The next day, after a busy day at work, Tasha made arrangements for Ethan to stay with Claire for the evening. She trusted Claire, who had happily agreed to keep him entertained, mentioning something about movies and pizza. With Ethan settled, Tasha prepared herself to meet Daniel, unsure of what the evening would bring. As she arrived at the small, upscale café Daniel had suggested, Tasha took a moment to steady her nerves. The space was intimate, with dim lighting and soft jazz playing in the background. She spotted Daniel sitting at a table in the corner, his posture relaxed yet commanding as he sipped from a glass of water. When he saw her, he stood up, a faint smile gracing his lips. “Tasha,” he greeted, gesturing toward the seat across from him. “Thanks for coming.” She nodded, taking her seat. “You didn’t really leave me much of a choice,” she replied lightly, though her tone held an edge of seriousness. Daniel chuckled softly. “Fair enough. I wasn’t sure if you’d show.
“No,” Daniel said firmly, his voice tinged with desperation. “I don’t expect anything, Tasha. I just need you to know the truth. I’ve spent these years pretending I was okay when I wasn’t. I couldn’t even bring myself to live in this house because it wasn’t home without you. Do you know how pathetic that feels? To have everything but still feel like you’ve lost it all?” Tasha’s breathing quickened as his words struck a chord deep within her. She wanted to push him away, to walk out and never look back, but there was something in his eyes a vulnerability she had never seen before, that made her pause. “I kept everything, Tash,” Daniel continued, his voice breaking slightly. “Your things, your memories... even this house. I kept it all because I couldn’t bear to let go of you completely. And now, seeing you again, being near you and... it’s brought everything back. I know I don’t deserve it, but I need you to understand that you’ve always been on my mind. Always.” Tasha closed h
Stanley leaned back in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he smirked at Daniel. "So, about the wedding..." Daniel glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “What about it? Don’t tell me your brothers managed to change the date for you again?” Stanley chuckled. “Not a chance. It’s set now. December 12th. Non-negotiable.” Daniel gave a small nod, taking a sip of his drink. “Good. I’m glad you finally managed to pin it down. Rebecca must be thrilled.” “She is,” Stanley said, his grin widening. “But there’s something else. I need you to be my best man.” Daniel paused mid-sip, then slowly placed his glass down, giving Stanley an incredulous look. “Me? Are you sure about that? You have brothers, cousins... people better suited for the job.”
The conference room buzzed with anticipation. Executives sat in their best suits, some glancing nervously at the clock, others whispering theories about the identity of the new CEO. The air was thick with curiosity, the kind that made every second feel like an eternity. Vanessa leaned against the wall near the back, arms folded, her face a mask of disdain. “Probably some spoiled kid with no idea how to run a company,” she hissed to a colleague. Her annoyance was palpable, but no one dared to engage. The restroom was quiet except for the soft hum of the overhead lights. Tasha stood at the mirror, adjusting her blazer, her reflection radiating confidence. Her sleek black suit and emerald blouse hugged her figure perfectly. As she reached for her lipstick, the door swung open, and Vanessa strutted in, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. Her sharp gaze fell on Tasha immediately, narrowing as she took in her polished appearance. “Well, well,” Vanessa sneered, stepping to th
Gasps heard from across the room as heads turned in shock, their eyes darting to the elegant woman emerging from the shadows. Tasha stepped forward, she moved with confidence, her expression calm but carrying a glimmer of emotion that betrayed her nerves. Cameras flashed as Mr. Belvoir held out his hand to her. Tasha took it, stepping onto the stage beside him. For a moment, she stood there, scanning the room, her chin held high. The room erupted into applause some hesitant, some enthusiastic, but all carrying the weight of this monumental revelation. Tasha leaned into the microphone, glancing briefly at her father before addressing the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight. I know this may come as a surprise to many of you, but I promise to give my all to continue the legacy of Belvoir Couture." As the applause swelled again, Tasha's eyes caught Vanessa, her expression shifted, uncomfortably. Her jaw clenched, her knuckles white as she gripped her champagne glas
Daniel sat in his apartment, the warm glow of his laptop screen reflecting off his face as he absentmindedly scrolled through the news. He had been trying to distract himself after the whirlwind of emotions from the past few days. With a glass of whiskey beside him, he leaned back into the plush couch, his mind only half-engaged with the articles he skimmed. Then a headline caught his eye: "The Return of the Heiress: Tasha Belvoir Takes the Reins of Belvoir Couture" His hand froze on the trackpad. He blinked, as though unsure if he had read it correctly. His heart started to beat faster as he clicked on the article. There she was, front and center in a photograph accompanying the piece. Tasha, poised and elegant, standing beside Mr. Belvoir at what looked like a grand event. She looked breathtaking, he
