"Nice to meet you. My name is Orion Evans," the man said. I shook his hand. "My name is Aza—" I began, intending to introduce myself, but stopped abruptly as he suddenly pulled me so hard that I stumbled into his chest. My forehead bumped against his chin, and I muttered in annoyance. "Sorry," he said quickly, before I could reprimand him. "I'm a bit nervous," then he hastily withdrew his hand and pushed me away. I rubbed my forehead while glaring at him irritably. I didn't understand what just happened, and Orion Evans didn't seem like someone who was awkward. Nevertheless, whatever just happened, I wanted him to know that I wasn't impressed with his actions. "I'm already engaged to someone," I said coldly, before returning to Paul's hall. I went back to my seat, sitting with one knee crossed over the other, and stared straight ahead at Kath, who was playing the middle part of Fantasia No. 4 C Minor on stage. I felt Kath was a bit nervous as her piano playing was messy. But I
"No! Of course I'm not pregnant, Rose," I exclaimed, panicked. In the reflection of the gleaming counter-height table, my flushed face looked back at me. Okay, damn it, who was I even trying to fool? Rose sighed in frustration. "And what about your education? Will you still continue your studies after getting married?" she asked me again. "Of course," I replied. "Marriage won't make me stop studying, right?" "It won't matter if you and Ikaros don't have plans to have a baby in the first few years," Jay said. But we were going to have a baby, and that thought momentarily panicked me. "What makes me confuse is," Rose said again, and this time her face truly looked furious, "why are you getting married if you don't plan on having a baby? You could just date!" And at that moment, when my sister and Jay were both glaring at me accusingly, I felt my chest tighten along with the urge to move away from both of them. "I..." I started, hesitating. "I—" "Azalea is pregnant, that's
The next day..."Can you lift your arm?" asked the bridal dressmaker softly as I stood nervously, letting her measure me. I raised my arm, then allowed her to wrap the measuring tape around my arm. Meanwhile, Ikaros sat with Jay and Rose on the couch near us, chatting about various things but mostly related to their work. The three of them shared the same interests in digital business, computer programs, crypto, and the network thing, something I would never understand forever.Of course, marrying a businessman like Ikaros was never on my bucket list. Yes, I had fallen in love with him, maybe I still do. But that love was accompanied by great hatred as well, so I wasn't sure which one was greater between those feelings. But what mattered was which one was more important: I need to love him."Have you chosen flowers for the wedding yet?" the bridal dressmaker asked again, and I shook my head."Do you have a favorite flower?" the woman asked."I like forget-me-nots. Would that be good f
The Wedding day arrived. The event was held at a small church on the edge of Manhattan, and it was attended by a multitude of people.As I peeked through a small gap in the door, I cursed Ikaros under my breath."Are you ready, dear?" my father asked, and I almost jumped out of my skin in surprise. "I—I—didn't know."I bit my lip. I thought this would be easy, but it turned out not to be.Soon, witnessed by my parents, my sister, and Jay, as well as a hundred unfamiliar faces who were Ikaros' close friends (how did he have so many close friends!?)—I became Mrs. Alexandrovich. We were bound to each other, I was his, and he was mine. It was both thrilling and terrifying."Ikaros never said there would be this many witnesses," I whispered to my father, and he raised an eyebrow for a moment. My father was a quiet, stoic man with small round glasses who worked hard at the store every day. He didn't understand music or sentimental things, but one day he bought me a kalimba—a thumb piano tha
They talked for a long time. And when Ikaros finally reappeared, the man stared at me coldly as he touched my arm."I need to talk to you right now," he whispered in my ear. His tone was short and harsh, making me uneasy.I thought I should explain my meeting with the man at Juilliard immediately a couple of days ago"Okay. I also need to tell you something," I said. But before I could finish, he ran off, leaving us to another empty room, and I quickly ran after him as fast as I could in the beautiful white high heels and the low-cut bridal dress with a three-meter-long skirt.And as we entered the room, he slammed the door shut, startling me with the loud bang."What game is this you're playing, Azalea?" he asked roughly."What game?" I asked, not understanding."Fine, keep pretend you don't know until your damn kid is born, and then we'll do a DNA test and find out he's not mine," Ikaros said, and I was stunned by his
"What Ikaros did to me has left deep scars. But Vancouver also didn't make me feel safe.Pregnant, unmarried, broke, and dropped out of college. I have disappointed myself and my family.*****Afterward, days passed by agonizingly slow yet somehow fast.I spent all day cooped up in my room. Luckily, my room already had a bathroom, so whenever I needed to pee, I didn't have to leave the room.We didn't have a piano at home, just a kalimba, and it didn't satisfy me. I think I was severely depressed because playing the piano no longer brought me joy.When midnight came, I would sneak out of my room to eat whatever was in the kitchen, then return to my room. I still couldn't bear to face my family, and likewise, they couldn't either.Honestly, I was disappointed with my family's reaction. My heart hurt when they no longer cared whether I had eaten or if I was okay in my room. But eventually, I stopped caring too, to the point of numbness.I was in my room when I heard my neighbor's words
