The couple exited the restroom and they returned to the gala to enjoy the rest of the evening. They agreed to meet after the event as they were caught up in their respective conversations and business alliances. The night carried on, drinks kept flowing and deals were being made. Meanwhile, across the room, an interesting scene was unfolding. Olivia sat at a table while her hand were resting lightly on her stomach. She winced as a wave of nausea passed over her while making the food in front of her seem unappealing. Matthew looked at her with a furrowed brow. “Olivia, that is why I was telling you to stay home. You are heavily pregnant. And little Jake misses you at home.”Olivia shot him a sharp look while her annoyance was clear. “Matthew, just because I am pregnant and ugly doesn’t mean you can keep me at home. Did you forget how many times I have charmed your clients into giving you deals? You can’t just dispose of me because I look like this. I am ruining my body twice over jus
“Matthew!”Olivia shouted, her voice trembling, but she didn't stop. The guard was already pulling her away from the entrance while urging her to move and to stay safe. She was barely aware of her own movements as she reached the hallway while her hand still clutched protectively around her stomach. "The guards will take care of you," Olivia muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes not once returning to Matthew. She had no choice but to keep moving as her mind fixated only on her baby’s safety and too overwhelmed with fear to consider what she was leaving behind.Meanwhile, Matthew stood frozen in place as the flames were getting intens. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched the entrance grow smaller and the space between them widening. He could see Olivia being escorted safely, but he was trapped and surrounded by the fire, the chaos, and with no way out.His gaze flickered to the others who were still inside, but it was evident that the fire had spread so quickly t
Leon sat next to Sia's bed, watching her sleep, her face was calm as she was sleeping, despite the burns and the bruises on her skin. Her breathing was steady and for now, that was all that mattered to him. The room was quiet except, for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Despite the calmness in the room, all he could think was the image of fire surrounded all around them and the dread he felt when he realised that she was inside. He had gone out to take a call when the fire broke out. However, he rushed back inside to find her. He was not ready to lose the love of his life again. When his phone rang again, Leon hesitated before answering as it was his mother’s name flashing on the screen. He took a deep breath before taking the call. She would be dead sick for him at the moment. "Leon, baby, are you okay?" Anne’s voice trembled with concern. He could hear the fear in her words and the way she had probably been imagining the worst after hearing about the fire. "We heard ab
Kate’s voice dropped to a whisper, almost as if she was sharing a secret. "He loves you, boss. Madly." She glanced around the room, making sure no one else could hear, before adding, "I even saw him crying silently while holding your hand."Sia’s breath caught in her throat at the news. She couldn’t imagine Leon crying. He was usually blank or nonchalant. She felt even worse now knowing that her own pain had caused him to suffer. What was she supposed to do with a man like him? A man who loved her so deeply? Yes, she loved him back but… She did not let negative thoughts to come to her head and ruin her prospects of a good life. She deserve this love. She told herself. She would go to equal lengths for him. Each time, she had to tell herself that she was worthy of all the love that she got from him. With a sigh, Sia looked at Kate. "Kate, you need to eat and get some sleep. I will make him get some rest. He can’t keep going like this."Kate shook her head stubbornly. "I can’t leave y
Charlotte’s heart ached while seeing Sia in such a fragile state. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her best friend in a comforting hug but she knew it would only cause Sia more pain. She could not touch Sia without causing pain. “I’m not leaving,” Charlotte announced. They could not get rid of her. Her bestfriend was in pain and she needed to be here to take care of her. Sia wasn’t surprised. She knew the moment Charlotte found out about her injuries, she wouldn’t go anywhere.Leon, however, raised an eyebrow. “Why would you stay here?”“To take care of her,” Charlotte replied without hesitation.Leon crossed his arms. “I’m here. She doesn’t need anyone else. I’m her boyfriend, it’s my job to take care of her.”Charlotte shot him a defiant look. “I respect that you are her boyfriend, but I’m her best friend and family. Leaving her alone with you feels like leaving my daughter at her in-laws. I’m not comfortable with that.”Leon frowned, bewildered by her choice of words. Weren’
Leon was so sleep-deprived that he slept straight through until the next day. When he woke up, he noticed that Sia wasn’t around. He glanced at the phone on the nightstand, it was supposed to ring because he had set an alarm, but the alarm didn’t go off, and it was on silent mode. His eyes widened when he saw the date and time.As he hurried to get up, anxiety bubbling inside him, he noticed a voice message on his phone.“Leon, I’m in the living room with Charlotte. I took my medicine and had meals on time. Charlotte and Kate are taking care of me, so don’t stress. I’m absolutely fine. Also, your clothes and other things are in the closet. Take a long, relaxing shower. I will be waiting for you. P.S.: Don’t rush.”A smile formed on his lips. He decided to follow her instructions and not rush, though it was difficult knowing she was waiting downstairs. Still, he didn’t want to disappoint her, so he reluctantly took his things and headed for the shower. The best part? His clothes were n
“It’s been three days. When will you all return home?” Leon asked his siblings.Rhys answered, “I’m an intern. I work for her. How can I leave her?”Callum replied, “I’m still convincing her to fund my projects. And we spent the evening planting new plants. She was so happy and relaxed. Isn’t that what matters the most?”Coco added, “I’m the best friend! You may or may not be in her wedding, but I will be! So choose your battles wisely, brother.”Abella gave her best puppy eyes. “Can I please stay since everyone is here?”Leon sighed and sat on the couch. He couldn’t deal with his siblings. He felt like giving them all a piece of his mind, but what could he do? He was a sucker for the woman he loved, and these rascals had her wrapped around their fingers.Abella heard the oven ding and ran to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she came back with a plate full of soft breads that looked more like fruit cakes.Abella said excitedly, “Sia, I got you bread!”Sia’s eyes brightened up. Oh god,
Two weeks passed, and Sia had recovered. The Hart siblings had to return home after a week, as Leon played the "mommy card," which worked perfectly. Afterward, he spent the entire last week with Sia. He was thrilled to be in the same space with her, just the two of them. They spent a lot of time trying out different activities. Recently, they had been exploring their passions or what made them happy? What made life worth living? They tried various things, but soon found themselves bored. Discovering a passion seemed to be harder than they had anticipated.Meanwhile, two men sat in an office, working on their strategies.“How is the planning going for the event?” Matthew asked Archie.Archie sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Not well. I wanted to invite Alessia Swift to make peace. I don’t understand why she is trying to bring me down. I don’t even hold a grudge against her.”Matthew replied, “You are working with me, isn’t that enough reason for her to have a grudge?”Archie responded, “H
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