I hesitated on whether to accept his invitation but ultimately decided there was no harm in it.He gestured for me to follow, and I quietly trailed behind him until we reached the open balcony, which offered a stunning view of the sky filled with stars. I was reminded of the night he asked for divorce—the same night he had ended what I had fought hard for over six years.Crimson gazed up at the sky, his eyes reflecting a cloud of memories. Did he remember that night as well, or was I the only one who had replayed that fateful moment a thousand times in my head?"The sky looks breathtaking," he said, breaking the awkward silence."It does," I agreed, feeling a pang of disappointment that he didn't seem to remember the memory at all. But I pushed that negative feeling aside and forced a smile. "It reminds me of a painting I once saw in an art gallery."We stood there, gazing awkwardly at the sky, lost in a moment of silence. Before long, he shattered the stillness with a question, "How
"That's quite a rumor." “It is,” he agreed. "The allegation is that she didn't give birth to her child… What does that mean?” I asked casually, eager to hear more about the story. “Well, according to an unidentified source, she faked her pregnancy and paid someone to find her a baby.” “That's unbelievable…” Mr. Davis nodded, gracefully raising a finger to signal for a waiter to pour himself another drink. He sank back in his seat and continued, "Well, I wouldn't be shocked if those rumors turned out to be true. Have you seen her beautiful daughter? With green eyes and blonde hair, she bears no resemblance to her mother whatsoever.” Before I could stop myself, I mumbled, "Perhaps the child was fathered by a different man," to which Mr. Davis shook his head. “It's been circulating that the handsome billionaire requested a DNA test, which reportedly came back positive. He's truly the father.” He then added with a shrug, “We never know; Celestine Ford might have taken the
Following an endless dance, I finally slipped out of the hotel for some fresh air. My aching feet begged for relief, and the four-inch heels provided no comfort.It was almost 1 AM, yet the guests attending the party showed no signs of dissipating. Flintstone City, much like Las Vegas, seemed to come alive and buzz with energy at night, more so than during the day.I presumed the party would go on until three in the morning. All the guests appeared to have an endless amount of energy, unlike me. But then, who doesn't get tired from dancing repeatedly with various partners? I felt obligated to accept each invitation, as it would be impolite to turn down the next person waiting to dance.As I stepped out of the hotel, the cool wind brushed against my cheeks, a welcome relief from the loud crowd and bustling atmosphere of the party inside.Sapphire was in the banquet hall, accompanied by her new friend, Mrs. Smith's son, and completely engrossed in the festivities. I chose not to tell he
I couldn't bring myself to meet Crimson's gaze directly. He saved me, and I felt indebted to him. I nervously chewed on my lip before gathering the courage to look up and meet his intense stare. It almost felt like I was melting under his gaze as I mustered the words, "Thank you for saving me.""I was actually planning to speak with you about something when I came across you in need of help, and I acted on instinct," he explained."Is this about the hotel?" I inquired, unable to think of any other reason why he would want to talk to me.He seemed like he wanted to say something but then hesitated before finally responding, "Yes, it's about the hotel." He avoided eye contact after he replied.A tense silence filled the room, and he cleared his throat. "I should get going," he announced.I nodded, observing as he exited the room and disappeared through the doorway.I found my gaze still fixated on the door, even though he was gone, contemplating the events that had just transpired. Was
My car skidded to a stop in front of the Elysium condo building, my pulse racing as I clambered out of the vehicle.Two weeks had passed, and my sprain had fully healed. I had actually been eager to leave the hotel a few days ago, but I needed to wait until I could walk without the piercing pain.I approached the front desk, the receptionist initially didn't seem to recognize me. However, after a moment, she exclaimed, "Ms. Elizabeth?" Her jaw dropped in amazement."Can you tell me Celestine Ford's room number?" I inquired."Just a moment, please," she responded.I let out a sigh of relief when she didn't ask about the reason for my visit. It seemed she might not have been aware that Celestine and I were no longer friends.After a quick check on the computer, she said, “Celestine Ford is in room 316 on the third floor.”I thanked her and crossed the foyer, riding the elevator up to the third floor, my mind racing with thoughts.It was unsettling to consider that out of all the possibl
I had expected Celestine to run after me, but it didn't happen. She must have been so shocked by my words.The parking lot was empty, and the sound of my heels seemed to echo across the vast space. Before I got into my car, I sensed someone watching me.The drive back to Queen's Courtyard was a blur. Soon, I reached the hotel and parked in my usual spot.“What happened in your meeting with Celestine?” Sapphire asked the moment I sat down on the upholstered sofa inside my office.I never realized how thirsty I was until she handed me a chilled cucumber juice. I took a long sip, and by the time I put the glass down, it was empty.“She denied everything,” I replied, making a face. “But I got what I wanted.” I rummaged through my handbag until I found what I was looking for and handed it to my stepsister.A strand of hair in a zip lock.“That's Celestine's. I want you to send it to the DNA testing center along with Cleo's hair sample.”Sapphire understood and nodded. “You can trust me wit