Tasha glanced down at the document, then back at Vanessa with a composed expression. “Oh, this?” she said, picking up the paper and flipping through it casually. “It’s from the company.” Her gaze flicked up, sharp and unyielding. “I’m sure you know how to read, Vanessa. It clearly states that your payments will be redirected to cover the expenses of the fashion show you sabotaged.” Vanessa’s jaw dropped, her face flushed with indignation. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Tasha placed the paper back on the desk and leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping a notch. “I don’t joke about company finances. You made a mess, and now you’re cleaning it up. That’s what accountability looks like, Vanessa.” Vanessa took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief. “You think you can just waltz in here and humiliate me like this?” Tasha’s cold smile widened ever so slightly. “Humiliation? No,
After work, Tasha stepped into her home, shrugging off the weight of the day as Ethan darted out of his room, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. “Mom, you’re home early!” he exclaimed. “I am,” Tasha replied with a soft smile, ruffling his hair. “And I’ve got some news. Robbin’s coming over for dinner tonight.” Ethan’s face lit up with excitement. “Really? Robbin’s here? I’ve missed him so much!” “I know, sweetheart,” she said, pulling him in for a quick hug. “Now, go wash up and be ready to say hi when he gets here.” Ethan nodded enthusiastically and rushed off, leaving Tasha to find Rose in the kitchen. “Robbin’s coming over for dinner,” Tasha informed Rose as she leaned against the counter. “Oh, really?” Rose teased, raising an eyebrow. “Should I make something extra special, or do you two have a go-to favorite?” Tasha chuckled, shaking her head. “Nothing fancy, just our usual. But I’ll help.” As the two started prepping the meal, the doorbell rang, right on time.
”Robbin and I…” she started, her voice trailing off as her phone buzzed loudly in the small space. She glanced at the screen, relief flashing across her face as she answered the call. “Yes?” she said, her tone neutral. The conversation was brief, her words curt but polite. When she hung up, she placed her phone back in her bag and turned to Daniel. “I’ll get going now,” she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. She opened the door and stepped out. “Goodnight, Daniel.” He watched as she closed the door behind her and walked toward the gate without looking back. A mix of frustration and curiosity churned within him, but he didn’t press further. “Goodnight, Tasha,” he murmured to himself, watching until she disappeared inside. Then, with a sigh, he started the car and drove off into the night. When Tasha got in, she headed straight to Ethan’s room, her steps quiet as she approached the door. She opened it slowly, the soft creak revealing Robbin already there, tucking Ethan’s sheets
Tasha: How about we meet at that little café near Main Street? 5 p.m.? Daniel smiled at her suggestion. It wasn’t a big, dramatic location, just a simple spot, much like Tasha herself grounded and unpretentious. Daniel: Sounds perfect. I’ll see you there. At precisely 5 p.m., Daniel arrived at the café, his sharp suit setting him apart from the relaxed, cozy atmosphere of the place. He scanned the room and found Tasha sitting in a quiet corner by the window. She was stirring a cup of tea, her gaze distant as if lost in thought. When she noticed him, she straightened and offered a small smile. “Right on time.” “Always,” Daniel replied as he approached, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down. “You look like you just walked out of a boardroom,” T
Daniel leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Vanessa as she stood with an air of feigned confidence. His office, typically a place of order and control, seemed to shrink with her presence. The secretary lingered nervously by the door. “Sir, I tried to stop her—” “It’s fine,” Daniel said curtly, waving her off. “Close the door.” The moment the door clicked shut, Vanessa crossed her arms and faced him. “We need to talk.” Daniel’s jaw tightened. “Have you made your decision?” Vanessa took a step closer, her heels clicking against the floor. “I need money, Daniel. And if I’m going to leave, I think I should be leaving with something… substantial.” Daniel didn’t flinch, his expression cold and calculating. “Substantial?” He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. “What exactly do you think you’re entitled to, Vanessa?” Her lips curled into a sly smile. “I know what I’m worth, Daniel. You want me gone? Fine. But I’m not leaving empty-handed. After everything I’ve
Later that Evening Tasha stared at the screen for a moment, her finger hovering over the keyboard. She hadn't expected a message from Daniel tonight, especially not after everything that had happened. But there it was, the simple "Hey" that sent a ripple of emotion through her. She bit her lip, uncertainty flooding her. Was this the right time to respond? Did she even know what to say? But before she could overthink it too much, her fingers moved on their own. "Hey," she typed back, her message short and neutral, but it was enough to let him know she was still there. A few seconds passed before his reply came through. "I know we haven’t talked much, but I wanted to check in. How are you doing?" Tasha's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in his words. It was small, but it felt like a bridge between them, something they hadn't shared in a while. She let out a breath, sitting back against the couch, her phone still in her hands. Was it possible to answer honestly, to let him s
