Abella stood up with a smile and walked over to Leon. “Bro, come with me. I will show you my garden. I took a little help from Callum and he had sent me a lot of books that helped me.”Leon followed her to the other side of the wing to see his sister’s creations. What he found there amazed him. There was a stunning garden that looked like something out of a fairytale. There were flowers of every color and they looked outer worldly phenomenon. She had meticulously arranged a swing there whose ropes were entwined with flower vines.Leon couldn’t help but say, “It is so beautiful and peaceful.”Abella beamed with pride. She guided Leon to the swing and gave it a gentle push as he sat down. “Thank you for everything, brother.”Leon smiled warmly. “Silly Belly, you ae my little darling. I will always protect you. And thank you for trusting me.”Abella nodded, “I know you have been busy, bro. I’m not mad at you like Rhys and Callum.”Leon sighed softly. “But I am still sorry for not bein
“Why are you all ganging up on me?” Leon asked, feeling cornered as his mother sat on one side and his grandmother on the other. Meanwhile, his father, grandfather, and siblings acted oblivious and they were clearly avoiding his plea for help.“We are not asking you to marry her,” Anne reassured him. “Yes, your mom is right,” Ellora chimed in. “Leon, my dear grandchild, you mean the world to us. We just want you to meet more people. If you meet her and decide she is not for you, that’s fine. But at least give her a chance with an open mind. We are only concerned about you.”Leon scanned the room as he was hoping for some rescue but everyone seemed suddenly preoccupied. They were pretending not to notice his predicament. “Is she another rich brat?” Leon asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.“Of course not,” Ellora replied, shaking her head. “Her parents are from California and they are both doctors and she works as a lawyer at a firm in New York. Her name is Sarah Lewis. She is twen
The Day of the DateLeon walked into the restaurant, followed by two young men who were clearly not going to leave his side. He was hatring every idea of this blind date scenario he was stuck in. he was one of the powerful men on the earth but he was being forced into something by two women! Alas, those two women happened to be his mother and grandmother. Why did he stayed at home for that many days? He knew that they would emotionally manipulate him to do something that they wanted but he did not. In the end, those two succeed. “Are you going to come inside too?” he asked, glancing back at the twins who were following two women’s ordersCallum who was the more serious of the twins, replied, “What if you decide to run away from here?”Leon sighed, rolling his eyes. An idea struck him as he said, “Callum, how about this? I will sponsor your entire project, not just a lab, but all of them.” He pulled out his black card while extending it toward Rhys. “Here, take it. You don’t even n
The twins grinned at each other as the excitement lit up their faces as they watched the drama unfold from a distance. They took pictures of the scene and quickly sent them to their sibling group chat.Coco: Where are you guys?Coco: Is this picture real?Rhys: Absolutely! Leon has a girlfriend! I am going to tell Mom and Dad.Coco’s eyes widened in panic.Coco: NO!!! Leon will kill us! Don’t do anything and just pretend you didn’t see anything!Rhys chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation.Rhys: But this is so interesting! Our brother is not asexual, he actually likes women! Hahaha! Isn’t this big news?Coco shook her head, knowing Rhys loved drama way too much. She decided to tag Callum in the group chat, hoping he could help keep things under control.Coco: Callum, you need to keep an eye on Sarah Lewis so she doesn’t cause any trouble. We can't let this news get to Mom and Dad. And don’t let anyone know about the woman with Leon. Keep it confidential. A moment later, Callum sent
When Sia came out of the meeting room, she expected to see Callum waiting, but instead, it was Leon. She tried to walk past him, but as soon as the others left, he stepped in front of her.“Let’s talk,” Leon said firmly.This man… what made him think that she would give him face? Huh! “What is there to talk about?” Sia shot back. “You have your own life, and I have mine. You even have a girlfriend now…”Leon interrupted, “Sia, Sarah was never my girlfriend.”She scoffed. “Oh, you remember her name but still insist she wasn’t your girlfriend. That’s rich.”Leon sighed. “She is just someone my mom and grandma set me up with.”Sia looked away, frustrated. “Why are you telling me all this, Leon? What difference does it make? We are practically strangers now. You can go on dates with anyone you want. Sarah can be your girlfriend; you can even marry her one day and have kids with her. Who am I to say anything?”Leon looked around and noticed Rhys and Callum standing a bit farther away. Rhy
After a simple meal, Leon asked, “Shall I drop you home?”Sia raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. “So, you can kidnap me again?”He scratched his head, a sheepish look crossing his face. “I’m sorry.”Now that he thinks that he had kidnapped this woman, he felt stupid and impulsive. Yet, he did not think that it wad wrong of him to kidnap him. If he had not hidden her away, would she have even beared to look at him? No. They would never be comfortable with each other like right now. She gasped in mock disbelief. “Are you seriously apologizing? I never thought I wouldd live to see this day.”“Well…” he started, but she rolled her eyes.“I’m leaving. Good night, Leon.” She turned to walk away. She was not going to stay with him for long. When she does not leave, things start sitting inside her. She did not want to get too comfortable with him. Why was she breaking down all the walls that she had build? He could only nod, “Good night, Sia.”Just as she reached the door, she
Sia was in her office when a force of nature barged in, knocking down all the walls and fences. “Sia!!!!” Charlotte yelled, bursting through the door like a whirlwind. Sia looked up and found Charlotte grinning at her but. And a bad premonition brewed in the pit of her stomach. This girl was up to no good. She could sense it from here. “I’m busy... I have a meeting in ten minutes…” Sia tried to protest. She knew that Charlotte had planned an entire day and was here to take Sia out to play. Charlotte shot a glance back at Kate, who stood there with a knowing smile. “Miss Swift, all your meetings today were canceled on the clients' side. So, it just happens that your schedule is wide open today.”Sia shot Kate a look, but the girl kept her gaze steady and her smile even steadier. This look was too infuriating for Sia today. “Who signs your paycheck, Kate?” Sia asked, raising an eyebrow.“For your, mine, and the whole office's well-being, we would like to take care of your mental hea
As the words he had dreamed of hearing finally reached his ears, Leon's world seemed to halt. His heart raced while breath caught in his chest. For a mone,t he felt as if he had died and came back to life. Slowly, he broke their embrace as his gaze dropped to meet the woman standing before him. She was tearful yet smiling but her eyes were filled with the same emotions that surged within him. Oh god, they were in love. They finally confessed their love for each other. It took them more than a decade to live this momet. Before either of them could process the moment, Leon leaned forward and pressed his lips softly to hers. The kiss was gentle yet everything as it was etched on their hearts and souls. When he finally pulled back, his voice was a whisper, filled with a certainty. “I love you, Sia.”This love.. She had no idea how long he had loved her. It was her. Only her. Who could move his heart. No one else has the power to move his heart. Her eyes widened, breaking free from th
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