“Ah!!” Sabrina's pained cry echoed through the room as the vase shattered against the table. Ever since she had witnessed Nicholas and Roseanne together, she struggled to prevent the burst of emotions fuming within her. Normally, she was calm and reasonable but this situation pushed her to the brink of insanity. For half a decade, Sabrina had silently held up a torch of hope and love for Nicholas. She was always desiring that he would one day return her affections. Yet, he remained loyal in his devotion to his late wife, gently refuting Sabrina's advances. Nevertheless, She was deeply hurt by the sudden emergence of Nicholas's feelings for Roseanne, along with the news of their children together, which felt like a sharp blow to her heart. She struggled to understand how Nicholas could transition so quickly, especially considering his previous assurances of him being unable to love anyone but his late wife. He lied to her. He made a fool out of her. However, she caused this to hersel
Sabrina looked at her stepmother and said, “But I love him.”Sabrina and her stepmother had a very unusual relationship. It didn't seem that she was closer to her stepmother but if the latter would tell her something, she would listen and try to act on it. Whereas Beatrice could not tolerate her stepmother and blamed her for her mother's death. It could be said that Sabrina and her stepmother had a very polite relationship while Beatrice and her stepmother had a very typical relationship. Mrs Taylor said to Sabrina after pondering for a moment, “Sometimes, those closest to us can cause us the greatest pain. If someone you deeply care about or love is causing you constant tears, is the relationship truly worthwhile? Wouldn't it be preferable to be with someone whom you may love slightly less, but he doesn't cause you sorrow and consistently strives to bring you happiness?”Mr Taylor stared at his wife for a moment and then sighed. His daughter would not be able to understand what his
Upon entering the room, Roseanne discovered a stunning black dress laid out on the bed alongside a note. She suspected Nicholas had left it there, as he had instructed her to prepare for the gala. Although she was not sure if she would be able to survive the gala, she knew that she had to go. This time, she had no choice. The dress exudes such elegance that it seems certain to steal the spotlight. Roseanne had a strong desire to make a dazzling entrance at the venue to captivate the attention of everyone present there, especially the killer who was there to hunt her. And she also wanted Nicholas to not be able to tear her eyes away from her. It was a daring task she had undertaken but she remained hopeful that she could execute it successfully.In previous times, Roseanne would attend events looked after by Ellora who kept a watchful eye on her every move even in Nicholas's presence. Initially, Roseanne assumed Ellora's attention arose from a fear of embarrassment believing that she
When they came to the table and sat with each other again, many people stopped by to greet them. The highlight of the event was when Mr Taylor and his wife came to greet the Hart couple. Nikolai and Vance tried to act normal for the event but the cracks in their relationship were clearly visible. Everyone present there could estimate that something had happened between the two of them during the party at Hart house. Ellora and Mrs Taylor talked with each other to maintain a polite facade. Where the men could not deal, the women would bring their soft politics to the table. Roseanne noticed many things this time that she never could in the past. She noticed how fake her mother-in-law was and how she acted very dubious with everyone in the gala. It was not the case with her mother-in-law only. Everyone was also the same. They had different characters that they brought to parties. Ellora was in a different mood when she arrived but now she was playing the role of a host who was so hap
Beatrice said as she was noticing everything regarding Roseanne, “I get it why Nicholas is crazy for this woman.”She had heard her sister crying about this new woman but she didn't get the opportunity to meet who this new woman was. But after studying Roseanne for a few hours, she came to the conclusion that the former resembled Nicholas' first wife a lot. Sabrina had told her many times how Nicholas was hung up on the ghost of his ex-wife and now that he found someone who looked like her, he was holding onto her. Sabrina asked in curiosity, “Why?”Beatrice's answer surprised Sabrina, “She looks like his dead wife.”“What?” Sabrina could not believe it. She had seen Anne's pictures and those two didn't resemble each other that much. Beatrice told her sister, “She looks like Anne. I have seen Anne many times in the events. She resembles this woman a lot. Nicholas is trying to find his dead wife in this woman.”She further added, “If you compare the picture of two women, you may not
On the other hand, Roseanne was talking to Nicholas' colleagues and he was introducing his friends. She was surprised to see that in the last five years, Nicholas had made good friends. Most of these people were people who either worked with him or he had business relations with them. However, it was quite fascinating for her to see Nicholas, who usually avoids people making friends. It seemed that he finally learned the value of having good people around him. Mrs Taylor suddenly stood next to her and said, “Miss Deluca, there is a young man outside asking for your presence.” “For me?” Roseanne asked, surprised. Mrs Taylor nodded innocently. She was acting like she was not trying to sow discord between the couple. She just wanted to see if Nicholas would get jealous if she used such terminology but she was disappointed by his reaction. Roseanne looked at Nicholas and exchanged a look. “I will come with you,” He said to her. They could not leave Roseanne alone as the killer might
