"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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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