Reyona’s family wanted to celebrate her in a big way.Gladys was so over the moon that she wanted them to announce Reyona’s full recovery in the news.Carlisle’s reminder that not many knew about her amnesia stopped him.After all, Reyona has been functioning almost as well as before since she woke up.And before that, her capable employee had been taking up the slack.Though Gladys agreed not to make it public, she still wanted them to go out for the celebration.Before Reyona could complete her protest, her sister, who was about as pumped as their mother, was already on the phone to make a reservation.“This is not so necessary, you know,” Reyona said, but it went right over her sister’s head as the latter was already asking for the best space and telling whoever was on the phone that their best champagne should be kept on ice for them.Reyona looked towards her mother as the latter was saying to Carlisle, “Do you think we should bake a cake?”Before he could answer, she was already
Reyona eased, with relief, into the chair her dad pulled out for her. “Thanks, Dad,” she said gratefully, and the latter patted her shoulder affectionately as he said. “You did great. It will only get easier from now on.” “Let’s try not to do that so often until you are totally fine, though,” Gladys said anxiously. “Yes, Mom,” Reyona said to get the anxiety off her mom’s face. As Toria called the hostess who had led them in and they started their discussion, Reyona couldn’t help but think of the strained conversation that she and Celia had. If it could even be called a conversation at all. Reyona didn’t think she had anything to feel guilty about, but the guilt was well lodged in her chest, and it seemed it was not ready to leave anytime soon. It started with the cold treatment she had given the woman when the latter came to visit right after they left Rohan’s place. Reyona had reacted to the woman’s concern based on her knowledge of her closeness with someone she regarded as a
“Who does he think he is?” Reyona hated anyone giving her an ultimatum. Especially when that person was a nosy asshole she wanted nothing to do with, she was even more livid at the ridiculous situation she found herself in. How dare he tell her what to do? Though fuming, she had no choice but to lower herself to the covered seat of the toilet bowl. Though she had not acknowledged it in her shock and anger, getting off her feet for that short time had come with such tremendous relief that she could almost weep at remembering it. Just as it had been like pure hell when he set her back on her feet, Though she preferred anything to be manhandled by that idiot, Reyona was beginning to think that she must have overexerted herself after all. What was the point of all her recovery if she undid it with silly, impulsive actions? As she massaged her splint-free legs, she thought, “I have to get the doctor to come check...” “I assume you are done?” His intrusive, cold tone interrupted h
“That is awful. Why didn’t you say anything?” Toria shrugged as Reyona set aside the file she was going through and turned to face her sister fully. Toria straddled one of the chairs facing her sister and said “Because you have a lot going on too. Then I didn’t know that the bastard would go after her again. I thought we had gotten rid of him. At least, we were on it when…” “... When you got called about my accident,” Reyona said compassionately with concern on her face. Toria nodded and sighed again. “I just don’t know if I can leave you like that. Mum and Dad just left yesterday and now…” “... Now you need to go do what you think is best. I am fine. You know I am better already. If not, my tyrant doctor and the chiropractor wouldn’t give me a clean bill” Reyona said with a roll of her eyes. The worry on Toria’s facelifted as she grinned. “You mean you let them think they are the boss while you do what you want anyway,” she said, swinging her legs. “Hey,” Reyona said with an ex
“You have been avoiding my assistant’s call,” Reyona said in a passive tone as the call connected.“Because I have nothing else to say to her,” Maxwell Rohan said without missing a beat.“I told you I didn’t want it!” Reyona said emphatically.“And I told you it was a gift,” Maxwell said calmly, which only infuriated Reyona.Where was the calmness she had promised herself she would use in dealing with him?Before she dialled the number, she had told herself that she would simply find a way to reason with someone who could be so unreasonable, yet here she was already boiling with anger at the few words he said.There was no denying it. Reyona thought to herself. He was purely annoying. He didn’t even have to open his mouth before he could annoy her.She only had to picture his arrogant face to get riled up.Even when he was not in the same room with her, he could manage to successfully ruin her mood.“I don’t want your gift.” she gritted out.“And I am not taking it back,” Maxwell said
Maxwell paced to and fro in his office as he listened to the person on the phone.Displeasure increased on his face as the person continued talking.He ran his hand through his hair as he swore beneath his breath.“Are you sure, Steve?”The person spoke for a moment while Maxwell nodded.“Yes, yes of course. Keep me posted, will you?”“Thanks”, he disconnected the call and walked towards the bar.He poured himself a generous hand of brandy.Without a word, he walked towards the window overlooking the mesmerising nightlife of Kayooma.His office was situated at the topmost level of the gigantic, Rohan Automobile Inc. building.His employees were long gone for the day.Though they had wrapped up the final preparations for the annual showroom event that was to take place the next day, Maxwell didn’t feel like going home.Despite everything going on, he couldn’t take his mind off a certain someone.The fact that she had begun to feature prominently in his dreams was even more frustrating.
