When Roseanne became conscious, she heard from Nicholas that her father's condition had stabilized. However, it was too soon to tell that his body had accepted the piece of liver. For the next five days, Roseanne stayed in hospital, slowly recovering from the liver donation. Today the doctor told her that her father was in good shape and the transplant was successful as his body started accepting it. It was also the day when she would be discharged from the hospital. However, before going back she wanted to meet her father. “Hello, Mr Swift,” Roseanne whispered as she entered his room. He is not staying in an ICU now. He appeared better than before and this made her heart take a breath of relief. “I came to see you,” Roseanne said. When she had to enter his room, she saw that he was awake. However, now he was sleeping. She knew that he was acting. It was probably because he didn't want to talk to anyone and was avoiding everyone. When he didn't respond she said with a chuckle, “I
“What are you doing here?” Roseanne asked. Bella smiled at her. “Shouldn't you be resting?”Roseanne sighed. If Nicholas saw her roaming in the hospital without anyone by her side, he would get very upset. She silently lay on the bed. Bella answered, “Your son told me that you are in hospital. Since Nicholas is not allowing him to visit the hospital, he requested me to see you and tell him that you are okay.” “I'm going home today,” Roseanne told her. Bella said, “Well, he didn't tell me that.” She added, “Do you think Jacob will harm your son if Leon visits you?”“It's not about him but all the people who want to get back at Nicholas. I don't want Leon to be exposed to any kind of danger,” Roseanne told her. Bella hummed. The ladies didn't say anything for a while. It was Bella who broke the silence, “Looking at your tear-stained face, I can tell you met your father, and it didn't turn out to be good.”Roseanne just sighed and didn't say anything. She just wanted to meet her fa
“Are you okay?” Nicholas asked with concern. Roseanne nodded with a smile. He had been very worried about her health. She knew that he had heard about her meeting with her father but he was not talking about it because he didn't want to trouble her. “We are going home,” Nicholas said with a smile. “Are you excited for it?” “Very!” Roseanne smiled widely. “I'll meet my babies! I missed them badly.” Nicholas said, “They missed you so much too. They had called me ten times in the morning asking when we would come back. Your son even accused me of kidnapping you.” Roseanne laughed. “Sounds like Leon!” Soon, they packed and left the home. Instead of going back home, he took her out for a walk in a beautiful and peaceful place. She was very grateful for this. She was not ready to go from one overwhelming place to another. She needed a transition, and Nicholas provided her with that by bringing her out. They stayed there for an hour and he made her feel amazing and easy. He w
Today was the day when Roseanne had decided to tell every secret that she held to Nicholas. She was not going to keep any secret from him anymore. She would tell him that they had a child and that child was Leon. Before talking to Nicholas, she met Leon. “Leon?” Roseanne called for him. They were seated in the garden where they were having tea. She was having tea and he was holding a cup of chocolate milk. “Mommy is here to talk to you about your dad, ”Roseanne said. “Your biological dad. I know you know many things. I will let you ask me questions. If you have anything to ask me, tell me, baby. Mommy will be truthful to you.” “Mommy, when will you tell Nicholas about me?” Leon asked. “I want you to tell him that he is my dad.” Roseanne nodded, emotions choked her. “Why?” “Because I want him to be my dad,” Leon answered her. “Mommy, am I hurting you?” She held his hand tightly and shook her head. “No, sweetheart. You can never hurt me.” Then, she paused to say, “I'll
"Nicholas?" Roseanne whispered as her voice was trembling. "What are you saying?""Please, Rose. Please, leave me alone," Nicholas begged, his tone laced with desperation. "Leave. Please, leave."He was a man caught in the crossfire of his mind and heart. He didn’t want to hurt her, but how could he stop himself? The pain inside him was too great, too raw. She had broken him, and now, he was crumbling piece by piece. The need to inflict his hurt upon her was overwhelming, even though he despised himself for it."You don’t look well," Roseanne said, her concern palpable."That's because I’m not!" he shouted, his voice cracking with the intensity of his rage. "I’m seething!""Leave!" he demanded, his eyes blazing with fury."No!" she responded stubbornly, refusing to back down.Nicholas’s hands shot out, gripping her arms with a desperation that mirrored the chaos inside him. "Fine! If you want this so badly, then take it!""What?" she asked, though she wasn’t oblivious to the storm abou
"Nicholas?" Roseanne whispered as her voice was trembling. "What are you saying?""Please, Rose. Please, leave me alone," Nicholas begged, his tone laced with desperation. "Leave. Please, leave."He was a man caught in the crossfire of his mind and heart. He didn’t want to hurt her, but how could he stop himself? The pain inside him was too great, too raw. She had broken him, and now, he was crumbling piece by piece. The need to inflict his hurt upon her was overwhelming, even though he despised himself for it."You don’t look well," Roseanne said, her concern palpable."That's because I’m not!" he shouted, his voice cracking with the intensity of his rage. "I’m seething!""Leave!" he demanded, his eyes blazing with fury."No!" she responded stubbornly, refusing to back down.Nicholas’s hands shot out, gripping her arms with a desperation that mirrored the chaos inside him. "Fine! If you want this so badly, then take it!""What?" she asked, though she wasn’t oblivious to the storm abo
Roseanne’s voice trembled as her words cut through the air like shards of glass, capable of cutting even human hearts, “Nicholas, I did not want my child to die here in this family!” Her scream echoed through the intense room. However, her pain ran deeper than the sound could ever reach. They were hurting and it was evident to both of them yet they could not express it. This suffocation was intensifying the tensions even more. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to steady herself. In a softer, almost broken tone, she continued to say, “I’m sorry, but I didn’t want him to grow up in this family.”She did not want to be harder on him. She was tired of being hard on him. She just wanted him. She fought with him, the whole world and herself. However, she lost the battle in the end. It was a doomed battler after all. Nicholas’s eyes narrowed, confusion lacing his words. “This family?” His question hung in the air as if he truly didn’t understand the weight of her accusation.Her
“Mommy, are you okay?” Leon’s small voice broke through Roseanne’s thoughts.She quickly nodded, forcing a soft smile. “Yes, sweetie. You woke up very early.”He nodded, looking up at her with those innocent eyes. “Mommy, did you tell Dad?”He hesitated before asking, “I can call him Dad, right?”Roseanne’s smile wavered as she hid the pain beneath it. “Of course, baby.”Leon’s face lit up with excitement. “Okay, I’m going to him then!” He started to run towards Nicholas’s study but stopped abruptly, rushing back to plant a quick kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Mommy!” Then, without another word, he dashed off, his little voice echoing down the hallway. “Dad! Dad!”Nicholas had spent the night in his study, his mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. When he heard Leon’s voice, he froze and was unable to believe what he was hearing. The door creaked open, and Leon ran straight to him, hugging his legs tightly. “Dad!”Nicholas stared down at him as disbelief was etched across his face
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