Azalea’s POVNew York! And Juilliard! Finally, I will be back to campus. My family wouldn’t be too disappointed in me if I resumed my studies, would they? That’s what I was thinking as Orion Evans drove his car at a steady speed on the highway. He played a popular song with a simple, cheerful tune, its rhythm and melody arranged in such a way that I immediately knew it was a song about hopeful optimism. Inspiration struck, and I felt my fingers tremble, eager to play a real piano again.For a moment, I tapped impatiently on the dashboard. A melody was playing in my mind, demanding to be written down before it vanished.“We have a piano at home,” Orion suddenly said, and I turned to him for a second. “It’s a classical piano. A family heirloom. But it’s still in great condition. Maybe you’d like to play it.”“Are you serious?” I asked, shocked and thrilled. “I haven’t played a real piano in—I don’t know—months!? Of course, I’d love to play your piano!” I exclaimed, laughing.“Consider i
A few years later..."Alvin!" I called out, intentionally making my voice sound spooky. "Where are you, little boy? Come to this witch. I have candy."Alvin giggled from under the table, and for a moment, I circled around it playfully. Then, in a decisive moment, I lunged at him. I grabbed him in a hug, and then—Found myself grabbing a grown man—Orion.Oops."Ha! Mommy caught the wrong person!" Alvin giggled beside Orion.I tucked my hair behind my ear, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry," I said."No problem," Orion replied cheerfully. But as I tried to pull my hands away, he pulled me closer, and for a moment, we wrestled. "Got you, witch!" he declared, while Alvin joined in, throwing a blanket over us both.For a moment, I was frozen, captivated by how handsome Orion’s smile was as he trapped me in his arms. The blanket wrapped around us, making everything hazy—except for that smile.Could I—The sound of the door opening made us both lift the blanket and look up. Julian, Orion's third a
Azalea's POVThe events of last night unraveled like a series of blurred, mesmerizing scenes—so strange and captivating that they felt like a dream."Mommy! Mommy!" Alvin woke me up, climbing on top of me and shaking my body. I struggled to fully awaken."Oh, honey," I mumbled, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the window. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, blinking away the brightness."Mommy, let's have breakfast!" Alvin insisted again, his energy boundless. I forced myself to sit up, groaning slightly as I did. That’s when I noticed Orion standing at the doorway, smirking. His amused expression immediately made me self-conscious, and I quickly adjusted my disheveled nightgown."Wow, I thought you’d never get up," he chuckled lightly. "Come on. There’s lava cake waiting.""Um, I’m on a diet," I replied, trying not to sound overly self-conscious. Orion’s grin only widened, teasingly."It’s not for you—it
Azalea's POV.I am Bloody Mary. Tonight, oh yes. And I’m going to surprise my beloved son in his room, which has been transformed into a small maze of cloth and spooky decorations. My body ached after playing the piano for two straight hours at the wedding, but when it came to entertaining my son, I always found energy.“Get ready,” Julian said, and I quickly hid inside a wardrobe with a mirror. “Alvin’s still in the hall, but he’s about to head to his room.”“Okay, good,” I whispered into my phone.“Alright. He’s on the stairs now, heading up.”“Perfect.”I held my breath, cramped inside the wardrobe, as I heard footsteps approaching. I braced myself to leap out.And when the sound was right outside, I lunged forward and—“Jesus!” I exclaimed, startled to find myself leaping at Orion. Surprised, he pushed me back into the wardrobe before we both chuckled.“Oh my, you scared me,” Orion said. “Nice makeu
A few years later..."Alvin!" I called out, intentionally making my voice sound spooky. "Where are you, little boy? Come to this witch. I have candy."Alvin giggled from under the table, and for a moment, I circled around it playfully. Then, in a decisive moment, I lunged at him. I grabbed him in a hug, and then—Found myself grabbing a grown man—Orion.Oops."Ha! Mommy caught the wrong person!" Alvin giggled beside Orion.I tucked my hair behind my ear, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry," I said."No problem," Orion replied cheerfully. But as I tried to pull my hands away, he pulled me closer, and for a moment, we wrestled. "Got you, witch!" he declared, while Alvin joined in, throwing a blanket over us both.For a moment, I was frozen, captivated by how handsome Orion’s smile was as he trapped me in his arms. The blanket wrapped around us, making everything hazy—except for that smile.Could I—The sound of the door opening made us both lift the blanket and look up. Julian, Orion's third a