“What do you mean you can’t reach her?” All trace of tiredness was gone from her face as she looked at him like he had uttered the most ridiculous statement.Maxwell wished it was really that.He wished for this night at least he could separate himself from the mess that his goddamned stepsister seemed hellbent on causing over and over again.He wished he had not gotten himself involved in her mess that day when she called him for help.Yet when he thought of the fact that he probably wouldn’t have met Reyona otherwise, he simply sighed and looked at the woman who seemed just a breath away from getting up and storming out of the diner.He leaned towards her. “See…” he paused as the waitress came forward to clear her plate of hash browns.Maxwell had done exactly what she had suggested. He watched her eat.And enjoyed every single moment of it.His pensive mood was already lifting just by being this close to her.Until she started talking.He waved the waitress away when she asked if
The ring of Reyona’s phone jolted her out of a restless sleep.She raised her head and squinted briefly before groggily reaching for her phone.She had fallen asleep at her desk in the home office she had fashioned out in Sylby's place.Her sleep pattern had become seriously messed up in the past few days, and she was not surprised to wake up with a slight burn on her cheek from how she had lain it right on the file she had tried to work on before sleep caught up with her.The call was disconnected before she could pick it up.And she briefly wondered if it was Toria calling, as she tap-tapped her hands around the sheaves of paper under which her phone seemed to be buried.Her sister had been the last person she spoke with the night before.Right after she spoke with the contractor.They were done with the renovation of her house, including the few additions she had discussed.She could move in anytime now.Reyona sighed as she finally unearthed her phone and moved her hair away from
Dear Reader, Thank you so much for following this journey from the beginning to this point. I appreciate your comments, votes, review and continuous reading. You are my real MVP. Reyona's story has come to an end here as she went on to live happily ever after while navigating the beauty and trials of life with the love of her life. But then Toria's story is just about to begin. What do you say to navigating Toria's new journey as she confronts her rollercoaster feelings for Andreas while dealing with the powerful Kanellis family and forces determined to keep them apart? Would you like to see if a headstrong, free-spirited lady like Toria can fit into the imperious and honourable family while she fights her demons? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Thank you for being here. Do check out my other books. I am Kabirat Aleem.
“.... I promise to love and cherish you for as long as we live and beyond. I will respect you and always remember that you are my partner before anyone else. I will put you and our family first in my decisions. You are mine in totality just as I am yours. Together we shall grow in loyalty, in abundance, in comradeship, in support and eternal love. I will forever be by your side in everything that comes our way on this journey of life….”“I, Maxwell Rohan, take you, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, as my lawfully wedded wife today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until I breathe my last.”“I, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, take you, Maxwell Rohan, as my lawfully wedded husband today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until the day I die.”As her sister and her husband completed the vows they had worked on themselves and slid the rings on each other's fingers, Toria tried hard to keep her tears at bay as the minister said, “You may kiss
The past month had been the most heart-filling one for Reyona.She watched as Allysyn lolled Sophie's bassinet while showing her something in the picture book she had in her hand.Meanwhile, Junior jiggled the rattle above Lucas to the delight of the baby and the hopping dog.An inexplicable bliss filled her at the thought that these belonged to her.These beautiful blessings that had been bestowed upon her when she least expected them were a solid part of her story.Reyona leaned back in her chair with a big smile on her face as she reached for her drink.“Rey, you are glowing. I mean, you are literally glowing. You should see your face right now. Hold on.”Toria quickly took a few snaps with her phone before turning the phone around to face Reyona.Reyona smiled as she looked at the pictures while sipping her mimosa.Although she couldn't see herself literally glowing as Toria had said, she loved what she saw.The woman in the picture looked…fulfilled.Long gone was the anxious, sad
Two Months Later“Does this mean we will have to call you Mum and Dad now?” Allysyn asked in a solemn tone.Reyona looked at Maxwell with a smile before responding to Allysyn.“It means we are forever your family now. It means we have got you forever. In as much as you do not forget that, what you call us doesn't matter.”Although she knew how beautiful it would be to hear them use those words.“I am Thomas Junior Rohan?” Junior asked with his head tilted after he pronounced what he had been using his hand to trail in spelling.“Do you like being Junior Rohan?” Reyona asked with a smile.He looked thoughtful for about ten seconds before saying, “I love it.” To Maxwell, he said, “Does this mean I get to drive your car now?”Reyona and Maxwell laughed as Allysyn rolled her eyes.Reyona sucked in her breath as the laughter waned.“Well, maybe in the future, if you've been very good, of course. But not yet.”“Aww,” Junior said with a pout. Then he brightened in the next second. “I will be
