Adeline and Austin are the permanent characters of the story along with Ronan and ABel...
“Where is Adeline?” Austin asked. “I have been calling her and she is not taking my call.”Anastasia shook her head in helplessness. Ah, Adeline. The trouble maker. She wondered what trouble the girl might have created again. When Austin became successful, Adeline knew that she had no pressure to do well in school. Austin was three years older than her and one day she announced that she was moving to France to achieve her dream of becoming a model. Both Anastasia and Austin were shocked to hear that she had such a dream because Adeline never talked about it. In the end, Adeline told them that she sucked in school and she had no talent to survive in this world. The only thing that she possessed was beauty. Extraordinary beauty and she would rather use it. Three years in Paris and Adeline became a model. Not a runway model but a commercial model. Adeline Kingsley is a well known celebrity not just in Europe but in the entire world with more than fifty million followers on social media
Back at the mansion, it was dinner time. Anastasia was there to have a meal with Damien, and after that, she had to go to meet Austin. She needed a way to tell him that she would be leaving home at this time for an important meeting. Meanwhile, he was curious about how she managed to get A&A Fashion House behind her back. They were one of the biggest fashion and jewelry brands in Europe and were now rapidly expanding in North America. It was not easy for a no name artist to represent them. He always knew that she had some tricks upto her sleeves but what are they. She said, “I have a meeting soon. I need to go out.”He did not ask her where she was having such late night meeting. He nodded and asked about the matter that was pressing on his mind. “You submitted the application.”She said, “Yes, I did.” After a while, she could not help but asked him, “Damien, do you also think like others that I am doing this to gain your attention and unnecessarily fight with Regina or sabotage he
As Anna was leaving, Mrs Luna handed her a key and said, "Master wants you to keep the car."Anna was really surprised to hear that and she asked, "He is giving me his car?"After everything, she did not know that he would give him a car. It was not that he was stingy but he did not care for her. Knowing that he took a step ahead in her direction made her feel so many things at once. Mrs Luna nodded at the girl who was dazed to assure her that it was true. Anna quickly grabbed the car keys and ran outside where Damien's Rolls Royce was parked. She laughed and grinned as she opened the door and slipped inside but not before yelling, "My husband is the best in the whole wide world!" She really loved the car! Not because it was expensive but because it was his favourite car and he did not like to share it. Inside his room, Damien muttered, "Materialistic girl! How can she be so happy over something so fleeting and materialistic?"His phone rang after some time and it was Abel who was c
From behind him, Ronan’s voice broke the tension. "You were actually thinking of trusting her, weren't you?" He smirked, continuing, "Damien, you need to open your eyes. Regina is right here and has always has been there for you. She is the one who loves you truly and yet you keep ignoring her. Do you know how much you are hurting Regina? She stayed by your side when Anastasia left you and this is how you repay her?”Abel who had been standing next to Ronan turned with a glare. "Ronan, stop poisoning his mind. Damien knows what he wants. And for heaven's sake, stop trying to push Regina onto him every chance you get."Ronan scoffed, shaking his head. "Anastasia Spencer is nothing but trouble. She is a liar and a cheat. Look at her! Flirting with another man just after professing her love for Damien! She is no good, Damien! Regina said you broke off your engagement because of Anastasia, and now look how she is cosying up to someone else. Regina is a saint compared to that slut—"Before
Anna looked down at Adeline who was clinging to her like a child. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice was full of affection.Adeline's eyes were filled with concern after she had a couple of drinks. "Babe, are you really sure about this Damien guy?" she said. "Do you have to be his wife? Look, I can take care of you for the rest of your life. I have a house, and some money in the bank and I will make sure you are comfortable. You don’t need to do anything. You can just be a beautiful salted fish. I will raise you!"Austin chuckled from the other side of the table. "If it were up to her, she would probably marry you herself, Anna."Anna laughed, pushing Adeline away playfully. "Go away! I’m someone’s wife now."Adeline pouted dramatically. "Why would I marry her? I already have a prince of my dreams!"Anna sighed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, Adeline. You have never even met that prince. Either meet your mysterious online friend or block him. Honestly, if he doesn’t want to see you
Damien was sitting at the dining table, the morning sun casting a warm glow over him as he focused on his breakfast. He heard the sound of soft footsteps and a few moments later, Anna entered.“Sorry, I got late,” she said, a small smile playing on her lips.Damien just nodded in response, not lifting his gaze from his plate.Anna tried to initiate conversation "Thank you for the car. I like it very much."Damien nodded again. Anna hesitated before speaking again as if trying to find the right moment. “I have something to tell you.”But before she could say more, a voice interrupted them. It was neither Damien nor Anna who spoke. “What’s for breakfast?” asked Adeline, yawning as she sat down in the seat next to Anna, her hair were tousled and eyes were half-closed from sleep.Damien looked up with his eyes narrowing as he recognized the woman from last night. It was the same person who had punched Ronan and had given him that hopeless disappointed look.“She is my friend,” Anna expla