As they finished their meal, Claire leaned back in her seat, a sly smile spreading across her face. Tasha noticed the glint in her eyes, the kind of glimmer that always appeared when Claire was up to something.“So, you’ve been awfully quiet lately,” Tasha remarked, raising an eyebrow. “I’m guessing there’s something you’re not telling me.”Claire let out a soft laugh, swirling the ice in her glass. “Maybe. You know, I’ve been seeing someone.”Tasha’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, what? You? Seeing someone?”“Shocking, right?” Claire teased, her lips curling into a smile. “But yeah, I’ve been spending some time with a guy. His name’s Kyle. He’s a friend of one of my college classmates. I didn’t expect it to turn into anything, but... I don’t know. He’s different.”Tasha leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “What’s so different about him?”Claire shrugged, her cheeks slightly flushed. “I don’t know. It’s just... easy with him. We can talk for hours about anything and everything, an
The morning sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tasha’s office, illuminating the space with a soft glow. She adjusted her blazer as she settled into her chair, staring at the untouched stack of files on her desk. Returning to work had felt like a monumental decision, especially with everything happening in her personal life, but Tasha had always found solace in staying busy. A knock on the door broke her reverie. "Come in," she called, her tone steady. The door opened to reveal Vivienne, her sharp features softened with a polite smile. "Good morning, Tasha. How’s it feel being back?" Tasha leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Mixed emotions, honestly. But it’s good to see things running smoothly. You've been doing a great job holding down the fort." Vivienne took a seat across from her, crossing one leg over the other. "Thank you, but we’ve missed your leadership. Your insight has always been invaluable." Tasha chuckled softly. "I’m sure you’ve
As they arrived at the ice cream shop, Ethan raced ahead, pressing his face against the glass display to marvel at the array of flavors. His excitement was infectious, and Tasha couldn’t help but smile.“Alright, Ethan,” she said, catching up to him. “What’s it going to be?”“Chocolate chip!” Ethan exclaimed, practically bouncing on his toes.Tasha chuckled. “Good choice.” She glanced at Robbin. “And for you?”“Vanilla,” he replied with a shrug. “I’m simple like that.”Tasha smirked. “Boring, you mean.”“Classic,” Robbin corrected with a grin.As they placed their orders, Tasha noticed Robbin glancing at her thoughtfully. She arched a brow. “What now?”“Nothing,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Just… you seem lighter today. Happier.”She hesitated, looking down at the counter. “Maybe I am. Or maybe I’m just trying to enjoy the moment for Ethan’s sake.”Robbin nodded, his expression softening. “Whatever it is, it’s good to see.”They found a table near the window, Eth
As they sat on the bench, the soft hum of children's laughter and the occasional squeak of swings filled the air. Ethan was running around with a group of kids, his joy infectious even from a distance. Robbin leaned back, arms stretched along the backrest, his eyes scanning the park. After a moment of silence, he turned to Tasha. “So, is there anything going on between you and Daniel?” Tasha tensed but kept her gaze fixed on Ethan. "Why would you ask that?" Robbin gave a low chuckle. “Don’t play coy, Tasha. The guy’s been hanging around a lot lately. People notice.” She sighed, finally looking at him. "And by people, you mean you." He smirked. "Naturally. Can’t help but notice when a guy like Daniel is lurking around the woman I care about." Tasha narrowed her eyes. "He’s Ethan’s father, Robbin. He has a right to be around." Robbin scoffed, sitting up straighter. "A right? That man forfeited any ‘rights’ the moment he walked out on you, on Ethan." Tasha’s jaw tightened, her vo
The next day, Tasha woke up with a lingering headache, the events of the previous night still fresh in her mind. She had barely slept, tossing and turning as her thoughts swirled. The alcohol, her argument with Daniel, the confrontation with Robbin all of it seemed so distant yet so real, like a weight pressing down on her chest. As she sat up, trying to shake off the grogginess, she realized that everything felt different. The house was eerily quiet, and for a moment, she wondered if it was all just a bad dream. But the pain in her head told her otherwise. Robbin had been there last night, a steady presence in the chaos, and as much as she appreciated his support, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being pulled in two different directions. Daniel’s words echoed in her mind—I still love you, Tasha. And yet, with everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure what love really meant anymore. She rubbed her temples, trying to focus. The silence in the house was deafening, a