The call was from his head of security.Reyona listened to his terse response to the person on the call.Then, just as he took the turn towards his estate, she felt her phone buzz.She frowned as she saw that it was a message from Maxwell.“We have a guest,” it says.She looked at the back of his head as she wondered why he couldn't just say that directly instead of sending it as a message.She was about to ask him who it was when she looked beyond the windscreen and saw the police cruiser.Her heart kicked against her rib and she looked downwards to check if the even-breathing Allysyn had slept off or something.“Look, Max! The police!” Junior shouted excitedly as he pointed at the spot where the police officer was just turning away from the man he was speaking to, the head of security.Allysyn's lax body went taut as she jerked upward, looked in the direction that Junior was pointing at, and then back at Reyona.She had a mixture of fear, question and uncertainty in her face.Reyona
Reyona and Maxwell went together to take the kids from school that day.Despite their fears that some unrelenting reporters might have decided to call them about what happened or ambush them for an interview about what they felt about Thomas's death, nothing of such happened.The school was also free of any lurking reporters or paparazzi.It was either they had decided that Thomas's death was not as worthy of news as his scandal had been, or they were still jeering up to blast the family with all they got later.Whatever it was, they were glad as they waited in silence in front of the school for closing time.Soon enough, school was over for the day.Maxwell came out as the students came out en masse.Soon enough, they saw Allysyn and Junior.Junior was skipping alongside Allysyn while dragging his backpack along and shouting some words at a friend who was going towards another car parked close by.He was being his jovial self as he waved hard at the friend and asked him not to forget
Reyona's head jerked upward as she heard Maxwell's voice.Then she looked sideways when she heard a growling sound.Jerking his head from Reyona to Maxwell, Skippy's pupils had dilated so much that they almost covered his entire eyes.His growl continued as he looked confused about where he should escape.Reyona realised what was going on as she saw Maxwell standing at the entrance, blocking his escape route.He felt cornered!She realised as the dog backed away while his growl increased in pitch.“Maxwell, move,” she said urgently, and he automatically stepped aside.The dog hopped past him in a flash.The dog kept going without stopping at all.Maxwell shook his head and went to Reyona. “What was that about?” He asked in an incredulous voice.“We were building a friendship,” Reyona said with a pout.“That was friendship?” Maxwell asked in disbelief.“Well, we were about to. Then you…do you think they do therapy for dogs?” She asked in contemplation.Maxwell started chuckling, “Ah, a
The soothing sound of the water reminded Reyona of the brook that ran through their homes in Bellevue Hill.She felt completely blissful in the oasis that Maxwell had surprised her with.It was exactly a replica of the one in her home in Sydney.After their dinner that night, Reyona was still pretending to be miffed at him because he wouldn't tell her if he really was the one who donated to the orphanage she had opened in her grandmother's name.Then, as if he didn't notice, he told her to check out something.“I am still mad at you,” She had said as she folded her arms above her belly and gave him a mutinous look.“It is a good thing that you are a versatile woman then. You could be mad at me and still come check this out. You will be glad you did. I promise.” He said innocently.Then, just as Reyona pretended she had not made up her mind yet, he swept her off her feet.How can he still carry her so effortlessly? She wondered as she squealed “Maxwell!”That was the first time the pap
Reyona had no intention of having the wedding while she was still pregnant.“It is called ‘walk down the aisle’, not waddle down the aisle'. Thank you.”That had been her argument and everyone had agreed with her.Not after Toria had added that their dad could carry her.“Then it will be ‘float down the aisle'” she had said in jest.They all came to an agreement that the wedding preparations would start after she had given birth in about two months.They spent the night in the hotel, and they all visited The King’s Creek to pay obeisance to Grams before their parents’ and Toria's departure.Maxwell, Reyona and the kids will stay back in Boowag until the jet got back.Stefan and his co-pilot were to carry Gladys and Carlisle to their destinations before coming back for them.It would take Gladys home first, then make a stopover at Milan to drop Carlisle before coming back.Toria had a standby jet that had brought her to Boowag and Kayooma for the preparation of the surprise and all.Of