“You’ll agree with me that Anthony’s girlfriend is a beauty,” Damian said from across Ranya, munching on the pizza they had brought to Ranya’s home.He was already clad in Ranya’s clothes. “Why are you telling me that?” Ranya asked, annoyed. This was why he didn’t want Damian around. He’s a pain in the ass.“You were ogling at her, too. I saw you continuously glaring at the pretty woman,” Damian continued, ignoring Ranya’s displeased snort.“Go to bed now and leave me to do my work,” Ranya replied, picking up his laptop.“Her name is Calista; did you know that?” Damian persisted. “How can your brother’s girlfriend have the same name as the young lady you were looking for, huh?”“I will not tell you again, Damian. Go to bed now, or I will be forced to push you out of my space tonight.”“I’m only trying to talk to you, seeing as you might need company.”“I don’t need your company. Go to bed now.”Damian sighed and stood up from the sofa, prepared to leave Ranya to his work, when his pho
Ranya couldn’t concentrate in court. The McCarthy case, a high-profile one he had taken on, seemed more challenging than usual as his thoughts kept drifting to Calista.Valerie walked behind him as he made his way out of the courtroom. “You seemed distant today, Mr. Windsor,” she noted, keeping pace with him. “Do you need anything?”“No,” Ranya responded simply. Aside from Damian’s incessant nagging disrupting his focus, he hadn’t been able to fully concentrate. It was past eleven, and Damian hadn’t checked in since they both left home early that morning.Auntie Maria had called, knowing Damian was with him, and asked him to drop by her place. She wanted to see him.“Do I have any other appointments today?” he asked Valerie.She glanced at the work tablet in her hands. “Yes. You have an appointment with Mr. Giordano.”“What’s his case?” Ranya asked, waiting for Greg, who quickly opened the car door for him. He entered the car, and Valerie followed suit.“His shares were unlawfully wit
Watching him glaring and smiling at the same time made Calista extremely uncomfortable. Whatever Ranya was doing here felt so planned and intentional. The familiar secretary sat across from her, her gaze fixed on Calista as well. She nodded a greeting, which Calista returned.A few minutes passed in silence, with Ranya enjoying himself between Anthony and Calista. Damian then walked into the suite and gladly sat beside Valerie, who had a slight smile on her cheeks.“So, Ranya, you got this place?” Anthony started. He had never called Ranya “brother” before. The thirty-one-year-old man seemed quite displeased with him until last night, when Ranya had asked him to dance with Signoral.“That’s what I said when I got here, right?” Ranya responded. “What are we having here? It would be good to celebrate.”Calista stared dismissively at Ranya’s sudden witty attitude. What in the universe had happened to the quiet man who barely said a word? Had Emily influenced him so much that he now talke
Calista picked up the glass of wine, staring at it for a while, deliberating whether she should let go of her ego and admit she wasn’t drinking, giving Ranya the satisfaction of feeling like the winner he wasn’t.“Calista?” Signoral called, watching her keenly. “We are waiting for you.”She ducked her head slightly, then shut her eyes and pushed the cup to her lips. With a gulp, she swallowed the contents and dropped the cup back onto the table.“Are you okay?” Anthony asked, bending to her level. Calista nodded and carried her gaze to Ranya, whose face bore a mocking smile.“Okay, I’m next,” Anthony said, picking up the empty bottle and rolling it. It turned to Signoral, who let out a slight chuckle.“Would you rather—”“I think the game is boring,” Calista cut in, causing everyone to stare as she coughed, trying to clear her hoarse voice.“I think so too,” Anthony supported, not liking that Calista was made to go through such a hard time all for a game.Ever since he met Ranya, he n
“You don’t mean that, Calista, do you?” her mother’s eager voice exclaimed over the call. “Emily is finally getting married? I thought she would have been married, seeing how you haven’t been able to reach her.”“Well, Mama, she’s getting married,” Calista replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying hard to focus on the conversation with her mother instead of thinking about Ranya.The conversation from last night refused to leave her head. No matter how much she tried to stop herself, her heart kept replaying his words.Could Ranya really want her back? Why? What about Emily? Why is he suddenly being loving?“I’m so glad you went on this journey with Anthony; you wouldn’t have known your best friend was to get married to Anthony’s brother. What a small world,” Mrs. MacQuoid said.“Well...” Calista murmured. “There are a lot of plot twists in this story, Mum.”There’s indeed a very big plot twist. Anthony is Mr. Lewiston’s son. How is she ever going to let that out of her mouth?Sh
“I’m sorry, Anthony,” Calista apologized, maintaining her distance. She shouldn’t have leaped out of bed like that, but she couldn’t help it. He kissed her when she wasn’t expecting it, and she had to react because of her conflicting feelings.“Calista, is there something wrong?” Anthony asked, puzzled, finally recovering from the shock. “You’re always so distant, and I can’t help wondering if I’ve offended you in any way.”“I’m sorry, Tony,” she pleaded again, keeping her distance. “I’m so sorry.”He stared at her for a while before finally getting up from the bed. After a moment of contemplation, he walked toward her. Calista tried everything within her to stay rooted to the spot, resisting the urge to step back as he approached.“It’s fine,” he said, noticing her struggles. “Are you intimidated by my brother’s hostile attitude toward you?”“Intimidated?” Calista scoffed, her expression changing to displeasure. “Ranya is the last person I would feel intimidated by.”Anthony furrowed