Azalea’s POVNew York! And Juilliard! Finally, I will be back to campus. My family wouldn’t be too disappointed in me if I resumed my studies, would they? That’s what I was thinking as Orion Evans drove his car at a steady speed on the highway. He played a popular song with a simple, cheerful tune, its rhythm and melody arranged in such a way that I immediately knew it was a song about hopeful optimism. Inspiration struck, and I felt my fingers tremble, eager to play a real piano again.For a moment, I tapped impatiently on the dashboard. A melody was playing in my mind, demanding to be written down before it vanished.“We have a piano at home,” Orion suddenly said, and I turned to him for a second. “It’s a classical piano. A family heirloom. But it’s still in great condition. Maybe you’d like to play it.”“Are you serious?” I asked, shocked and thrilled. “I haven’t played a real piano in—I don’t know—months!? Of course, I’d love to play your piano!” I exclaimed, laughing.“Consider i
"What Ikaros did to me has left deep scars. But Vancouver also didn't make me feel safe.Pregnant, unmarried, broke, and dropped out of college. I have disappointed myself and my family.*****Afterward, days passed by agonizingly slow yet somehow fast.I spent all day cooped up in my room. Luckily, my room already had a bathroom, so whenever I needed to pee, I didn't have to leave the room.We didn't have a piano at home, just a kalimba, and it didn't satisfy me. I think I was severely depressed because playing the piano no longer brought me joy.When midnight came, I would sneak out of my room to eat whatever was in the kitchen, then return to my room. I still couldn't bear to face my family, and likewise, they couldn't either.Honestly, I was disappointed with my family's reaction. My heart hurt when they no longer cared whether I had eaten or if I was okay in my room. But eventually, I stopped caring too, to the point of numbness.I was in my room when I heard my neighbor's words
They talked for a long time. And when Ikaros finally reappeared, the man stared at me coldly as he touched my arm."I need to talk to you right now," he whispered in my ear. His tone was short and harsh, making me uneasy.I thought I should explain my meeting with the man at Juilliard immediately a couple of days ago"Okay. I also need to tell you something," I said. But before I could finish, he ran off, leaving us to another empty room, and I quickly ran after him as fast as I could in the beautiful white high heels and the low-cut bridal dress with a three-meter-long skirt.And as we entered the room, he slammed the door shut, startling me with the loud bang."What game is this you're playing, Azalea?" he asked roughly."What game?" I asked, not understanding."Fine, keep pretend you don't know until your damn kid is born, and then we'll do a DNA test and find out he's not mine," Ikaros said, and I was stunned by his
The Wedding day arrived. The event was held at a small church on the edge of Manhattan, and it was attended by a multitude of people.As I peeked through a small gap in the door, I cursed Ikaros under my breath."Are you ready, dear?" my father asked, and I almost jumped out of my skin in surprise. "I—I—didn't know."I bit my lip. I thought this would be easy, but it turned out not to be.Soon, witnessed by my parents, my sister, and Jay, as well as a hundred unfamiliar faces who were Ikaros' close friends (how did he have so many close friends!?)—I became Mrs. Alexandrovich. We were bound to each other, I was his, and he was mine. It was both thrilling and terrifying."Ikaros never said there would be this many witnesses," I whispered to my father, and he raised an eyebrow for a moment. My father was a quiet, stoic man with small round glasses who worked hard at the store every day. He didn't understand music or sentimental things, but one day he bought me a kalimba—a thumb piano tha
The next day..."Can you lift your arm?" asked the bridal dressmaker softly as I stood nervously, letting her measure me. I raised my arm, then allowed her to wrap the measuring tape around my arm. Meanwhile, Ikaros sat with Jay and Rose on the couch near us, chatting about various things but mostly related to their work. The three of them shared the same interests in digital business, computer programs, crypto, and the network thing, something I would never understand forever.Of course, marrying a businessman like Ikaros was never on my bucket list. Yes, I had fallen in love with him, maybe I still do. But that love was accompanied by great hatred as well, so I wasn't sure which one was greater between those feelings. But what mattered was which one was more important: I need to love him."Have you chosen flowers for the wedding yet?" the bridal dressmaker asked again, and I shook my head."Do you have a favorite flower?" the woman asked."I like forget-me-nots. Would that be good f
"No! Of course I'm not pregnant, Rose," I exclaimed, panicked. In the reflection of the gleaming counter-height table, my flushed face looked back at me. Okay, damn it, who was I even trying to fool? Rose sighed in frustration. "And what about your education? Will you still continue your studies after getting married?" she asked me again. "Of course," I replied. "Marriage won't make me stop studying, right?" "It won't matter if you and Ikaros don't have plans to have a baby in the first few years," Jay said. But we were going to have a baby, and that thought momentarily panicked me. "What makes me confuse is," Rose said again, and this time her face truly looked furious, "why are you getting married if you don't plan on having a baby? You could just date!" And at that moment, when my sister and Jay were both glaring at me accusingly, I felt my chest tighten along with the urge to move away from both of them. "I..." I started, hesitating. "I—" "Azalea is pregnant, that's