My eyes opened slowly. When my vision adjusted, the first thing I saw was my grandfather standing before me in a white suit. "Happy birthday, Elizabeth," he said, his voice gentle and familiar.Tears fell down my cheeks.He held out a bouquet of fresh pink roses, their sweet scent filling the room. I reached out a trembling hand to take them, my fingers brushing against the soft petals, and I was surprised they felt so real against my skin.Grandpa approached the bed. Despite my usual fear of ghosts, at that moment, I wasn't terrified—just keenly aware of how much I had missed him.Then he took my hand; his hands were thin but surprisingly warm against my palms. "I'm not dead," he spoke as though he read my thoughts.I blinked rapidly.Impossible.My grandfather had died in the fire that destroyed the ancestral house.I remembered the day vividly, as if it had happened yesterday: the flames engulfing the house, the billowing smoke, my silent scream of anguish as I watched his motionl
As Grandpa began to tell me about what had happened to my family over the past six years, I couldn't believe my ears.It all started with the day my three brothers didn't make it to the airport and were spared from the airplane crash that took the lives of so many others.It was a miracle that they had missed their flight, and that changed their lives.My mother, Alicia Stone, had made it onto the plane that day, but the crash had left her severely injured. Her face was disfigured beyond recognition, and she had to undergo major plastic surgery to reconstruct it.Grandpa warned me that she looked completely different now, and I might not be able to recognize her once I saw her.I was shocked to hear that my mother had taken on a new identity, Camilla Everheart, after marrying Edward Everheart, my father's best friend.Mom had managed to make it big in the business industry with little help from Edward, and now she owned chains of restaurants, hotels, and resorts all over the world. Sh
"You're still a crybaby.” I heard a voice, and my attention was immediately drawn to the door."Louis!" I gasped, almost not recognizing his face. He seemed so different from the tall, skinny boy I once knew. The slim arms had been replaced by muscles, and the boyish charm had transformed into a manliness that could make girls weak in the knees.Tears welled in my eyes, and my lips quivered with emotion. "I never thought a moment like this would ever come," I sniffled."Have I told you that you look ugly when you cry?" It was David, my youngest brother, with whom I was close but didn't get along so well because he never wanted to play with me when we were kids.David and I, being close in age, often ended up spending a lot of time together in the house. Whenever we got into arguments, Louis would always step in as a referee to prevent us from tearing each other apart.Through my tears, I pursed my lips. "You're even uglier when you cry. That's why you're trying to hold back your tears
Camilla sat on the bedside, her heart breaking with every word coming from Elizabeth's lips.It had been six long years since she had held her daughter like this, and now, as she listened to her recount the events of her life, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret for all the time they had lost.Her heart ached with the pain of knowing that she had missed out on so much.She had missed Elizabeth's graduation, her first job, her first love. She had missed out on all the little moments that made up a life.Elizabeth's voice was soft and tired, the words flowing out in a slow, steady stream. She spoke of the struggles she had faced, the challenges she had overcome, and the acquaintances who had stood by her through those difficult times."But you know, Mom, the pain of being shunned as an outcast by almost everyone for years was nothing compared to the hurt I felt when my own best friend betrayed me.”Camilla reached out and took her daughter's dainty hand, offering comfort a
When I woke up Mom was gone. I had expected her to be there and felt a little disappointed that she left the room already.When I got up, the beautiful French evening white dress laid out on the edge of bed caught my attention. It was stunning, with delicate lace detailing and a flowing skirt. Next to it were sparkly silver shoes. There was also a note that read: Please put on the dress, sweetie. Love, mom.The dress and shoes fit perfectly. I felt like a princess and spun around in front of the mirror.Leaving the presidential suite, I noticed how quiet the halls were. No footsteps or hotel staff anywhere. Walking through the long halls, I found a rose on the floor. Then another one a few steps away.Following the roses, I reached the banquet hall. The silence behind the door felt strange.I pushed the door open, the darkness inside made me pause, causing me to briefly doubt if I should enter at all.When I turned to leave, the lights suddenly flickered on, the grand banquet hall was
