When Vespera awoke, she found herself in a hospital bed with Aurora sitting beside her. "How are you feeling?" Aurora asked, concern etched on her face.Vespera shook her head weakly. "I'm okay now. Thank you, Aurora."Aurora sighed, telling Vespera to rest. The next day, she helped discharge Vespera and took her back to the apartment. Under Aurora's persistent questioning, Vespera finally revealed that she and Yvonne were half-sisters, and that she was nothing more than the Thornfield family's illegitimate daughter.For years, Vespera had only wanted to prove to her father that she was just as good as Yvonne—better, even, in many ways. She'd been meek and compliant all this time, hoping her father would notice her, if only for a moment.Unlike Aurora, who wasn't afraid to turn the Pendleton household upside down when she was angry, Vespera was inherently timid. She longed for family and warmth, so she never dared to talk back to Yvonne or her father. But years of humiliation had only
Yvonne glared at Alaric's hand, which was holding Vespera's. That little tramp! When did she manage to snag a man like Alaric Strider?"Mr. Strider, what brings you to here today?" Mr. Thornfield tentatively asked."I'm here to pick up Vespera," Alaric interrupted, lifting their joined hands. "Didn't you need to get your books? Go on, I'll wait downstairs.""Okay," Vespera replied without even glancing at Mr. Thornfield as she headed upstairs.Her heart felt heavy. The home she'd cherished for so long wasn't really her home at all. She was just a walking blood bank for Yvonne. Whenever Yvonne got hurt, Vespera was there to donate blood. That's why Mr. Thornfield never intervened when Yvonne bullied her—as long as she wasn't killed outright, it was fine.Yesterday's incident was a perfect example. Yvonne had tried to take advantage of her, but before Vespera could explain, Mr. Thornfield had already believed Yvonne's side of the story. In her father's eyes, she wasn't a daughter at all
After Alaric and Vespera left, Mr. Thornfield exploded with anger at Yvonne. He never imagined that Vespera had grown so quickly and quietly. Not only was she now a renowned designer, but her connection to Alaric Strider alone was enough to outshine most of the city's socialites.He should have planned carefully for this hidden gem in the family, helping her shine even brighter. Instead, he had listened to Yvonne's one-sided story, causing Vespera to leave the family in despair. Now, what use was Yvonne? She had accomplished absolutely nothing!He glared furiously at Yvonne and shouted, "You ungrateful child! I don't care how you do it, but bring Vespera back home!""Dad, she's nobody! I'm the real Thornfield daughter!" Yvonne protested, unwilling to comply. All her life, she had only bullied Vespera, never having to appease her."You, a Thornfield daughter? What have you done besides embarrass our family? If you don't bring her back, don't bother coming home yourself!" her father sla
As the dinner wound down, Vespera barely touched her wine. She'd never been much of a drinker, especially with her health issues. Alaric, on the other hand, was knocking them back like there was no tomorrow. He kept going on about how happy he was, though God knows what about. Lately, he'd been grinning at Vespera like a lovesick puppy.After the meal, Vespera started clearing the table. Alaric followed her around like a lost puppy, chattering away. When she went to the kitchen, he was right behind her. Same story in the living room. Finally, Vespera ducked into the bathroom and shut the door in his face with a satisfying thud.Alaric rubbed his nose, still grinning like an idiot. He couldn't remember the last time he'd smiled this much.Once everything was tidied up, it was time for Alaric to head home. But he was pretty buzzed, and Vespera didn't want him driving. She thought about calling an Uber, but they were in a dead zone. She tried reaching out to her family's driver, no luck.
