control her in, she remained resolute and her spirit was unbroken. This girl was defiant for no
“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