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
“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
"Why are we here, Rayan?" Anthea asked the moment she realised where Rayan had brought her! This was the place she dreaded coming to the most.Her father’s grave! Anthea’s mind went blank just thinking of this place. She had never visited this place in the last six years. She just couldn’t go there. Never. It had given her so many memories, sorrows, and pains, along with happiness. "Just trust me, please, baby.""But Rayan, you know I can't." Anthea shook her head; her voice sounded broken and vulnerable. Rayan quickly hugged her, rubbing her back to calm her down. "I know it's hard. But you have to be strong. You are strong. It's high time, Anthea; you need to let this heartbreak go and confront your fear. He's waiting for you, baby," Rayan encouraged while caressing her hair lightly. "You know I can't. It's too painful. I just can't face him, Rayan. How am I going to answer him? He's mad at me, I'm sure. Anthea let out a sob as tears slowly started to fall from her eyes. "Don't
“How did it go?” Anthea asked anxiously as soon as Rayan stepped into the living room. He smiled at her before pulling her into a tight hug. “Everything went well. I have already submitted all the evidence and they are taking the case directly to the court. He wouldn't be able to escape this time.” He answered while burying his face in the crook of his neck, trying to relax. Anthea let out a sigh of relief. “Thank god! You should have taken me with you.” She expressed it heartily while hugging her arms around Rayan’s back. “No! I don't want his dirty eyes to land on you, even for a second. I will take care of everything from here while you just stay here and take care of Nevaeh and our family.” Rayan raised his head and shook it before speaking. Anthea sighed again, totally understanding his concern. “I'm glad finally it's over with the Jones and we can relax.” Anthea smiled, changing the subject as they broke the hug while walking towards the couch. No one was present in the livi
Sebastian just got out of his car and was about to enter the Jones Corporation when a few men walked towards him before blocking his path. “Mr Jones.” One of the men called him before flashing him his ID card. Sebastian, who was surprised by the sudden unwanted visit, looked at the ID card of the man and realised they were from the Central Bureau of Investigation. “What brings you here, Officer?” Sebastian asked, trying to smile politely at them, but deep down he already had an ominous feeling rising inside his chest. “You are under arrest. Please raise your arms and cooperate with us.” The officer announced this loudly, grabbing some passersby’s attention who let out visible gasps while witnessing the scene. Sebastian was quite startled too, as he didn't expect some CBI officer to suddenly appear and tell him that he was being arrested. “What?” He looked at the officer in confusion, not understanding what was going on. “Handcuff him.” The officer ignored his words as he gestured
After the dinner ended, everyone was sitting around and casually chatting when Roman got up from his seat before walking towards Rayan, who was talking to Elijah. “Can I talk to you for a few minutes?” Roman asked Rayan after reaching him. He excused himself from Elijah before nodding politely at Roman. “Of course.” He answered, making Roman nod. Elijah excused himself before giving them some space to talk. “Let's go somewhere quiet.” Roman offered, making Rayan nod. They were about to walk out of the VIP dining lounge when Anthea’s sudden voice stopped them. “Where are you two going?” She asked, looking at them with a frown. Rayan was about to answer her when Roman beat him to it. “Smoking!” Rayan blurted out while trying to cover something from Anthea. The moment the answer left his mouth, Anthea’s eyes narrowed as she looked at her husband with a scowl. “Rayan! I told you to quit smoking.” She glared at him, looking totally pissed. Rayan sighed as he looked at her angry expre