Roseanne said to Nicholas as soon as she stood next to him, “She is so weird.”“Who?” Nicholas asked in curiosity. Roseanne answered, “Mrs Taylor. She is a very weird creature.”Nicholas smiled as Mrs Taylor’s reputation in the circle was quite something. He said, “You only met her once and you are saying it.”“Don't you feel so?” Roseanne asked him. “Umm, I wouldn't say so,” Nicholas said to her. His perception of that woman might be the most different and a little in-depth of all the people here. Nicholas expressed what he has analyzed throughout the years of meeting Mrs Taylor, “Mrs Taylor is an eccentric woman, Rose. She plays bitchy.” He paused for a moment and then added, “Actually, it's not a play but a part of her personality. I wouldn't call her kind because she is far from it. However, if you limit her by saying that she is a bitch or a weird woman, remember that she succeeded in making you underestimate her. She is far from being that. Mrs Taylor will chew you and spit y
The evening event came to an end, and Roseanne and Nicholas left for their residence after enjoying several drinks and raising toasts with fellow attendees. Engaging in extensive socializing, they found alcohol to be a significant component of the gathering. Yet, they remained only slightly intoxicated, not fully drunk. Roseanne felt overheated and thirsty after sitting in the car. She thought of trying a new dish but she hadn't anticipated it would be so spicy that her mouth still tingled with a slight burning sensation."Nicholas, could you pass me the water, please?" Roseanne requested, noticing the bottle was within his reach on his other side, making it convenient for him to hand it to her.However, she hadn't anticipated his response.Dismissing her request, he replied, "I'm busy. Get it yourself."Despite his abrupt dismissal, Roseanne didn't mind and decided to fetch the water herself.As she leaned in to reach for the water bottle situated on his other side, her breast inad
His voice dropped lower as he confessed, “Oh, Sia baby, I have dreamed of this every single day.” Leaning in, his lips found her neck, planting a trail of kisses that sent shivers cascading down her spine. Each kiss was deliberate, slow, and tantalizing as his lips explored the soft curves and bumps of her skin. He sucked and nipped gently, leaving her breathless and causing her to arch her back in excitement. His tongue darted out, tasting the warmth of her skin. The sensation was electric, making her clutch the bedsheet to steady herself. She was completely at his mercy, her body responding in ways she didn’t fully understand. Every touch was igniting a fire within her. He moved lower while his lips brushing the space between her breasts. Her hands instinctively found their way to his thick hair, tangling themselves in the silky strands as his touch consumed her entirely. He moved further down kissing his way down to her navel but stopped just right above her pussy area. H
When they reached their room after dinner, his gaze fell on her. She was sitting on the stool in front of the mirror while trying to remove her earrings, but she was struggling. He walked closer to her and whispered, “May I?” She silently gave him permission. He gently swept her hair to one side and carefully removed her earrings. As he worked, his hands lingered on her shoulders and their eyes met in the mirror. A soft blush painted her cheeks. Her eyes, though tired, but sparkled with life. He softly made her stand while turning her to face him. Dipping his head, he kissed her lips tenderly. After a moment, he murmured, “In five years, I see myself kissing your soft lips every day.” He whispered against her lips, “You are so beautiful, Sia baby.” Then, he claimed her lips in another kiss which deeper and more consuming. As he kissed her, her entire body trembled with need for him. She wasn’t embarrassed by the way her body craved his touch, how every fiber of her being begged
The lovebirds were truly basking in each other’s company. Leon had planned a perfect evening, starting with a romantic sunset walk along the beach as their feet were sinking into the soft sand as the waves kissed the shore. Later, they moved to a cozy candlelit dinner he had arranged just for her. The gentle glow of the candles was reflecting in her eyes as he sat in front of her. “Leon,” Sia’s soft voice broke the serenity as she called his name. “Yes?” he responded, his gaze meeting hers with warmth. “Let’s play a game,” she suggested, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Okay, which game are we playing?” Leon asked, tilting his head with interest. “Let’s play twenty questions,” Sia proposed. Leon chuckled. “Quite cliché, but fine,” he agreed. Since the moment felt too magical to let slip into silence, the game seemed like a fun way to keep the mood alive. She pouted in mock offense but pressed on, “Are you a sunrise or sunset person?” “Definitely a sunrise person
