“You think too highly of yourself, Mr. Allen. I already informed you that you don’t affect me.” Anthea mustered all the confidence she had in herself before replying to him. Suddenly the music changed, and a slow and sensual song began to play in the background. Anthea mentally groaned at the bad timing. “Really? Let's see if I can prove you wrong or not.” Rayan replied arrogantly, a devilish smirk playing on the corner of his lips while one of his hands slipped on her bare back. Anthea shuddered when his cold hand touched her warm skin. She shot him a sharp glare, warning him not to cross any lines. “Don’t you dare try something funny just because we are in the crowd, Rayan?” The words slipped out of her mouth as she tried to untangle her hands from his neck. The way his hand remained firmly on her back was making her feel a familiar tingling sensation. He stared at her with an amused smile before his eyes shifted to her lips. A look of sudden hunger flashed in his eyes, making Ant
Anthea was the first one to break the kiss. She was completely breathless as she pulled away while slowly untangling herself from Rayan’s embrace. Her eyes were still closed as they both tried to catch their breaths. The kiss they just shared had left a lingering sensation of warmth and longing in the air. She could still feel his hands wrapped around her possessively as he rested his forehead on hers, and she could feel his heart beating wildly against her palms. “Lily!” Rayan gently called her name after a few seconds passed between them without saying anything. Anthea slowly opened her eyes before raising her eyelashes to look up. Her soft blue eyes collided with his ocean blue eyes, which were staring at her with gentleness. A soft smile tugged on the corner of his swollen pink lips, which reminded her of the mind-blowing kiss they just shared. She stared back at him, unable to process any words. She had no idea what had gotten into her. Her mind still felt clouded with emotion.
"What happened, Silas?” Anthea questioned anxiously as soon as they reached a secluded place on the cruise, far from the bustling noise and crowds, especially Rayan.“We need to leave as soon as possible.” Silas answered her question vaguely, not telling her what's going on entirely. He kept pulling her arms, taking her to what Anthea recognised as the exit of the cruise. Anthea pressed her lips in a thin line before yanking her arm back from Silas’s grip with a sudden force. Her action made Silas halt his steps and then turn around with a questioning look on his face. “What's the matter with you, Silas? Would you please stop dragging me and tell me what's going on?” Anthea snapped in frustration while crossing her arms over her chest. She was already feeling frustrated and infuriated with whatever happened between her and Rayan back there. Silas had unknowingly interrupted them in a crucial moment while saying something urgent was going on. Instead of answering her straight, he kept
Anthea gently pushed the door of the cabin before slowly entering the hospital room where Noah was staying. Her eyes remained fixed on his weak sleeping body as she slowly walked towards his bed. He looked like he had lost a few pounds already, making her heart clench painfully. She couldn't see him in pain. The fear of not being able to keep the promise she made to her father made her feel scared and paranoid. Anthea tried not to make any sound as she gently pulled the chair near his bed before sitting down. She reached out her hand to touch Noah’s head. Her gentle action made Noah slowly open his eyes. He turned his head around before looking at Anthea. His honey brown eyes lit up the moment he spotted Anthea sitting beside his bed. “Lily.” He whispered her name in a weak voice while the corner of his lips tucked into a genuine smile. Anthea smiled at him, slightly nodding her head as she ran her fingers through his hair. “You came.” He added, his smile widening as he tried to ge
After around an hour and a half, Noah’s surgery was over, and he was shifted to the post-anaesthesia care unit for observation. Thankfully, his surgery was successful, making Anthea finally take a breath of relief. Even though it was a minor surgery with a 99% success rate, she was still afraid because of Noah’s heart condition. He was born with heart arrhythmia. A condition that causes irregular heartbeats. Since childhood, both Anthea and Christian, Noah’s father and Anthea’s adoptive father, have taken extra care of Noah. He was always sick and had to often miss school. He couldn't live, make friends, enjoy his childhood, or love normally like other kids. Because of this, Anthea has grown protective of him over the years. She always put him first and took extra care of him so that he could live a better life. However, life doesn't always go as we plan. “Let me take you home now. He will be unconscious for a few more years. You need to freshen up and have some rest.” Roman’s conc
“Where did they go?” Rayan asked as soon as he stepped inside his cabin. He turned around to face his Asher, who quietly followed him inside when he reached the office. “Vancouver. Ms. Morin’s younger brother had an emergency appendix surgery. She left with Mr. Harrington as soon as she got the news.” Asher informed me calmly while looking straight at Rayan’s poker face. He noticed that as soon as she mentioned Anthea’s brother, his expression changed. “Noah?” Rayan asked, a hint of sudden concern and disdain mixed in his voice. Asher nodded his head, making the disdain on his face deepen. “How is he now? Did the surgery go well?” Rayan asked after a moment of silence. He looked quite troubled by the sudden news. He returned to New York a few hours ago and then came to his office directly after dropping Aurelia and Nevaeh home. After the incident at the party, he heard the surprise news of Anthea leaving with Silas. Her assistant, Samuel, delivered the news to him. “His surgery we
Anthea spent around four to five days in Vancouver and made sure Noah was recovering properly before returning back to New York. There were still a few more things she needed to finish as soon as she reached. Since Noah was going to shift here the next week, she needed to prepare everything for him. However, the most important thing she needed to do right now was to meet Sebastian Jones. She had an appointment with him in the evening which was why she was getting herself ready. Anthea picked a simple turquoise dress for the evening before slipping into it. The dress adorned her body perfectly till her waist before falling down an inch below her knee in perfect pleats. It had a perfect square neck with two thin straps on each side of her shoulder. The dress looked absolutely perfect for a fancy date. As she stared at her reflection in the dress, she couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. “I think I will look good in those photos.” She muttered to herself with a smirk as she though
Anthea and Sebastian glided gracefully into the opulent ballroom, exuding an air of confidence and elegance. She wrapped her arms around Sebastian’s bicep while smiling confidently. As they made their entrance, curious gazes and whispers rippled through the crowd, while almost every single head turned to catch sight of the unexpected yet captivating duo. Their attire, a seamless blend of sophistication and style, commanded attention, leaving onlookers both shocked and intrigued by their presence. Everyone present there knew Sebastian Jones, the only son of Derek Jones, while the stunning woman beside him was comparatively unfamiliar, yet she had a confident and intriguing aura around her, which made people look at her curiously. Anthea was dressed in a stunning black satin A-line silhouette dress with a straight neckline, with three sequined bows covering the slit from her upper thigh to the middle. Her hair was styled in soft waves, while her makeup was done naturally with soft pink