“On my way,” Ranya replied, walking out of his apartment.“Everyone is waiting, Ranya,” Damian said before ending the call.It was Wednesday night, the night his father had organized a final dinner for his send-off. It was the last day in Texas before moving fully to the White House in Washington. Damian had just called to remind him of the dinner party.The press had been publishing nothing but stories about his engagement. Sometimes he had to battle his way into his office through numerous paparazzi, trying to avoid any questions.As he closed his apartment door, a tiny piece of paper slipped to the ground.He furrowed his brow as he picked it up. Ranya might be the richest bachelor in Texas, but he led a very simple life. The only people with access to his room after Vivian left were Madam Danielle and two other domestic staff he hired to keep the apartment clean.He owned a large estate where he would need to hire many people to keep the house in order, but he loved his privacy, e
“I’m glad we get to travel like this again,” Emily said, walking with Calista to the terminal. She was wearing a slinky white dress and sunglasses.Calista smiled, pushing her little box of clothes. This time, she decided not to spend Anthony’s money since she had no intention of going out with him.Calista wore a sophisticated, flowy maxi dress, gracefully navigating the airport line as they stood in the not-so-long line for their papers to be verified.“Why did you choose to travel by plane when you could use the private jet?” Calista asked as she stood beside Emily in line.“Because I can’t now,” Emily replied. “It’s under maintenance, and we really can’t afford one at the moment. The company is going through a lot of crises as we speak.”“Really?” Calista asked, shocked. “I’m so sorry, dear. I had no idea.”“It’s fine. No one knows except you and my grandfather,” she replied, taking a step closer to the attendant. Calista followed suit, dragging her luggage with her.“You did not
The hospital buzzed with urgency as medics wheeled Calista into the emergency room. Tubes snaked across her fragile body, her face pale and lifeless. The doctor barked orders to his team, his voice sharp with authority.“She’s in critical condition! We need to stabilize her heart!”Ranya stood frozen in the hallway, his hands trembling as they clutched the edges of his blood-streaked jacket. His throat burned from inhaling smoke, but the agony in his chest far outweighed the physical pain. He paced, his eyes darting to the operating room’s red light. Every second felt like an eternity.When the doctor emerged, his face grim, Ranya rushed toward him, gripping his coat. “Save her!” His voice cracked, raw with desperation. “Do whatever it takes. I’ll pay any amount, give up anything—just save her!”The doctor placed a firm hand on Ranya’s shoulder. “We’ll do our best, but her heart is weak. She’s on life support now. The next 24 hours are critical.”Ranya staggered back, the weight of th
Ranya gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white with tension as he pushed the car to its limits. The tires screeched on the asphalt, leaving behind faint trails of smoke as the vehicle hurtled through the deserted road.His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, every beat a painful reminder of the urgency that gripped him. The image of Calista’s face - her laughter, her warmth - flashed before him. He gritted his teeth, muttering to himself.“Hold on, Calista. Hold on for me,” he whispered, his voice a mix of desperation and determination.Lynn’s voice crackled in his earpiece, updating him on the location. “Boss, the building is fully engulfed. Be careful.”“Careful?” Ranya barked back. “She’s in there, Lynn! Do you understand what that means?”Lynn’s silence was answer enough. Ranya’s foot pressed harder on the gas pedal as he weaved through traffic. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Was she alive? Was she trapped, crying out for him? The thought of her s
The whole crowd stirred the moment the old man spoke up, his voice reverberating through the grand hall. Chairman Hamilton, with trembling hands, pointed toward Signoral, his face etched with desperation. “Tell me now!” he rasped, eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “What did you do to my Allen?”Allen had always come to him in dreams, begging him to remember. Yet he would wake up to find his mind a blank slate—unable to recall anything.The guests murmured among themselves; the atmosphere turning electric. Whispers of confusion, disbelief, and anticipation rippled through the sea of faces.Signoral’s face turned pale, but she forced herself to remain composed. Clutching Ranya’s arm, her nails dug into his skin as she hissed under her breath, “Ignore him. Let’s finish this wedding. Now.”Ranya shoved her hands away and turned to her with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “Afraid to lose, Signoral?” he asked mockingly, his lips twitching as he pressed a small button on his earpiece. “Ly