The man stepped onto the terrace.His eyes were a deep shade of blue, and he had a scar just above his left eyebrow. His hair was a tousled mess from the gentle breeze.I found myself staring, trying to piece together where I had seen him before.Was it on the streets? At a mutual friend's gathering? Maybe he had been a guest at the hotel during my days as a humble waitress. The more I tried to remember, the more elusive the memory became."Have we met before?" he asked, looking at me with the same confusion. “There's something about you that feels familiar."For a brief moment, neither of us spoke while we observed one another, and then memories started flooding back. Suddenly, it hit me like a ton of bricks: we had indeed met before!We spoke at the same time.“Grey Cameron?”“Elizabeth Stone?”Grey took a seat in the chair I offered. His eyes were the same piercing blue I remembered, regarding me with curiosity. “You disappeared suddenly without a trace. How have you been?”"I'm go
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, revealing the grand penthouse perched atop Queen's Courtyard. No one had access to that room except for me, Samantha, and Sapphire. Cleo's small hand gripped mine and Crimson’s tightly as she skipped alongside us, her favorite teddy bear backpack bouncing behind her. The stunning views of the city skyline were visible through the expansive windows. The sunlight looked ethereal, like a painting displayed in a grand museum. Cleo let go of our hands and ran toward the large, plush couch in the center of the room, giggling as she plopped down onto the soft cushions. “Just a minute. I'll give the child something to do so she won't disturb us.” Crimson strode towards Cleo, opened her backpack, and produced a jigsaw puzzle. The child sat down on the plush carpet, and Crimson placed the puzzle pieces within her reach. I shifted my gaze to the window, watching the view and wondering why I felt something was missing in my life, even thou
Crimson gently wrapped his arms around my waist as I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. It had been an hour since we left Isabela's room, but her confession still lingered in my mind.Part of me wished I had never learned the truth, but another part of me was grateful for the closure it brought."I wish I had been with my grandmother in her final moments so she could have shared the truth with me instead of my cousin. I wish I could have told her that I don't blame her; that despite her mistake, she remains the kindest person I know. I believe she wouldn't have done anything unless she was pushed to her limit.”I raised my head to look at him. Witnessing the frown on his forehead, I smoothed it away with my fingers until it vanished."I have my own regrets too," I whispered, feeling a tightness in my throat from the flood of emotions. "I wish I had discovered the truth sooner, so I didn't chase after it blindly. And I wish I could have reunited Grandpa with the woman he l
It was supposed to be a happy day for my family to enjoy. Unfortunately, some things are beyond one's control. After we returned home from the picnic, Crimson received a call.I watched as his handsome face twisted with worry, the color draining from his features as he met my gaze.“Is everything alright? Who called you just now? What happened?” The words spilled from my lips one after another.I tried to restrain my thoughts so they wouldn't wander to terrifying conclusions, but they did anyway. It was hard not to think that something bad had happened while watching his reaction.“There's an emergency at home… Isabela was rushed to the hospital.” Worry rang painfully in his tone.Crimson cared deeply for his cousin, and the news of her being rushed to the hospital was a blow he had never expected.Fear and worry gripped me as well, knowing how important Isabela was to him.We immediately rushed back to the hotel and dropped Cleo in Sapphire's care since we couldn't bring her to the h
I stared at the ring on my finger, feeling overwhelmed with emotions. I had dreamed of this moment a thousand times before, but it was far more beautiful and magical than I could have ever imagined.“Do you like it? I could have given you a much more beautiful ring. However, I got too excited and bought this one instead because I was at a loss as to which design you would like.”“You're kidding, right? This ring is so gorgeous! Why wouldn’t I like it?”Crimson's face lit up at my words. At that moment, he looked so damn cute that I couldn't resist pinching his cheeks.“I’m glad you like it. I was a bit hesitant to give it at first because the design is simple and not as extravagant as some of the other rings out there.”“It’s perfect.”He pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapped around me protectively. “I love you so much, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I'll wait for you until you're ready to marry me.”I hugged him back, knowing that this moment would for
