The ride to the main estate of Lewiston was a quiet one. Calista couldn’t bring herself to say anything, avoiding eye contact with Anthony’s constant stares. Maybe when she returns to California, she will think it through and consider dating him.She couldn’t help but wonder where Emily could be. She never imagined she wouldn’t be able to meet her best friend. Whatever has happened to her, she hopes it’s good. Maybe she finally decided to return to her parents.“We’re here,” Anthony announced, causing her to pay more attention to the vicinity. Good gracious; she had been here before!“Your family house?” she asked, staring at the very familiar building of the popular Lewiston castle. She had come here many times in the past to plead.“My dad’s home, actually,” he replied, oblivious to the turmoil she was experiencing.‘There’s no way you’re going in there or having anything to do with the son of the man who almost sent your father to jail, Calista. How could such a man be the presiden
"Miss Hamilton," Penelope called, walking briskly towards Signoral, who stood staring at her reflection in the mirror."I don't want to hear anything work-related, Penelope. It's my engagement tonight," she warned, dismissing the ladies helping her with her looks."Miss Calista is at the event," Penelope announced, standing a foot away from her boss. "We haven't been checking up on her lately, assuming she's okay, moving on with her life in California, but she's here.""What?" Signoral asked, standing up abruptly. "Why?""She's friends with Mr. Anthony, Mr. Windsor's younger brother, and I think he invited her to the party."Signoral clenched her fist, trying not to vent her resentment. "What in the universe is she doing back here when she can stick her ass back in Los Angeles?""Is she a threat?" Penelope asked, her hands rigidly clasped behind her back.Signoral smiled. "Vivian said she might be, but I'm very sure Ranya doesn't want her. If he did, he wouldn't have sent her away the
Calista slipped away, unable to bear the urge to be alone. Everything seemed out of place. How is Emily a Hamilton? How could she have been so oblivious to the truth about her best friend?Calista walked away, seeking refuge where she believed she could gather her thoughts without intrusion. Her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as she made her way to the house, following Anthony’s directions. She soon located the visitor’s restroom and slipped inside, shutting the door gently behind her.Emily knew all along that he was her betrothed, yet she even helped her secure an appointment four years ago. Calista placed her hands on the basin, her eyes glued to her reflection. How on earth is she to face Emily, knowing fully well she had been sleeping with Ranya for the past three years they had been together?She needed to see Emily and explain. She needed to let her know she had no idea Ranya was the betrothed she had always talked about.“I love him,” Emily’s words echoed back to her. S
“May I?” Anthony asked, extending his hand toward Signoral for a dance. She smiled and accepted his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.“You look really amazing tonight, Miss Hamilton,” he complimented as they began to dance. “I understand couples usually have the first dance, but I guess my brother isn’t one to play by the rules.”Signoral nodded, her eyes scanning the vicinity for Ranya. He should be near his father or her grandfather, but he was nowhere to be found.“It’s my pleasure to share the dance floor with you too,” she replied, turning gracefully and resting her fingers on the back of his head. “Ranya and I already had our first dance.”As they turned again, she searched the crowd for Ranya or Calista but saw no sign of either. “Your girlfriend—wasn’t she the lady you were standing with a while ago?”“Oh,” he blurted, bowing as the song ended. “What makes you think she’s my girlfriend?”“Your mom,” Signoral announced as they walked off the dance floor. She ne
“Calista?” Emily pouted, causing her to nod in acceptance.“I need to tell my parents. I bet they will really love to attend your wedding with me. Willie sends her regards anyway,” she replied, walking out of the garden with Emily as they approached the buzzing vicinity that held her engagement party.“You won’t ask me why I kept my real identity from you?” Emily asked, slightly staring at Calista, whose face was more calm than the last time they were in the garden. Maybe she’s not a threat yet, but there’s no way she will let her guard down. Reason she invited her to the White House with her. She was going to watch them closely and have reasons to eliminate Calista for good, since Ranya by now knew she had been hiding in California.“I believe we have lots of time together to ask more of these questions because, Em, you have a lot of explaining to do,” Calista replied. “I was shocked you were Ranya’s betrothed, more shocked that he is Lewiston’s first son, and extremely shocked to kn
“What? Really?” Anthony asked, shocked by her response. She rolled her eyes, nearly provoking an outburst from him.Unable to contain his joy, he grabbed her, lifted her off the dance floor, and spun her around, attracting stares from the other dancers, including Ranya.Calista laughed. It sounded genuine, but deep down, she hated having to say yes to Anthony just to get Ranya off her back. She hoped that, in time, she would learn to love Anthony as much as he loved her.“You’re causing a scene, Anthony,” she beamed, her smile radiant, while her insides churned with chaos and turmoil.“I don’t care, Cal. I don’t care,” he said amidst laughter. His smile was capable of melting the coldest hearts, but only if she truly wanted to be with him.He dragged her down the stage, and for some reason, Calista was prompted to look back at Ranya, who wore a smug smile of ‘I told you so.’ She hissed and wished she had slapped him harder in the washroom earlier.She turned back and walked with Antho
“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
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