“Brother, you should have let us know you were coming! I had no idea,” I exclaimed, rising from my seat to greet him.Louis, whom I hadn't seen in a month, flashed me a smile. “It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you,” he replied, giving me a hug.I glanced over at Sapphire, who had also risen from her seat to greet our brother. She looked just as surprised as I was, indicating that she had no idea he was coming.“Have you eaten? There's a lot of food tonight. It's Samantha's birthday.”“I've eaten on the plane, Liz, so I'll pass, but I would appreciate a drink.”I gestured for the server to come over and requested a bottle of wine. He nodded and momentarily excused himself to fetch my request. Upon returning, he brought four glasses and a sealed bottle of wine.We all settled back into our seats.Out of the corner of my eye, I felt like I was being watched. I glanced around the room, trying to figure out who it was, until my gaze landed on Crimson. He was taking a sip of whiskey, res
Crimson pulled his pants back on, much to the disappointment of the audience, who had been enjoying his beautiful body. He gathered his shirt and also put it on.The game continued. Crimson spun the bottle.“Please, not me,” I mumbled under my breath.Finally, it stopped, pointing at a girl, making me heave a relieved sigh.“Truth or dare?” the master of the game asked.The woman in pink, wearing a halter top, laughed nervously before standing up. “Dare.”The master of the game grinned mischievously before saying, "I dare you to approach the man you have a crush on and confess your feelings."The woman's eyes widened, but she took a deep breath. With soft, hesitant steps, she slowly made her way to the young man seated next to Crimson.“I—I l-ike you,” she muttered, her cheeks a deep tomato red.The man beside Crimson broke into a smile. “I like you too, Dolly, ever since we were kids,” he confessed .The whole room erupted into cheers, watching the couple hug each other.I couldn't h
Crimson looked surprised, his thick brows furrowing slightly. “What makes you ask that?”I bit my lower lip. Will he think I'm prying too much into his life? But then I had already asked the question, and there was no way to take it back.“I… I don't know, it's something that's been on my mind. Cleo looks different from both you and Celestine. I don't mean to pry; I just… I just want to know.”His eyes bore into me long and hard. I swallowed the lump in my throat, unexpectedly becoming self-conscious under his gaze.Was he reading my thoughts, wondering why I was asking personal questions?I cleared my throat to ease the discomfort of the silence. “You don't have to answer if you don't want to.”Crimson shrugged. “Since you asked, I have to answer it. Yes… Cleo is my biological daughter, although she has blonde hair and green eyes. I've proven through a DNA test that she's indeed mine.”I nodded, feeling a weight lifted off my chest. “I'm sorry for doubting. It's just… she's such a sp
Crimson cleared his throat and spoke up, "I'm here to give you a ride. The escort who was supposed to drive you to Havenwood Street got a flat tire on the way. Clarisse asked me to pick you up because I will be passing by the hotel on my way to the Mayor's house.”“You shouldn't have bothered.”“Don't worry; I'm not,” he replied with a shrug."I can simply drive to the Mayor's house; I have a car," I argued."It's risky," he responded honestly. "Plus, you're not familiar with the location of the Mayor's house. You could easily get lost.”I paused, considering his point. "Okay, then do what you want. There's no use arguing since you're already here.""Shall we go?" he asked.I nodded, and together we walked to his car.“How long have you been waiting?”Crimson blushed in embarrassment. “Almost half an hour.""I apologize for making you wait," I told him.“No need to apologize. It's my fault for coming early,” he answered. His gaze surprisingly never left my face, as if he were under a
Clarisse Stevens' beautiful countenance lit up with excitement."Oh, that's so sweet of you, Elizabeth! I would love to hear you play."I remained still, like a statue, unable to move. I never expected to be playing the piano in front of a crowd of almost five hundred people.The Mayor smiled genuinely at me and said, "It was very thoughtful of you to offer such a gift to my daughter, Madam.”I felt pressure to play because everyone, especially the Mayor, was expecting me to. But I was worried that I would only end up embarrassing myself.Perhaps Celestine sensed the fear in my eyes and smiled, "Don't be shy, Elizabeth." Suddenly, she grabbed my arm roughly and led me to the piano, hiding her true, malicious intentions with a seemingly kind gesture.Was her intention to humiliate me and make me lose face in front of the most important people in Flintstone City?If that's her intention, then I'm not going to let her win.Taking a deep breath, I sat down, ignoring the evil glint in Cele
Crimson's laughter echoed in the study room. I hadn't expected him to laugh at the situation, which made me wonder if he had lost his mind. “Don't spit such ridiculous words,” he replied with a hardened expression. “I am not interested in you, Vera. You're like a sister to me."The woman he had just called Vera clung to him. “I can make you want me. I will change for you.”Tears fell freely from her eyes. "Please, just give me a chance. I love you…. I have loved you since we were children… ““Vera, I care for you deeply, but not in the way you want me to. It's not fair to either of us to force something that isn't there. Please don't hurt yourself anymore."Vera ran out of the room sobbing.I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding when the door to the study closed.Crimson had done the right thing by being honest and setting boundaries. Although it hurt the woman, it would help her to at least move on.“Stop hiding, Elizabeth. I know you're there.”Breathless, I emerged
The following day, my brother Louis remained silent about the previous night's incident at the Mayor's house. I had hoped he would express some anger or yell at me, but instead, his calm demeanor had a more profound impact than if he had raised his voice.The events from last night had made headlines everywhere. Celestine Ford got her karma. Her reputation had been tarnished overnight, and she was facing backlash from the public and media.Serves her right, I thought to myself.I returned to my office after breakfast and started working on my laptop. I made a mental note to talk to Louis later to clear the air and hopefully soften him a bit.Afternoon came, and I finally completed my work.I strolled down the hallway, my car keys jingling in my hand. Louis, heading toward the presidential suite, crossed paths with me. "Where are you off to?" he inquired."I'm heading to the orphanage,” I responded.Louis didn't inquire about my purpose for going to the orphanage. Instead, he kindly of
When I arrived at the suite, Sam was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious. Sapphire was there too. Although she was seated, the anxiety was evident on her face.“What’s the problem?” I blurted out.“Thank God you arrived! I just received the DNA results for Cleo and Celestine.”Sapphire handed me an envelope with the DNA results. My heart was pounding as I nervously tore open the envelope and unfolded the papers inside. I scanned through the results, my eyes widening in shock.According to the DNA results, Cleo is not Celestine's daughter.“Sapphire, is this real?” I stammered, looking at her wide eyes.“Yes. Cleo is not Celestine's daughter, Liz…”I felt like my world was spinning. I looked at Sam, who was as shocked by the news as everyone else in the room.“What are your plans now?” Sapphire asked.I took a deep breath before responding. “It means that Celestine had stolen somebody’s child.”Sam nodded in agreement, her jaw clenched as she stopped pacing and stood beside me."I j
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