hi, again...
A young woman emerged from the airport, her hand holding that of a small boy. They both looked stylish in their travel outfits. She with her short blond hair styled in loose waves and he peeked out from behind his sunglasses as he scanned the bustling crowd as if looking for someone there. “Anne!” a voice rang out, cutting through the noise.The mother and son turned to see a middle-aged woman waving enthusiastically at them. Her face lit up with joy as their eyes met and she hurried towards them.“Mom, please be careful,” Nicholas called out with concern in his voice as Ellora reached them, her arms outstretched to hug her precious people who she had missed a lot in the past few months. Ellora enveloped Anne and Leon in a tight embrace, “Anne, I’ve missed you so much,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. Then, pulling Leon close, she cooed, “Little darling, Grandma’s heart ached to be away from you.”Leon, replied, “Grandma, my heart ached to be away from you too. I’m so happ
“Thank you for dropping us home,” Anne said softly. Before moving to Italy, she and Nicholas had decided she would leave the Hart family house. She had found a new home, just a half-hour drive away, where she and Leon now lived. Near their new house, she was opening a café. The café was almost ready, and she would be inaugurating it in a week.It was late in the evening when they arrived home. Anne stood at the door, bathed in the warm glow of the light behind her, while Nicholas stood in the dimness of the driveway.Nicholas nodded. As Anne turned to go inside, he softly called her name.“Anne?” he said, his whisper brushing against her skin like a gentle touch.Her heart raced, and she replied, “Yes?”Nicholas took a step closer, and Anne felt her heart pounding harder in her chest. As he closed the distance, they stood just inches apart. Without warning, he dipped his head and gave her a quick, tender kiss on the lips.“Welcome home,” he said, smiling warmly.Anne blinked in surpris
“Mommy!” Leon called out, rubbing his eyes as he stumbled into the kitchen. He saw Nicholas already seated at the breakfast table, enjoying his meal. For some reasons, he did not like this sight. “Yes, sweetheart?” Anne responded, glancing at Leon. she had been hurrying as she had to finish all the tasks and return to cafe. “What’s for breakfast?” Leon asked, still half-asleep.“I made eggs for you. Go brush your teeth, and then come eat,” Anne said, heading back to the kitchen. She returned with a hot pancake for Nicholas. She added in a very sweet tone, “Nicholas, would you like some eggs? I made them for Leon.”“Sure,” Nicholas replied with a sweet smile in retur.Anne then went back to the kitchen. Leon who was sitting next to Nicholas, grumbled, “Why are you here again?”“Son, is that how you speak to your father?” Nicholas replied with a hint of sterness.Leon pouted and said, “You’re here every morning. Doesn’t your staff make your breakfast? Why does Mom have to get up early
The principal said, “Miss Taylor, please do something about this matter.” Sabrina immediately answered, “My daughter is just a child. You cannot punish her.”“Miss Taylor, Charlotte bit her classmate. It was a serious offense. It is not the first time. She even punched another of her classmates. These incidents are increasing everyday. We cannot tolerate it!” Coco was standing in the principal’s office with her head bowed. Sabrina heaved out a sigh. “Miss Stephanie, I will discipline my child. Please give her another chance.”The principal added, “It is not just this, her performance in classes is very poor. She is barely passing. We understand that she is weak in studies but our school has certain standards and we cannot tolerate such poor performance. If Charlotte does not perform well in these tests, she may have to repeat a grade.” Sabrina said to her daughter, “Charlotte, tell the principal that you will study well.” Coco did not look up but she nodded her head. As they left
The inauguration of Anne’s café had been a grand affair. The cozy and beautiful spot in the neighborhood had attracted curious glances from passersby and compelled them to enter and take a look at the new place. Though the sales were still just barely enough, Anne felt a sense of contentment. She had poured her heart into the café, and seeing it the place where she was bor an draised filled her with an emotion that she could no longer explain in words. It was just a different and out of this world feeling. On the day of the inauguration, Nicholas had surprised her with a grand bouquet of red roses. The fragrance had filled the entire café, making every bouquet recieved pale in comparison. It was a grand gesture that brought a smile to Anne’s face every time she caught a whiff of the flowers, reminding her of his love for her. It was not just his love but his support and trust in her that made her emotional. Meanwhile, Leon had started school. Although he wasn’t haappy with the strict
When Sabrina saw the invitation card, she smirked, the expression not escaping Beatrice's notice who sat nearby, peeling an apple and biting into it. "Are you attending?" Beatrice asked, her tone curious."Of course," Sabrina replied without hesitation."Why?" Beatrice frowned. "Last time, when you went to drop off Charlotte, Nicholas treated you so badly. Why bother with those losers anyway?"Sabrina's smirk grew softer as she said, "There are no losers or winners here. My daughter’s last name is Hart. You might not understand the weight that name carries. Besides, my daughter needs to go and attend her grandfather’s birthday. She has a big family, and I want her to have it all."She paused, then added with a knowing smile, "Besides, Nikolai Hart wants to hand over Nathaniel’s inheritance to Charlotte. He sent me a message a few days ago. My daughter is an owner of the Hart Empire, equal to Nicholas or Emery."Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "So you're going for the inheritance?"Sabri