Four years later."Daddy! Daddy! Celestine bonked my face!"A little girl, with shoulder-length curly blonde hair, dressed in a pink sleeveless lace dress, hurried past the doorway and approached the chair where her father sat. Her emerald green eyes filled with tears as she buried her face in his lap."She did what?" Her father asked calmly, but his eyes simmered with hidden anger, like a volcano ready to explode.Standing up, the little girl mimicked a slapping motion with her hand. "She did it like this," she demonstrated, her palms colliding with her right cheek.At only four years old, the child exhibited an impressive ability to converse like an adult, a trait likely influenced by her limited interactions with children her age and constant company of older people.Her father gently lifted her chin to look at her face. Sure enough, there was a red mark on her cheek."What happened, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice ominously composed."I spilled juice on her favorite dress! I didn
"Elizabeth Everheart, will you marry me?"I blinked in astonishment at the question. It was the fourth proposal I had received in a week, making it the 150th one in the last four years.Since arriving in the US, my family—brothers, Mom, and Dad—had persistently set me up on blind dates, which I occasionally declined.The blind dates eventually fizzled out, but my family's desire for me to settle down did not wane. Soon enough, marriage proposals were coming at me one after another. After turning them down I was branded the 'ice queen’. This should have deterred further proposals, but it only seemed to make other admirers persistent."Elizabeth, you're 28 years old, for heaven's sake, it's time to choose a man and settle down," Mom would constantly urge me to get married.However, I would always manage to win the argument by pointing out that if Louis, Henry, or David finds a wife first, then I would find a husband. Fortunately for me, none of them were in a rush to settle down just ye
When Sapphire and I got back home, it was already past midnight.I headed straight to my room, taking a quick shower before changing into my favorite pajamas and collapsing face down onto my cozy queen-size bed.Despite feeling exhausted from the day's work and partying, sleep eluded me. My thoughts were consumed by Flintstone City and what awaited me there upon my return.Unfortunately, Grandpa couldn't go back to the city with me as he had passed away a month ago. He peacefully died in his bed, surrounded by friends and family. Grandpa lived a happy and fulfilled life, which may have been the reason he lived longer than the doctor had anticipated.However, before his death, I couldn't resist asking him the question that had plagued me for a long time: Who was responsible for Philip Phoenix's death?"Let go of what happened in the past. Uncovering what's buried will not do you any good." That's what he said to me.Grandpa had been unjustly scorned and accused of a crime he never comm
Crimson was waiting at the lobby by the time we returned to Queen's Courtyard."Did you two enjoy your time together?" He asked.“We had a great time,” I replied. “But we had to cut it short because Cleo's leg was hurting from all the running around at the zoo.”His face broke into a wide smile as he scooped our daughter into his arms, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Did you miss Daddy?”Cleo nodded, snuggling into his shoulder. "Cleo is sad because Daddy can't come to the zoo with us. But Mommy promised we will have a fun outing together soon, so I'm feeling better.”"That sounds wonderful! We'll all go out together in the future— you, Mommy, and Daddy. Will that make you happy?”Our daughter beamed with excitement and nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes! Cleo will be very happy!”Seeing them together made me grateful that despite our complicated relationship, both Crimson and I still cared deeply for our child."Why are you here?" I inquired. Curious. As far as I knew, he was busy. I wondered
I could hear the gentle sounds of Cleo's breathing as I tucked her into bed, her small body curled up under the soft, cozy blankets. She had been so tired that she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.I watched her peaceful face. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly in her dreams, and her little chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.The events from a while ago played back in my mind.Cleo seemed to genuinely like my brother. On the other hand, my brother was equally mystified by the little girl.I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, whispering a quiet "I love you" into her ear.The love I felt for her was overwhelming, a fierce, protective force that filled my heart to bursting. I wanted nothing more than for her to be safe, happy, and loved, for her to always know how special she was to me. My only regret was that I could not grant her deepest wish—for her father and me to be together again.I stood up from her bedside and let out a heavy sigh.
