What do you have to say?
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
“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.
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
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
Regina glanced at her phone, her brow furrowed as she read the message from Giovanni:“Regina, I wanted to let you know that I’m going out for a project, and Gideon is staying with his dad. I can’t take care of her, and I doubt she’ll appreciate staying alone with just her caretaker. If you can, either visit her often or consider living with her.”A wave of worry washed over her. Over the past few months, she had been caring for the woman she’d found in the dungeon. Though she wouldn’t admit it aloud, she had grown attached to her. The woman’s warm and loving nature made it impossible to remain distant.“What’s wrong?” Abel asked, noticing the concern etched on his wife’s face.Regina hesitated before responding. “Actually, I have been taking care of someone—a friend. She is sick, and the person who has been looking after her needs to leave town. She doesn’t like being alone with her caretaker, and I’m not sure what to do.”“She can stay with us,” Abel suggested without hesitation. “W
As planned, Regina went to meet her father at a café.Harold sat quietly, staring at his cup of coffee. His thoughts were heavy. Both his daughters had refused to come back to his house, and that hurt more than he wanted to admit. He also knew why Damien always came with Anastasia. It was so she could feel safe in the mansion she grew up in but now couldn’t stand.Deep down, Harold knew the truth. The blame wasn’t on his kids or even Claire. It was him. His pride had ruined everything.“How are you?” Harold asked when Regina sat down across from him.Regina looked beautiful. Her pregnancy glow made her even more radiant, and though she had gained some weight, it suited her. At that moment, Harold thought she looked just like Fiona in her younger days.He had always seen more of Fiona in Regina than in Anastasia. For years, he told himself it was just his guilt talking. A reminder of the affair that had destroyed their family.But now, he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He was the one who
It was a special day for Anastasia and Damien.For the past few days, the couple has been discussing adoption, a decision that feels monumental to both of them. Today, they have taken the first big step by visiting an orphanage. The thought of becoming parents for the first time has made them both nervous and excited. They have spent countless hours talking it over with friends and family, weighing the decision carefully before finally moving forward.“Mr. and Mrs. Callahan, we currently have 50 children in our orphanage,” the manager explained warmly as he led them through the hallways.The place was bustling with life, filled with laughter and the curious eyes of children. Anastasia and Damien took their time talking to many of them. Each child had a unique personality, and their innocent charm brought smiles to the couple's faces.But as much as Anastasia wanted to feel an immediate connection, something inside her told her to wait. None of the children she met so far felt like her
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
"Regina!"Abel’s voice cracked as he rushed to his wife, wrapping his arms around her the moment her eyes fluttered open. He had dreamed of this moment. Heck, even prayed for it, but now that she was finally awake, the reality felt almost too cruel to bear.For weeks, he had watched over her lifeless form, hoping against hope. And in those weeks, everything had fallen apart. Too many things had gone wrong. Too much had changed.But as he held her, Regina stiffened. Her hands pushed against his chest, her brows furrowing in confusion."What's wrong with you?" she demanded, looking at him like an outsider. Her voice carried no warmth, only suspicion. "Why are you hugging me like this?"Abel pulled back while searching her face, but all he found was cold detachment and the same distant, disdainful expression she had once reserved for him."Why are you looking at me like that?" he whispered, his heart pounding.Regina ignored his question, her gaze shifting around the hospital room, takin
Anna’s voice dropped to a whisper. "Something is missing. Something I don’t know yet. A piece that doesn’t fit. Regina worshipped her mother, and yet, suddenly, she named me as the guardian of her children in case of her and her husband’s death. Why? She hated me to me death." Her eyes narrowed. "There is something deeper at play, and I need you to find out what it is."Damien nodded. "I will get on it."Anna took a deep breath before revealing the most critical information. "And there is something even more important. The drug that Claire injected Regina with, I managed to steal a sample of her blood and sent it to a lab for testing."Damien’s grip tightened on her arms. "And?""The results came back. The drug has severe side effects. If Regina wakes up, there is a high chance she will suffer from amnesia. The extent of it is unpredictable, as she might lose all her memories or have selective amnesia. It depends on how her body reacts to it."Damien added. "Her pregnancy already weak
"What are you doing?" Lisa tried to ask without letting her voice tremble.Damien’s arm snaked around her waist while pulling her close with effortless ease. A smirk tugged at his lips as he whispered, "What do you think?"She stiffened, placing her hands on his chest to push him away. "You are a married man. Stay away from me."His grip didn’t loosen. Instead, he tilted his head as his eyes gleamed with mischief. "Am I?"Lisa’s breath hitched. "I know that you are.""Then tell me why I can’t seem to stay away from you," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.Her pulse quickened as she tried to hold her ground. "Your wife won’t appreciate this."A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Oh, I don’t think she will mind me having you."That was the last straw."Ouch!" Damien groaned as she elbowed him hard in the stomach. He staggered back, clutching his side."You jerk! You absolute asshole!" she fumed, eyes blazing. "I disappear for a few days, and you’re already out here seducing
