The next day, after they finalised everything, they got an invitation to join a party held by the owner of the hotel they were all staying in. The owner, Ryle Black, was one of Rayan’s acquaintances. The exciting part was that the party was going to take place on a cruise in the middle of the sea. Anthea felt a rush of goosebumps hit her at the thought of the party. She hadn't had much experience attending parties, especially on a cruise.Besides, it was their last day here; therefore, she decided to accept the invitation to welcome a new experience. She was never much of a social butterfly.However, the thought of leaving Nevaeh alone with her nanny was bothering her too. The little girl was true to her words, and just like her father, she held grudges. However, she couldn't force her and Rayan’s unfinished fight out of her head. Nothing was making any sense at all. Why would he say Aurelia wasn't Nevaeh’s mother? Aurelia had clearly told her that Nevaeh was her and Rayan’s child. Th
Anthea grabbed a glass of sparkling champagne from the passing waiter before bringing it to her lips. As she took a small sip of the expensive liquor, her eyes casually scanned her surroundings. To be honest, she didn’t expect it to be so crowded.All the guests, adorned in elegant attire, mingled on the deck of the luxurious cruise ship, surrounded by the vast expanse of the ocean under an awning of stars. The sound of live music filled the air as the famous band Ryle Black had hired for the evening played lively tunes, and laughter echoed across the deck. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the night except her. Tables adorned with sparkling decorations are laden with gourmet delicacies, and champagne flowed freely. Anthea didn’t know why the sight of too many sweets made her nauseous. It's not like she's eaten anything for dinner yet. She let out a sigh while taking another sip of her drink.The soft glow of fairy lights illuminated the scene, casting a magical ambience over the festivi
“Do you want to dance, Silas?” Anthea asked the question as soon as she reached where Silas was standing, waiting for her. Silas seemed to be a little startled by her sudden question as he raised his eyebrows at her. “You want to dance?” He asked with a small smirk, making Anthea nod. “Yes. I’m bored, so let's loosen up a little.” She giggled while grabbing another drink from the passing waiter. Silas stared at her with an amused smile as she gulped down the shot of whisky in one go. “Take it easy, Thea,” Silas advised worriedly when he noticed her grabbing another shot. Anthea didn't seem to mind his words as she gulped down the golden liquor in one go. When the bitter taste of alcohol burned her throat, she closed her eyes in anticipation. It's her last day here, and besides, she's been too caught up lately with everything happening around her. She needed a break, and tonight was the perfect occasion. “Don’t be an old hag, Silas. Loosen up a little, will you?” Anthea teased Sila
“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