“Anthea, Rayan!” Athena greeted her enthusiastically as soon as Anthea, Rayan, and Nevaeh stepped into the private dining room. “Hey!” Anthea smiled while walking towards her, while Rayan stayed behind her, holding Nevaeh. “We were waiting for you!” Athena said, smiling heartily. Anthea smiled back, her eyes shifting to Roman, Elijah, and Emilia, who were already sitting on the chairs. Emilia waved her hand slightly when she met Anthea’s gaze. “Oh my God! Is that our little princess?" Athena exclaimed in joy when she caught sight of Nevaeh, who was walking beside her father, looking like an angel. Athena was totally awestruck by the sight of Nevaeh. “Yeah!” Anthea nodded with a chuckle, while Rayan smiled. “Nevaeh, say hi to your uncles and aunts." Anthea turned around before instructing Nevaeh with a smile. She looked at her mother before looking at Athena, who was still looking at her with a smile. “Hi!” She grinned shyly while trying to hide behind her father. Rayan let out a
“You didn't tell me you were coming here.” Rayan asked in surprise when he met Anthea in the hallway of the hospital. He was just returning after checking in with his father. He thought she would be going to the office directly after meeting Silas. “Because I knew I would find you here.” Anthea replied with a barely visible smile on her face. Rayan already noticed her dim expression, causing him to frown in concern. “Is everything okay?” He asked, walking towards her before holding her hand. Anthea glanced at him before nodding her head slightly. “Yeah. How is Mr. Allen?” She asked, trying to change the subject. Rayan also realised it but said nothing. He quietly followed her back to the VIP ward. “Better than before. He will be moved to the general word tonight after they did some last inspection.” He replied while intertwining his hands with her. “That's good news.” Anthea nodded, a genuine smile spreading across her lips at the good news. It didn't even pass 48 hours and his c
“You know where. How could you forget what you went through because of him? If it wasn't for family and me, Silas didn't finish his sentence and stopped midway when he noticed Anthea's eyes glaring sharply at him.“So you really think that just because you helped me in my darkest phase, you have some sort of right over me?” Anthea asked, her eyes flashing with coldness at the sudden realisation. “Anthea!” Silas uttered, looking at her with a blank expression. Anthea couldn't read what was running inside her head but at the moment, she barely cared. “Answer me, Silas. Is that what you think?” Anthea pressed further, her expression remaining the same. At that moment, she was sure about one thing: Rayan didn't lie or misunderstand anything. It was she who was blind and delusional. She couldn't see the truth, which was already before her eyes. “Did Rayan tell you this?” Silas suddenly asked back, his expression hardening. He didn't expect that son of a bitch, Rayan, to vomit every sin
“Drop me at this address.” Anthea said this while showing Rayan an address on her phone. “Why? You are not going to the office?” Rayan, who was driving the car, asked before taking the phone from her hand and then glancing at the address. “No. I'm going to meet Silas.” Anthea answered with a sigh. She noticed Rayan’s face hardening as soon as the words left her mouth. For a moment, he didn't say anything. “Okay. I'm going to the hospital to check on Dad. Call me if anything happens.” He nodded after a moment of silence while focusing on the road. “Okay. How is your dad?” Anthea nodded back before inquiring about Benjamin. She didn't receive any news on him from the moment she left the hospital with Silas. “He's improving.” Rayan muttered while taking a turn. The address Anthea showed him wasn't far. “I'm glad to hear that.” She sighed in relief, knowing Benjamin was getting well. She just hoped nothing bad would happen and he would eventually recover. Last night, they talked, an
“Because Silas told me you were in his house and you were going to stay with him when he came to pick Nevaeh up.” Rayan answered, feeling angry and helpless. He shouldn't have listened to that bastard in the first place. He should have known better. “What the hell!” Anthea stared at him in shock. “You don't believe me?” Rayan’s face hardened as he noticed the disbelief in her eyes. She was unwilling to believe him, which meant she trusted that bastard over him. Anthea shook her head immediately. “No! It's not like that. Why would he say something like that?” She denied it before inquiring. Rayan’s expression changed again as he took a step back from her; however, his eyes never left her. “Because he wants to provoke me and create misunderstandings between us.” He answered while grinding his teeth. Anthea frowned as disbelief crossed her eyes. “What are you saying, Rayan? Silas would never do something like that.” She shook her head, trying to deny everything Rayan just said. Ther