Nicholas had been trying to reach Anne earlier in the day, but she didn’t answer any of his calls. She was deep in her work and was completely absorbed with it. It wasn’t until the evening that she finally had a chance to call him back. Her voice was filled with apology as she said, “I’m sorry I missed your call. I got caught up with work.”She felt guilty because these days he was taking care of Lwon more and she waas focussing more on her businesses. It was his idea that she gave more time to business than family as he was there to take care of the latter. He wanted to support her in setting up her business. Nicholas responded gently, “It’s okay, Anne. I figured you were busy, so I called your manager, and she told me that you are swamped by work today. I just wanted to let you know that I took Leon to the Hart mansion. I wanted to check if it’s alright with you if he stays the night. If you are not comfortable with it, he will come home..”Anne let out a small sigh, “Nicholas, you
Later that night, as Anne finished closing up the café, the clock was heading towards midnight. The bustling energy of the neighbourshood where café was situated was replaced by a quiet calm one, and Anne decided to take a longer route home. The empty streets gave a rare chance for a connection that she missed with herself. The walk gave her a moment to breathe deeply, clear her mind, and remember who she was beyond a mother and all other roles that she played everyday. As she walked through the silent streets, the cool night air seemed to embrace her and also making the weight of her thoughts feel a little lighter. She wasn’t exactly stressed but the quietness of the night was soothing her mind which was passively stressed. As she was approaching her home, the thought of going to an empty house began to press on her heart. However, she was met with an unexpected surprise. As she reached her front gate, she caught sight of a figure standing there. The moonlight bathed him in a soft
EpilogueThree Years Later“Dr. Hart?”Abella turned around to see a nurse hurrying toward her.“The patient in the NICU is responding to the medication,” the nurse informed her. “Could you check on her?”Without hesitation, Abella rushed to the NICU, her heart throbbing fast. That morning, the baby girl’s condition had been critical, but now, as she looked into those tiny, bright eyes, she felt a wave of relief.“Hey there, sweetheart,” Abella cooed, smiling warmly. “You’re such a fighter. You fought so hard to be here with your mom and dad.”The baby stared up at her, and Abella’s heart melted.“Yes, you’re such a strong, big girl,” she whispered, gently touching the baby’s hand.Outside the NICU, the parents expressed their gratitude; their tearful smiles reminded Abella why she had chosen this path. In moments like these, she was reminded of how beautiful it was to help save these little angels. But there were also the heartbreaking days, the ones where some angels didn’t make it.
Meanwhile, Kate and Rhys were sitting with Anne.“Why is Aunt suddenly changing colors?” Rhys asked.“Because she knows she was wrong and wants back what she lost,” Kate said matter-of-factly.Anne chuckled. “Kate, as much as I love your straightforward attitude, I’d appreciate it if you toned it down in front of Emery. She is… well, very touchy and fussy.”Kate shrugged. “MIL, I have a complaint. Coco and Sia had a girls’ day without me! Can you imagine? I’m trying to be as cool as them, but they left me out!”Rhys suppressed a chuckle. “Yes, Mom, they left my dear Kate out.”Anne played along. “That’s terrible, I’ll scold them,”“Yes, scold them well,” Kate agreed, then added mischievously, “but don’t tell them I snitched. Just say it was Rhys.”Anne smiled. “Alright, dear.” Then, she glanced at Kate. “I saw you have been spending time with Abella. How’s that going? I know you two weren’t close.”Kate sighed. “Everyone coddles her too much. She is living in disillusionment. Coco and
It was a beautiful day that was filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Anne and Nicholas’s wedding anniversary had brought the entire family together, and the house was buzzing with warmth and joy.Nicholas turned to Anne as his eyes were soft with affection. “We have been together for forty years,” he said, a gentle smile on his lips.Anne smiled back, a touch of nostalgia in her gaze. “Yes, we made it this far.”Leaning in, Nicholas pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Thank you for giving me the chance to be your husband.”Anne’s voice was barely above a whisper as she responded, “Thank you for fighting for us.”Just then, Leon and Coco appeared out of nowhere while wrapping their arms around their parents in a tight hug. “If anyone deserves the credit, it’s us!” Leon declared with a grin. “We made sure you two ended up together.”Nicholas and Anne exchanged amused glances before nodding. “Yes,” Nicholas agreed, “and we’re very thankful for your scheming. Turns out, it w
