“Who’s Lily, Daddy?” Nevaeh asked, looking between her father and Anthea innocently as soon as she heard the unfamiliar name. Anthea was the first one to snap out as her face slowly became apathetic while her lips pressed in a thin line. Rayan noticed the change in her emotion, making him take a step back. “What happened, Daddy?” Nevaeh was again questioned innocently as she stared at her father with those innocent blue eyes. Rayan looked down at her before shaking his head slightly. “She’s Lily.” Rayan’s direct and honest tone almost made Anthea choke on her saliva as she snapped her head towards him with a sharp glare. She didn't expect him to answer Nevaeh honestly; however, he surprised her. Anthea took a long breath, trying to refrain from saying anything in front of the child. “Really? I like the name so much.” Nevaeh answered while giggling adorably. Anthea looked at the innocent, smiling face, her heart aching badly. “That’s not my name. My name is Anthea.” She denied Rayan
Lily walked quietly on her tiptoe while carefully making sure not to make a single sound. She tried her best to hold the wide grin on her face to spread any further as she quietly made her way towards the terrace. The chilly night breeze welcomed her warm skin as soon as she stepped in the empty place. However, the smile on her face turned into a grin the moment she realised the whole terrace was pitch black, without a single bit of lights except for the distant ones that were coming from the neighbourhood. “Rayan?” She called out in a soft yet slightly startled voice while carefully making her way inside. Her eyes carefully scanned the empty space for any possible sign of him however there was none besides it was too dark for her to spot his tall figure. She waited for a single moment, to hear any response. However, a few seconds passed yet she didn't hear any response making a soft sigh escape her lips. “Why did Noah lie to me?” She wondered with a small frown covering her beautif
“Oh, my God! Is that a pink lily of the valley?"Lily exclaimed in awe as she stared at the small plant covered with small pink flowers on Rayan’s hand. As she slowly shifted her eyes between the plant and Rayan, she noticed him smile while gently nodding his head. “Yes. I know you wanted this.” Rayan answered while chuckling softly at her awkward face. He then pushed the flower plant in her direction while gesturing to her to hold the plant. Lily’s smile widened as she finally took the plant from his hand. “Is that a pink lily of the valley I see?” Abigail’s voice held a hint of surprise as she walked over to Lily. “Yes.” Lily answered excitedly while bringing the small plant near her nose before taking a long whiff of the flower. The sweet fragrance of the flower hit her nose, making her instantly obsessed with it. “It smells like heaven.” Lily murmured under her breath while taking another sniff of the flower’s sweet smell. “Just like you.” She heard Rayan say as he stared at h
The private jet finally landed in Miami after two and a half hours of travel. The seven of them, including Neveah, drove directly to the hotel, where they would be staying in two different cars. Throughout the whole journey, Anthea was completely distracted. Her mind kept drifting to the shocking things that Nevaeh told her before Rayan interrupted them, taking Nevaeh back to him. From that moment on, Anthea couldn't focus on a single thing, as she felt like her whole body had completely frozen.How could Rayan tell the child something like that? How could he? She just couldn't think of any possible answers. The story Nevaeh told her wasn't something that was related to Aurelia. It was something that she cherished within her. That fucking bastard was playing with everything.“Are you alright?” Silas’s worried voice rang a bell in her head, making her look at him. She forced a fake smile in his direction before nodding her head. Her eyes landed on the plate full of untouched food. A si
“Wow! This view is absolutely breathtaking!” Anthea exclaimed in awe as she stared at the deep blue ocean in front of her. The whole area was covered with green trees and hills, while the front held a beautiful view of the sea. This was the perfect place for a luxurious resort, especially for people who preferred nature. Anthea took a deep, calming breath while closing her eyes. The soft yet chilly sea breeze hit her face along with her whole body, making her shiver in delight. She didn't know she would feel such peace wash over her as soon as she stepped on the seashore. “I didn't expect it to be so beautiful either. The pictures didn't do justice to the place.” Silas agreed beside her, enjoying the stunning view the beautiful sea offered. “Wait till you see the other side.” The familiar, deep voice made Anthea instantly open her eyes. She turned around to gaze at the source of the voice. Her eyes were welcomed by the deep, hypnotic gaze of a pair of ocean-blue eyes that exactly res
“What do you mean?” Anthea asked, looking completely stunned by his words. She slowly regained control over her body before separating herself from Rayan, who also let her go without any protest.“I'm speaking the truth. Nevaeh isn't Aurelia’s daughter.” Rayan repeated his words calmly while gazing directly into her blue eyes. Anthea felt those words sound absolutely ridiculous in her ears. What the hell was he talking about? Her eyes swept over the little girl, who was busy playing in the sand while collecting seashells, before shifting back to the man in front of her.“What the hell are you talking about, Rayan? If she's not you and Aurelia’s daughter, then who's daughter is she?” Anthea’s eyes narrowed with anger and confusion as she clenched her fists. She felt a sudden headache crawling in her head after hearing his confusing words. Suddenly another thought crossed her brain, making her look at Rayan with widened eyes."Did you cheat on me with another woman when we were married?
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