Zane raced upstairs and kicked open the bedroom door. He yanked at Alaric's blanket, shouting, "Bro! Wake up!"Alaric grunted and rolled over, ignoring him. Struck by inspiration, Zane dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a bag of ice. He returned and shoved it straight into Alaric's bed. Then...A pig-like squeal echoed through the house. Zane shrugged. What's the big deal? Aurora used to wake Jay up like this all the time.Alaric leapt out of bed and hurled the ice bag at Zane's face. "You little punk! Are you out of your mind?"Zane peeled off the ice and tossed Alaric his phone. "Your girlfriend called. I'm just looking out for you, ungrateful jerk!"Alaric: "..."Was life even worth living anymore? Getting pushed around by Heath and Lysander outside, then tormented by his idiot brother at home.Alaric scrolled through his phone. "What did she say?""Nothing much. She was looking for you, but I told her you were sleeping, so she hung up." Zane headed downstairs with the ice bag.Alar
Though Vespera kept insisting she wasn't hurt and Elowen hadn't grabbed her too roughly, Alaric still anxiously examined her hand before finally relaxing."Alaric, I..." Elowen trailed off, irritated by how attentive Alaric was being towards Vespera. She had initially thought Yvonne and Evelyn were exaggerating about Alaric's sudden devotion to Vespera. After all, how could he move on so quickly after being infatuated with her for years? Even if it was just a fleeting interest, surely it couldn't have progressed this far?But witnessing this scene firsthand, Elowen finally believed it. Apparently, men really could change their hearts that quickly - claiming not to like her anymore and immediately lavishing all that tender affection on someone else.Alaric looked at Elowen, who now appeared utterly pitiful - a far cry from her earlier harsh demeanor towards Vespera. He felt disappointed, even questioning whether he had ever truly known Elowen. Who was she really? How many faces did she
Vespera stared at the photos on the phone, flipping through them repeatedly. They weren't photoshopped or edited—Alaric was wearing the same jacket he had on earlier today. These were definitely taken after she'd told him to go home and rest. Confusion clouded her face as she looked up at Yvonne, wanting to ask something but not knowing where to start.Yvonne smirked. "See it clearly now? You didn't actually think Alaric was serious about you, did you? I saw him cuddling up with Elowen today with my own eyes. Everyone in the city knows Alaric's been in love with Elowen for years. Did you really think he'd just get over her like that?"Vespera closed her eyes briefly before handing the phone back to Yvonne. "You're just trying to come between us. You think I'd actually believe this?""Me? Coming between you?" Yvonne laughed. "Why don't you call Alaric yourself and ask if he's with Elowen right now? Face it, Vespera, you're a joke. Cinderella ending up with the prince is just a fairy ta
Alaric turned to look at Elowen, who was being helped over by a nurse. He felt a bit exasperated - why did it seem like Elowen had been clinging to him more and more lately? Didn't she dislike him?"Are you leaving, Alaric?" Elowen asked, limping towards him.Alaric nodded. "Did you get the results? How is it?"Elowen smiled. "Nothing serious. Just a sprain. The doctor said I'll be fine after a few days of rest. Thanks for bringing me to the hospital.""No problem, it's the least I could do." Alaric seemed distracted. He really didn't want to keep talking with Elowen. He felt uneasy and exhausted, not wanting to keep up this charade. The guilt was making him anxious."Alaric, what's wrong?" Elowen asked, noticing his spaced-out expression.Alaric snapped back to reality and shook his head. "It's nothing. I should get going."Elowen grabbed his arm, looking down. "Could you take me home? It's not easy for me to manage alone like this."Alaric glanced at his watch, hesitating. He was to
The next morning, Vespera was woken up at dawn, barely getting a few hours of sleep. Known as a dedicated designer, she was usually the first one awake, but today she could barely keep her eyes open. As the stylist worked on her hair and makeup, Vespera sat half-dazed, drifting in and out, completely unaware of the hands tugging her in all directions.Two hours later, with her hair and makeup done, Vespera finally slipped into her wedding dress. The reality hit her, and for the first time, she fully realized she was about to get married.Memories flooded back, particularly that first encounter with Alaric. He’d been sprawled on the steps outside, a bit too tipsy, looking up with half-closed eyes, asking, “What’s wrong with me?” Vespera, surprising even herself, had replied, “Nothing at all.”Back then, he was just a bright, headstrong young man, carrying so many dreams and frustrations. Somewhere along the way, he’d grown into this strong, grounded man. And somehow, after everything,
It wasn’t until a few days after their engagement that it even crossed Vespera’s mind to ask about the villa.Alaric confirmed he’d bought it, explaining that he’d thought she might like it and decided to go for it. As for renovations, he wanted to wait until she officially agreed to everything; after all, they’d eventually need their own place—living with Zane forever wasn’t exactly an option.By now, the news of Alaric and Vespera’s engagement had spread everywhere. Alaric was practically ready to announce it to the world on social media, but thankfully, Aurora stepped in, suggesting he keep things low-key since he was the company CEO. Plus, Vespera wasn’t exactly a fan of the public spotlight.Alaric reluctantly held back but couldn’t resist dropping hints in his friend group chat every other day. Heath and the rest were used to it by now—except Lysander, who constantly complained that he was drowning in a sea of "lovey-dovey vibes," being the lone single guy among them.When Auror
The next morning, Alaric woke up, remembering last night’s events. He pinched himself—no, it wasn’t a dream. Vespera had actually said yes.He jumped out of bed, showered, changed, and even straightened his tie before driving to her studio. There she was, focused on work, wearing a stylish dress and light makeup, looking absolutely radiant.When he walked in, Vespera looked up, surprised. “Finally awake?” she asked with a smirk.Alaric simply nodded, taking her hand without a word and leading her downstairs. She stumbled after him, asking, “Where are we going?”Alaric gently nudged her into his car, driving her toward a villa. Vespera was clueless and a bit shocked, glancing around, unsure of what was happening.They finally arrived at a beautiful villa. Alaric opened the door, and she asked, “Did you just buy this?”&n