“Did you match into your preferred branch of residency?” Madam Facci asked, excitement filling her voice.Abella swallowed. “Ma, I’m still checking the results,” she admitted. “I’m scared.”“You have nothing to be scared of, my dear. Just look,” she heard. With a deep breath, Abella entered her credentials for the residency match. Her eyes darted across the screen as the words appeared before her.“I…” Her voice caught in her throat.“What is it?” Madam Facci asked eagerly.“Pediatrics…” Abella whispered in disbelief.A joyful gasp came from the other end. “Oh my god! I am so happy for you, dear!”Abella’s chest tightened as she read the rest. “With NYU…” she murmured. “If I accept it, I will have to stay in New York.”Was she ready for this?Madam Facci’s voice was warm and reassuring. “Whatever you choose, we are proud of you. You’ve worked hard for this. Don’t overthink it, just enjoy this moment. You did it, Abella. I’m so, so proud of you.”That evening, the entire family gather
Augustus Hart was born a healthy, chubby baby with a bald head, looking absolutely perfect in every way. His arrival was so sudden that only Callum and Estelle were present at the hospital when her water broke. They barely had time to inform anyone, but Abella rushed over as soon as she found out.The moment Callum stepped out of the delivery room and saw his sister waiting outside, a wave of emotions hit him all at once. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight hug.“Congratulations, brother. I’m so proud of you,” Abella whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.Callum let out a shaky breath, still overwhelmed. “When did you get here?”“Just now,” she said with a smile. “How’s Estelle?”“Tired,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Still cursing me.”Abella chuckled. “And the baby?”“Just perfect,” Callum said, his eyes softening. “Come inside. She is going to be so happy to see you.”When Estelle saw Abella, she let out a small gasp before pulling her into a long, tight
After her divorce, Abella didn’t leave the country. Cillian had given her a staggering sum in alimony, even going as far as naming half of his assets to her, but she refused to take a single dime. She had her own inheritance. More money than she could ever need. But what could wealth do? It couldn’t buy her happiness. It couldn’t fill the void in her heart.Cillian knew her too well; he didn’t push her to accept anything. He let her go, even when it shattered him.When her mother lived in Italy with Coco and Leon, alongside her uncle Nate, she had bought a beautiful bungalow. It had never been sold, left untouched over the years. When Abella married Cillian, Leon had given her the key to that house as a quiet token of their family’s past. There were two bungalows beside each other, one where her mother had raised her two older siblings, and the other where her father had stayed, the place where her parents had met and reunited. One had been passed down to Charlotte, the other to Leon.
Cillian stared at her, his throat tightening as he heard the finality in her voice. He had imagined this conversation a thousand different ways, but none of them had prepared him for the calm and almost serene acceptance in her eyes.“Abella…” He whispered her name like a prayer, like a plea. “Can we please rethink this?”Abella smiled. It was a soft, bittersweet smile that made his chest ache.“Cillian, there is nothing to rethink,” she said gently. “Alessandro came to see me. He told me that he was leaving the country with his mother. He said he doesn’t want to come between us, that he would be happy if you called him once in a while and only if it was okay with me.” She let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s too big of a burden for me to carry. I mean, I don’t care how you navigate your relationship with your son. But I will give you one piece of advice: don’t be a jerk. Don’t hurt one more person. You have already hurt me, you have hurt him, and you have hurt his mother. Stop making
Cillian reached for her hand, his grip firm but trembling as well. “Abella, please listen to me. I’m sorry. I made a mistake by not telling you the truth. Can you please forgive me?” His voice cracked with desperation.She looked at him, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know,” she said softly.Cillian’s breath hitched, and he tried again. “Please, I’ll change. I’ll work on myself. Just give me a chance.” His hands clenched at his sides as if willing himself not to break apart. “I don’t want to see you like this, so shattered. You mean so fucking much to me. Please.”But to Abella, his words felt like echoes in an empty room. They were hollow and weightless. Once upon a time, she had longed to hear them, had dreamed of a moment where he would look at her like this, beg for her, choose her. But now? Now, they felt unimportant. They meant nothing.She exhaled, rubbing her temple. “I heard you. But my head is splitting apart, Cillian. Can you please just go back to your house? I just w
Madam Facci looked at her son, her expression undecipherable. She had seen Cillian walk through storms without flinching, but today, he stood before her looking utterly wrecked. His usually sharp eyes were bloodshot, his arm wound had reopened, staining his sleeve with fresh blood, yet none of that seemed to matter to him or anyone at this point.“What do you want, Cillian?” she asked, her voice firm but not unkind.“I’m here to see Abella,” he said. His voice was hoarse, almost desperate.Madam Facci crossed her arms. “I’m sure you have no idea what happened last night.”“I know,” he admitted, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I just want to explain things to her. She is overthinking this, and there is nothing much to overthink. I just—” He exhaled sharply. “I just want to make everything okay.”A wry smile tugged at Madam Facci’s lips, but there was no amusement in her eyes. “Son,” she said, “we can never tell someone what is worth overthinking or not. For you, th