My eyes swept the room, but it seemed the one I was looking for wasn't present among them.Sighing, I turned to look at my brother, David. He was saying something, but I wasn't paying attention, so I missed most of his words.“Liz, are you with me?”Color rose to my cheeks. “I beg your pardon?”He cleared his throat. “I'm asking if you're looking for someone. You've been spaced out for a while now. Are you waiting for a secret admirer or something?” He teased me.I rolled my eyes heavenward. "Oh, stop it. I'm just enjoying the party.”When the dance ended, David walked to the side, leaving me alone in the middle of the room, confused.The orchestra stopped, and the room was engulfed in total silence.Suddenly, the man who had been occupying my thoughts emerged from the crowd. He walked with the elegance of a king and seemed to own the crowd as he passed by.My breath hitched in my throat. Am I imagining things? I asked myself, watching him close the distance between us.He stopped rig
I sat by Crimson's bedside in the hospital, holding his hand tightly as he lay unconscious after his operation. I knew he was strong, but the thought of losing him was too much to bear. My phone rang, breaking the silence of the room. It was Sapphire, my stepsister. “I need you to come to the police station. The officers want to talk to you to get your statement." "I'll be right there," I sighed. My eyes went to Crimson, and I fought back the tears. “I have to go,” I told him, pressing my lips to his forehead. When I arrived at the police station, Sapphire was sitting in a small room, surrounded by police officers. She looked pale, perhaps because she had lost too much blood. But she seemed okay, and that was all that mattered. Chief Dallas spotted me. He stood up and gestured for me to follow. In a separate room, he interrogated me about what happened in the warehouse. I provided him with a detailed account. The interrogation lasted an hour, and when it finally ended, I coul
Please leave. I wanted to say those words to him, but I couldn't speak.The door opened, and Crimson entered the room.“Let her go, Mark!”The man Crimson called Mark grabbed the gun from his hip holster and pointed it at me. “Give me your gun.”When Crimson didn’t even budge, Mark pressed the muzzle of the gun against my head. The cold, hard metal dug into my skin. I was terrified he would accidentally pull the trigger."I said give me your gun or her brains will splatter on the floor," he threatened.I gently shook my head, signaling Crimson never to let go of his gun. We both knew that once he relinquished his only weapon, it would be our end."I'm sorry, Liz. I need to do this to protect you," he told me. Slowly, he lowered the gun to the floor."Kick the gun away."Crimson ground his teeth together and did what Mark ordered. He kicked the gun, and it slid near Sapphire's still body.Indescribable fear seized me as I watched Mark raise the gun and point it toward Crimson's head.
When I returned to Queen's Courtyard, Samantha was already waiting in my office, seated on the plush couch. The moment I entered the room, she looked at me and asked, “How are your medical results? I hope everything's fine.” Feeling like my legs would collapse, I slumped onto the single couch opposite her and sighed. “I’m pregnant.” The words emerged from my lips.She blinked rapidly, slowly digesting my words. “Come again?”“You heard it right, Sam.”She finally stopped eating her buttered toast and set the half-finished treat down on the table."You've got to be kidding me.”I shook my head. “I wish I was, but it’s true. I just found out this afternoon from my medical results. I really am pregnant.”Her palms cradled her forehead as though she suddenly had a headache. “You're not in a relationship, Elizabeth. You don't even have a boyfriend, nor have you been dating anyone so how can you be pregnant?” “Does your brother know? Is Sapphire aware of your pregnancy?” she asked frantic
Opening my eyes, I tried to piece together what happened last night. The events of the night came rushing back to me in fragments, like a puzzle being assembled. The memory of his touch, his kisses, and his passion flooded back, sending a flush of heat to my cheeks.I turned my head to look at Crimson, still asleep beside me. His face was relaxed, peaceful in sleep.What have I done?I instinctively freed myself from his arms, feeling a twinge of soreness between my thighs from the night before as I got up from the bed.“Elizabeth?” Crimson sleepily opened his eyes and looked at me. I could see confusion clouding his gazeHe looked at my nakedness. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his cheeks turning tomato red, perhaps recalling what happened last night..“About last night—”“Please forget about it.” I cut him off before he could finish his words.Silence filled the room, the tension in the air swelling like a balloon.“I can't do that!” The harshness in his voice surprised me.
Finally, Samantha's wedding day arrived.It was held in a luxurious resort with a breathtaking view of the ocean. The sun was shining mildly, the sky was clear, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the air.There were a hundred guests in attendance, including the bride and groom’s close friends and family members.Samantha was glowing as she walked down the aisle, her white dress shimmering in the sunlight. Her groom was waiting for her at the altar, with a look of pure love in his eyes.I wasn't the type to easily feel envious. However, at that moment, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy while watching the beautiful ceremony unfold.The ceremony was intimate and heartfelt, with Samantha and her groom exchanging vows that brought tears to the eyes of the guests.After the wedding, the reception was a lavish affair, complete with delicious food, dancing, and toasts to the happy couple.I was having fun until I spotted Crimson in the crowd, accompanied by a stunning woman. They