“Sia?”“Hmm,” he murmured in reply, feeling his finger trailing along her shoulder. The rays of the sun bathed her body as they lay near the sea. They were on one of the private beaches in the Philippines, one of the most breathtaking places she had ever seen. For the past three days, they had been travelling. The first two days were filled with adventure, but today was a much-needed lazy day for both of them.“I think you need sunscreen,” Leon said, his voice low and teasing. “Hmm,” she replied, her eyes still closed. She felt him scooping sunscreen into his hands, the cool sensation was contrasting with the heat of his palms as he began smoothing it over her body. His touch lingered as he worked the lotion into her neck while gliding down her back, tracing every curve and dip with deliberate care. Then his hands moved lower, over her hips and along her legs. Just as she thought he was done, his hands reversed course and they have begun gliding upward with an unhurried sensuality. S
After a few days of silence, Charlotte was nowhere to be seen. Leon had been patient, giving her the space he thought she needed to handle whatever was going on in her life. But as weeks turned into a month with no sign of her, he had had enough. He grabbed his phone and called her. She picked up just as it was about to go to voicemail. Her tired face appeared on the screen. “What’s up, little brother?” she asked, her tone lacking its usual energy. “Charlotte Hart, where the hell are you?” Leon snapped. “Somewhere on Earth. Why? What happened?” she replied nonchalantly, though her eyes betrayed exhaustion. Leon’s frown deepened. “Do you know how frustrating you are? You told everyone you were painting, but this doesn’t look like your apartment, and you look like crap.” He paused, taking a closer look. Her hair was longer, browner, and wavy which was completely different from her usual style. His brows furrowed as something else caught his attention. “Wait a minute… are you
Sia smiled widely at Abella and gave her an encouraging pat on the back. “I like it, girl,” she said with genuine warmth. Abella lowered her head, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I just… I made the plan, but they ditched me because Cade was interested in me. And, well, Leslie has a crush on him too. You know… the usual college drama.” Sia tilted her head sympathetically but kept her tone light. “I’m glad you ended up spending the evening with me instead. Those people made you cry, and they don’t deserve your energy. You should let them know you don’t care about what they think. You have got people who care about you, and tonight, we are going to have a lot of fun! You are in college, and there is no curfew.” Abella muttered with a small pout, “I still can’t drink until I’m 21.” Sia laughed. “I will show you how to have fun without needing a drop of alcohol. Trust me, tonight is going to be unforgettable.” And it was. The two spent the evening laughing, tal
Sia had just wrapped up her work at the office when her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she raised a brow in surprise. Softening her tone, she answered, “Hello?” “Hi, Sia,” came Abella’s slightly nervous voice. “Are you busy?” Sia glanced at the clock, noting the upcoming meetings on her schedule. But she brushed them aside and replied warmly, “Not at all. Just finished my work.” “Cool!” Abella sounded a little more at ease. After a brief pause, she asked hesitantly, “Would you like to go shopping with me?” Sia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Abella was usually reserved and rarely expressed her wishes so openly. The invitation felt like a rare and meaningful step. “Of course,” Sia said, her voice full of encouragement. “When do you want to go?” “Now?” Abella suggested tentatively. “Perfect,” Sia agreed. “Where are you? I will come pick you up.” “I’m at my dorm. Can you come here?” “Absolutely,” Sia assured her. With that, they ended the call. Sia turned to
After spending the entire night with Sia, Leon decided it was time to visit his parents, whom he hadn’t seen in two weeks. When he arrived, the house was lively as usual. Along with Nicholas and Anne, Rhys, Callum, Abella, and his grandparents, Ellora and Nikolai, were all gathered around the table. It was a joyous occasion for the family to be under the same roof. “Dad, can you take over for a month?” Leon asked, leaning against the doorframe. Well, if he had to be gone for over a month, he needed capable hands to look after his work. Who did he trust more than Nicholas Hart himself? Nicholas raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Do I look stupid to you?” Why on earth would he want to return to that cold office building? He recalled the time when the kids were young and he would find all the opportunity to not go to work. He had waited a lot for his retirement. There was no way, he was going back to work! “It’s just a month,” Leon persisted, his tone almost pleading. Nich
“Leon?” Sia’s voice trembled with surprise and excitement as she spotted him standing at the door of her study. Without hesitation, she ran to him while wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. “You heartless man! You went on a business trip for a whole week! Did you even miss me?” “I’m sorry, Sia baby. I’m a bad man,” he murmured, pulling her closer and kissing her cheek. “I’m sorry. Next time, I’ will take you with me.” She pouted, muttering, “What would I even do there?” He smiled, his voice soft and affectionate. “Stay with me all day. Who cares what place or task it is, as long as we are together.” Her lips curled into a contented smile and she nodded, looking every bit like a satisfied child who had just been given her favorite treat. “I love you, Leon,” she whispered. The words were rare and reserved for moments that carried her true and raw emotions. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I love you more, Sia baby.” Without another word, Leon scooped her i