The wedding took place in the sprawling outdoors of a luxurious estate in Texas. Guests from across the globe - politicians, business moguls, and celebrities - graced the event. Despite the short notice, the wedding was a spectacle of grandeur. Ornate decorations, pristine floral arrangements, and the soft hum of a live orchestra created an enchanting ambiance. Ranya stood at the altar, his tailored suit exuding elegance, but beneath the surface, a storm of emotions churned. Worry for Calista tightened his chest with every passing moment. He fought to maintain his stoic facade, yet memories of his promises, and the potential consequences of this union—haunted him. Thoughts of Calista filled his mind: her smile, her trust, and the despair she must have felt. His hands, clasped tightly in front of him, trembled imperceptibly, a stark contrast to the composed image he projected. With every glance toward the arriving guests, the whispers of his conscience grew louder, questioning h
Signoral stood in front of the full-length mirror, her reflection a striking vision of elegance. Her white gown, meticulously crafted with intricate lace and shimmering beads, hugged her figure as though it had been made for her alone. Penelope and a small team of stylists hovered around her, making final adjustments to her veil and train. The air felt stiff, not just from the preparations, but from Signoral's brewing thoughts. She couldn't help but feel something was wrong. But she had made Penelope check over and over for any sign of leakage whatsoever. Charlotte, too, had seemed to be in good health, but she hadn't wanted to take any chances. That was why she had wired a lot of money to her, with stern warnings that she had to disappear for good this time. Her phone buzzed on the vanity table, drawing her attention. She picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and swiped to answer. Charlotte's voice came through, sharp and accusatory. Talk of the devil. "Signoral," Charlott
The following morning, preparations for the wedding were in full swing. All of America buzzed with shock at the whirlwind announcement of Ranya and Signoral's wedding. Speculations ran wild, and everyone had an opinion about the sudden turn of events. Some believed Ranya was erratic, incapable of making rational decisions. Others celebrated, claiming that Signoral had finally secured her rightful place by his side. Meanwhile, a considerable number expressed disappointment, having grown fond of Calista and rooting for her relationship with Ranya. The media frenzy was unparalleled. Paparazzi and journalists flocked to both the Lewiston Estate and Signoral's residence, hoping for an exclusive statement from either of them. As expected, Signoral basked in the attention, offering vague yet tantalizing comments to reporters. Ranya, however, maintained a strict low profile, refusing to entertain any questions. Five hours before the open-air wedding—the most talked about in America—the
Washington, D.C."Did you do as I instructed?" Mr. Lewiston's voice emerged quietly, his hands working diligently on his laptop as he screened through the files the caller had sent him. "Yes, sir," came the composed reply of a woman from the other end of the call. "I sent you every single detail, including the supplements injected into his system. I had one of my men verify the data—it’s accurate." "And the real heiress?" Mr. Lewiston asked, his tone dropping lower. There was a brief pause before she responded. "She was spotted in China, sir, with your sister," she said, hesitating slightly. "But the authorities were already looking for her. I was about to make provisions to get her out, but they're out already... Mr. Windsor used his jet to take them out. They're on their way to Texas as we speak." "Good work, Rena," he said, leaning back in his chair as he moved his fingers away from the keyboard. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk while he processed the inform
Calista sat in the dimly lit room, her arms wrapped around the chair as the evening deepened into night. Anthony sat across from her, his expression torn between guilt and frustration as they both stared at nothing in silence. Signoral's guards loomed near the door, their presence a constant reminder of her captivity. Calista glanced at Anthony, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface. "Why?" she asked, her voice low and angry. Anthony raised his head and turned to her. Bruises marred his body from the beating. "Why what?" Calista turned away, her chest tightening. She couldn't shake her growing resentment toward Ranya. He hadn't even tried to reach out or threaten Signoral on her behalf. Did he even care if she was okay? He had told her the night before that he couldn’t breathe if she wasn’t near… but he sounded like someone who had enough oxygen to last him forever, even without her by his side. Her mind drifted to Signoral’s earlier words after she had ended Ranya’s
“The wedding wouldn't be held in Washington as I promised. We will have it here." Ranya ended the call with Signoral, his jaw tightening as the anger he had bottled up turned into weariness. The room fell silent for a moment, all eyes on him. Damian, Valerie, Lena, and Lynn exchanged wary glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and disbelief. "You didn't ask if she was doing okay…" Mr. MacQuoid's voice broke the silence. He couldn't help himself. His daughter was being held captive by someone who used to be her best friend. Ranya glanced at Mr. MacQuoid, knowing the man felt guilty and was beating himself up over Calista's kidnapping. Perhaps if he hadn't called her to talk about leaving Ranya, things wouldn't have escalated the way they had. "No," Ranya replied curtly, shoving the anger and worry aside. "Hearing her voice will only make me do nasty things I'd definitely regret." And that was the truth. He wouldn't be able to bear it if her voice betrayed any uneasin