"Dad, where are you going?" Ashton asked, watching Damien adjust his cufflinks in the mirror. He and Asher were sprawled across their father’s bed, clearly in no mood to move.Damien glanced at them with a small sigh. "I told you, there is a business event at Callahan Mansion. I have to be there." He walked over and ruffled Ashton’s hair. "I'm sorry, kiddo. I promised to spend more time with you tonight.""It's okay," Ashton mumbled, though his expression said otherwise.Damien exhaled, guilt settling in his chest. "Come on, both of you. I will drop you off at your Aunt Adeline’s place. I will pick you up in the morning."Ashton frowned. "Why morning?"Before Damien could answer, Asher spoke up. "Because he doesn’t want to disturb our sleep."Ashton shook his head. "Why can’t we just stay here?" His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. "I don’t wanna leave this bed… It smells like Mom and you. I miss her. I just wanna stay here."Damien felt something tighten in his chest at his so
Damien was in his office, reviewing a contract, when the door swung open with force. His mother, Carolyn, stormed in, her face tight with frustration. Without a word, she threw a file onto his desk. The papers spilled out before him. Damien leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly, glancing up at her with extra patience. “What now, Mother?”His life was a mess, and he had no time to get involved in his mother's shenanigans. Carolyn crossed her arms, her voice sharp with accusation. “Look at this mess, Damien! How are we supposed to clean it up? The media is calling Scarlet Heart jinxed! Do you realise what this means? This was probably the last year we would be hosting the contest, and now, thanks to this disaster, the beautiful legacy of our ancestors has been ruined!”Damien flipped through the file absently, already aware of the media storm surrounding the contest. “Mother, it’s not in our hands,” he said evenly. Actually, every event comes with good or bad media attention. Al
Claire sat at the head of the grand mahogany desk as her manicured fingers tapped rhythmically against the polished surface. There was a sharp glint in her eyes that was far colder.She glanced at Lisa, who stood near the door, her posture as hesitant as ever. “There is a meeting with our new partners at eleven,” Claire announced. She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, a sly smirk playing at her lips. “There may be resistance from Callahan Industries and their allies. But it’s pathetic, really. Damien and his supporters are too few. They’ll be nothing more than an annoyance. I can easily crush them by reinforcing my alliances.”Claire reached for the crystal glass of wine beside her, swirling the deep red liquid before taking a slow sip. Her voice dropped to a murmur. “All I need to do is play the part of the grieving, pitiful wife one whose daughters are missing and she is broken by her own tragedy. People love a helpless woman. They eat it up.” She set the glass down and
Claire was on the phone when she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. “Where the hell are you?”Her assistant, Lance, responded carefully, “Madam, I was handling Miss Scuderi’s case. I went to appease her as you instructed, but she didn’t take it well. She threw whatever was on the table at me. I’m at the hospital now, getting treated for a head injury.”Claire’s expression darkened. “What did you just say?”“A head injury. Courtesy of Miss Scuderi,” Lance repeated, his voice filled with pain. “The police have tightened her restrictions. She is now in a stricter cell, and she isn’t allowed to meet anyone without being chained.”Claire inhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay composed. Eleanor was only making things worse for herself. And yet, as her mother, Claire couldn’t help but be concerned. But there was nothing she could do. Especially not without jeopardizing everything she had built.She had spent nearly thirty years plotting to take over the Spencer empire. She wouldn’t
“Daddy?” Ashton called out as Damien entered the house, exhausted from another long day searching for his wife.“What is it, Maxey?” Damien asked, kneeling to his son’s level.Ashton frowned. “Grandma is stuffing Bro with so much food. She treats him like a pet like he is her dog or something. She won’t let him out of her sight. It’s unbearable to watch.”Concern flashed across Damien’s face as he rushed to the dining room, where Fiona was insistently trying to feed Asher another plate of food. The boy looked pale, clearly struggling to eat more. Damien hurried over as he gently took the plate from Fiona’s hands.“Fiona, if you keep feeding Asher like this, he will fall sick,” he warned very softly. “If he gets sick, he will end up in the hospital like Regina. Do you want that?”Fiona blinked in confusion, trying to process his words. After a moment, she quickly set the plate aside. Instead, she turned her attention to Ashton, now running her fingers through his hair and fussing over
Eleanor clutched the prison phone tightly, her voice sharp with desperation. "You have to get me out of here!" she shouted. Her disgrace was all over the media as she was caught naked while attempting to assault a man, high on drugs. Her politician father was struggling to contain the fallout, his career hanging by a thread. With nowhere else to turn, she called Claire, her biological mother."Can you be patient?" Claire's voice was cold. "I warned you not to do anything stupid. I told you I would help you get Ronan, but look at you now. Stay put for a few days. My PR team is handling it. You'll be fine, just keep quiet.""I don’t want to be here!" Eleanor screamed. "The Arnello family is trying to kill me! That bitch is everywhere, I see her all the time! Why won’t you come and get me? I know you can. Take me out of here, or I’ll die!"Claire sighed, rubbing her temples. "I can’t deal with more problems, Nora. Just sit tight and be quiet. I have two other headaches. one’s missing, an