“Damien?” Anna knocked softly on Damien’s door. She seemed to have something on her mind that she wanted to express to him. “Yes?” came his reply from the other side. She walked inside his room as she saw him sitting on his desk and holding files in his hand. “Um… I’m going to London tomorrow,” she informed him, her voice was little uncertain.He furrowed his brows. “Suddenly?”“It’s important,” she whispered, not offering more explanation.Damien's tone remained practical. “The competition is in five days. Can you manage it?”“I will be back soon,” Anna assured him.“You know what’s best for you,” Damien said, though there was a hint of curiosity behind his words. Of course, he wanted to know why she was going to London just a few days before the important contest. He was certain that whatever was happening in her life was important than the contest. “Damien?” she called his name again, the tone softer this time.He blinked as he sensed there was more she wanted to say but hesitati
Damien shook his head. He could not be hung on his past. It has passed and he was at a very good place in life. “Jack booked the hotel,” Damien mentioned. Anna shook her head. “No, we can’t stay in a hotel,” she insisted. “I will drive us to our destination.”Damien didn’t argue with her over the plan. He had come here because she had asked him to. She seemed to know what she was doing and he trusted her with whatever was going on. After working nonstop throughout the flight, exhaustion was starting to set in. He closed his eyes as Anna took the car, dismissing the driver. The rhythmic hum of the road beneath them and the pitter-patter of rain on the windows lulled him into a light sleep. After an hour’s drive, Anna pulled the car over to a small bungalow which was situated in a semi-countryside area just outside the city. Damien glanced around as he saw the quiet and isolated place standing in clear contrast to the bustling London he had remembered. It was late and the night air
A round of applause echoed through the courthouse as Regina and Abel signed the marriage certificates, officially becoming husband and wife. Anastasia and Ronan served as witnesses, while Adeline and Damien stood by, offering their unwavering moral support.After the formalities, the celebratory mood carried the group to the Smith House, where Abel’s parents had arranged an intimate party for family and close friends. Glasses were raised high as everyone toasted. “To Abel and Regina!” Mr. Smith beamed with pride, his voice filled with emotion. “I have never been happier than I am today, seeing my son start this new chapter.”Mrs. Smith leaned into her husband with a playful smile. “Well, except for the day when we got married.”The crowd laughed as they were charmed by the couple’s banter.Damien added. “Honestly, I still can’t wrap my head around it. Abel—married? And about to be a father? It feels like we have stepped into an alternate reality.”Ronan smirked, adding his two cents
say we couldn’t be seen together?”Claire stood before her and said in frustration and exasperation. “I told you not to come here. What part of that didn’t you understand?”Eleanor crossed her arms defiantly. “Why can’t I come? You don’t get to lecture me about this, Claire. You have kept me locked up in that house for months! I came here on my merit.”Claire’s eyes flashed. “If I hadn’t locked you up, you would have been punished far worse. Do you have any idea what you have done? Picking a fight with Anastasia and her friend was reckless!”Eleanor rolled her eyes. “Reckless? I was standing up for myself. They are not untouchable, Claire.”Claire’s voice dropped to a sharp whisper. “You don’t understand the consequences of your actions.”Eleanor’s defiance wavered, but she masked it with a glare. “Maybe you should stop underestimating me.”Claire sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You don’t get it, do you? It’s not about underestimating you. It’s about protecting you—from your
“Abel and I are going to the courthouse tomorrow to get married. Would you like to be my witness?” Regina asked casually, as though she had just invited Anastasia for coffee. Her tone was like she and Anastasia had been a pair of best sisters all these years. Well, what was she supposed to do with the fact that Anastasia was no longer her half-sister? They shared the same parents. This made them full siblings. She had nothing to fight with this woman, right? Anastasia was annoying but she could do with it. Anastasia’s jaw dropped. “You are getting married? To Abel? And you want me to be your witness? Tell me the truth, were you smoking pot, Regina?”Regina burst out laughing. “Trust me, my life story is smoking pot.” She wiped a tear of amusement from her eye before adding, “Yes, I’m marrying Abel. He is a nice guy. I’m not looking for love. Giving a stable home to our kids before they arrive feels like the responsible thing to do. And if the marriage doesn’t last, that is okay too.
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, s
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 real
“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