"I have something to show you, Mommy," she exclaimed.“What is it, Cleo?” I asked, my interest piqued by her enthusiasm.“Just a moment, Mom,” she replied.Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched as Cleo knelt down on the floor, opening her small suitcase filled with clothes, and began rummaging around inside, a frown creasing her forehead."I told Daddy to put it here, but why can't I find it?" she grumbled under her breath."Do you want me to help you, sweetie?" I offered."Thank you, Mommy, but no. You shouldn't see it. I want it to be a surprise for you," she replied, dismissing my offer with a wave of her hand.The way she gestured with her fingers only added to her adorable charm. I couldn't help but smile to myself."I found it at last!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down, holding the photo album close to her chest. "This is Daddy's treasure, and he entrusted me with taking good care of it.”“A treasure? That must have cost a fortune,” I teased her."Its value is priceless, a
The delightful time I spent with my best friend had sadly come to an end.“See you when I see you,” Samantha said, waving a hand with a wide smile on her lips."Of course," I replied, waving back at her.Sam made her way back to the Front Office desk, where she was diligently training a new receptionist. I, on the other hand, stepped into the elevator that would whisk me away to my office on the top floor of the hotel.Lunch was lovely, but now it was back to the office to grind through my never-ending workload. The thought of the mountain of work that awaited me made me sigh.Who knows how many hours it would take to sift through the emails, reports, and tasks that had piled up during my absence? I had to finish it all today.I returned to my desk, surrounded by stacks of papers and files. I believe I can finish them before 7:00 pm..The hours slipped by in a haze.I glanced at the clock, realizing that Cleo would be arriving soon. The door to my office swung open, and Sapphire str
“You're getting married?” I blurted out loudly, causing her cheeks to flush deeper.Samantha averted her gaze as though she was embarrassed. I stopped walking, gently grabbing her by the arm until we were facing each other.“Yes,” she replied in a barely audible whisper.Tears stung my eyes as I looked at the dazzling twinkle in her eyes, a sign that she was deeply in love. I'd never seen her look this radiant before, and in that moment, I knew she had found the one meant for her.“What's wrong?” she asked with a frown. “Why are you suddenly crying?”“Silly… I'm crying because I'm so happy for you. You've been working hard for your family as the sole breadwinner, giving everything you have to make them happy. It's now your time to be happy and build a family of your own.”My best friend wiped a teardrop from her cheek. “I never thought I would find someone I’d want to spend the rest of my life with. He just came along when I least expected it.”“I thought you’d end up becoming a spins
“Shall I take you back to the Ashford Residence, or would you prefer to be dropped off at the hotel?” Crimson inquired once we were inside the car."Just take me to Queen's Courtyard," I responded, my mind preoccupied with the piled paperwork awaiting me on my office desk. Crimson sighed, drawing my thoughts back to him. What does that sigh mean? And why did he look so sad? I shook my head and told myself that it was just my imagination."What time are you planning on dropping off Cleo at my place?" I asked, changing the subject."What time works best for you?" I thought for a moment, considering the time I needed to finish up my work. "Maybe around 6 or 7 pm? Is that okay with you?""That works for me. She'll have dinner with me before I take her to the hotel.”"Thank you," I said with a grateful smile. "But are you absolutely certain it's okay for me to stay with Cleo for a few days? I mean, isn’t it asking too much?""Don't worry about it," he replied in assurance. "I'm more than
I fished my phone out of my bag and nervously chewed my bottom lip. My fingers pressed the keys. Since I forgot to call my brother yesterday, I should prepare myself to hear an earful of lecture.Louis, being the protective older brother, constantly worries about me, and I can't help but feel guilty for causing him stress.As soon as he picked up, there was annoyance in his voice. "Why haven't you called me earlier? I’ve been waiting for you since last night," he grumbled.“I’m really sorry I forgot to call you. There's a lot on my mind.”He sighed in frustration but eventually softened. “ I understand that you're going through a lot right now, so I don't want to add weight to your burdens by lecturing you for hours.”Thank you, Lord, for giving me such a kind and understanding brother, I thought to myself with an inward sigh.“How’s my niece doing?” my brother asked. I've already told him about Cleo, so he must have informed the family.“Cleo is doing well. She's an adorable child.”
I hugged Cleo tightly, but loose enough for her to breathe. I couldn't believe that this adorable girl was my daughter.“Daddy tried to explain everything to me, but I still wonder, why did you leave me? Don't you want me?”The question stopped me in my tracks. Seeing the sadness in her eyes made me bite my lip. I couldn't blame her if she thought I abandoned her. I was never present in her life during the past four years. I didn't witness when she first opened her eyes, took her first steps, or said her first words. I missed out on so much, and it breaks my heart.But I couldn't tell Cleo the whole truth just yet. She was too young to understand the intricacies of my past and the reasons why I had to leave her behind. So, I simply said, “I had to go away for a while because there were some things I needed to take care of. But now, I'm back, and I promise I'll never leave you again.”Cleo studied me for a moment before throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. “Don't ever leave me a
The police station was a hive of activity when we arrived, and officers were moving around in a hurry. Crimson and I were directed to the office by a stern-looking officer, who instructed us to wait for Chief Dallas.I sat with my hands clenched in my lap. I was scared, but I was trying my best to maintain a calm demeanor.After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and Chief Dallas finally came in. He offered us a smile, but upon noticing the look on our faces, he occupied his seat and said, "Elizabeth… Crimson. I'm surprised to find you both here. What can I do for you?”“Celestine took Cleo without permission. She kidnapped my daughter,” Crimson explained.Chief Dallas nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “We will do everything we can to locate Cleo and ensure her safety. Do you have any idea where Celestine might have taken her?”“No,” replied Crimson. "We've checked her condominium and called her number, but she's not answering.”“Tell me what she's wear