The next morning, Alaric was finally over his fever. When Vespera woke up, he was already waiting in the living room. After breakfast, they both headed to their respective offices.Aurora’s team reported they’d successfully returned to the Whitmore family’s estate. For her, that had been a fierce battle. For Vespera, however, the real challenge lay ahead: the design competition.Ever since her last conversation with Yvonne, where Yvonne had hinted that everything she had was due to Aurora and Alaric’s support, Vespera had been determined to prove herself. She wanted to be worthy of Alaric and was pouring all her energy into this competition.After submitting her designs, Vespera anxiously waited at home for results. When the winners were finally announced online, she saw her name in second place. The relief and pride were overwhelming. She had finally achieved something worth sharing with Alaric. Now, with the award ceremony in the UK, she had no choice but to let him know.Expecting
Vespera had reclaimed her brand, and Alaric seemed to be maturing by the day, treating her like she was his entire world. Everything seemed to be falling into place.After that showdown in Alaric’s office with Elowen, she hadn’t shown her face again. Vespera figured it was over, that Elowen had finally given up. Everyone else thought the same.But on the day they took graduation photos, Aurora disappeared. Heath and Alaric eventually tracked her down — Elowen had taken her. Vespera was frantic, blaming herself for not protecting Aurora better.Heath and Alaric couldn’t stop Aurora’s flight at the airport, so they booked tickets to the UK to get her back. Vespera had too much to handle here to join them, so she only saw Alaric off at the airport.He held her close, whispering, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, and Aurora will be safe.”Vespera hugged him back tightly. She trusted him. Alaric and Heath would get this done — Elowen had crossed a line that couldn’t be ignored, and she knew
This past week, Aurora had been tirelessly setting up to counter Evelyn and her allies, Yvonne and Elowen. Meanwhile, Alaric, working alongside Aurora to reclaim Elowen’s brand.A week later, the press conference went ahead as planned. Alaric helped Vespera pick an outfit, stayed until she’d finished her makeup, and then drove her to the venue himself.The conference, led by Evelyn, was a disaster for her team. They failed to take over Aurora’s company, couldn’t drive her out of the Pendleton family, and made no progress in placing Yvonne and Elowen as CEO and head designer. Their plans had backfired entirely.Leaving the venue, Yvonne, clearly shaken, stepped in front of a car without looking and was hit, blood pooling around her. Vespera, stunned and dizzy at the sight, would have collapsed if Alaric hadn’t steadied her.Frantically, Vespera fumbled with her phone to call home, stammering, “It’s Yvonne… she’s bleeding so much…”As someone unaccustomed to such violence, Vespera was t
Alaric looked at Vespera with an innocent expression and said, “It’s not what you think. I’m not a creep.”“Not a creep?” Vespera glared at him. “Then what were you doing in my room?”Alaric almost groaned. “If I told you I was here to give you a massage, would you believe me?”“Total creep!” she shouted. “Sneaking into my bed while I was asleep!”Alaric shot back, “I did not! When I woke up, you were the one curled up on me!”Vespera paused, recalling the moment she woke up. Okay, maybe she had been cozying up to him. Wait a second—was he implying she was the one acting out of line?Seeing her hesitation, Alaric grinned smugly. “See? You were just as comfortable with it!”“Get out!” Vespera yelled.Alaric left the room, trying not to smile too much. Sure, nothing happened, but just getting to hold her felt amazing. Although… his shoulder was sore from her leaning on him all night, so he headed back to his room to grab a few more hours of sleep.Vespera, alone in her room, listened as
Vespera walked ahead, casual and carefree in a T-shirt and shorts, no makeup, and even bare of high heels, while Alaric trailed close behind with a jacket in hand, grinning like a fool. Everyone in the lobby couldn’t help but notice—their usually composed CEO was tagging along, practically beaming.Catching up to her, Alaric draped his jacket over her shoulders. “How could you leave without dressing warmer? You’ll end up with a stomach ache tonight,” he said, his voice soft with affection.Vespera felt a warm flutter in her chest but stayed quiet, letting his jacket settle around her as they walked out. Alaric was thrilled she hadn’t brushed him off; emboldened, he slipped his hand into hers, wrapping her cold fingers in his.For a moment, she stiffened, then relaxed, letting her hand nestle securely in his. Together, they headed to the parking lot, Alaric practically floating with joy. This felt better than winning the lottery!Bringing her home, Alaric felt out of his depth—things h
Alaric stood in his office, with Elowen right in front of him, her hand tugging at his tie, a faint smirk hidden beneath her slightly indignant expression.Seeing the scene, Vespera nearly turned around and left right then and there. But she reminded herself of her purpose for coming today. She was done hiding from Elowen. Even if Alaric wasn’t hers in the end, she’d be damned if he ended up with someone like Elowen.So Vespera strode into the office, fixed her gaze on them, and asked, “What’s going on here?”At the sound of her voice, Alaric spun around, fumbling to free his tie from Elowen’s grip. But Elowen held tight, glancing over at Vespera with a slight smile. “Miss Thornfield? You’re here?”Vespera closed the door behind her, gave a slight nod, and asked again, “What exactly is this about?”Elowen smirked. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to ask Alaric if I could borrow a few people to help promote my new fashion line. Not sure if he’s on board with it, though.”“Not a chance,