Merry Christmas to all of you...<3
Sia’s POVI was floating in an endless expanse of darkness, weightless and suspended. I wasn’t awake, yet I wasn’t entirely asleep either. The void surrounded me, but then, faint flickers of light began to pierce through, breaking apart the shadows. Shards of memories started surfacing and all of them were sharp and vivid.I could hear laughter. A burst of warm, carefree joy echoed in my ears. I saw myself, Leon, and a grumpy dog trudging through the snow. The image shifted, and there we were, walking with a group of tribal people. I was ahead of him, curious and eager to keep up with the group, while Leon stayed close behind, his watchful gaze ensuring I didn’t stray too far. At that time I thought, he was keeping an eye on his hostage but now I see that he was worried for me. The scene flickered, and now we stood beneath a living tree in the middle of a harsh winter. Snow surrounded us but the tree blossomed against all odds. Flowers fell, landing on both of us as we silently stare
When Sia slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a pair of sparkling blue eyes fixed on her. They were full of curiosity, with a hint of mischief that only a child could have. Standing at the edge of the bed was a little boy, his legs too short to carry out whatever plan was brewing in his mind.The boy’s mouth dropped open in surprise when he realized she was awake, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. “Oh…” he whispered, his eyes wide with the innocence of someone who didn’t quite understand what had just happened.Sia’s head felt clouded as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The events of the past felt distant, and she struggled to focus. A child, of all things, was the last thing she had expected to see. She blinked at him, trying to make sense of the moment and yet, despite the confusion swirling around her, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The sight of him, so small and innocent, somehow brought warmth to her heart which had been frozen
When Leon finally came home later that evening, he was met with an unexpected sight: Nico, who was crying loudly and causing a ruckus. It was his first time meeting his nephew, and he hadn’t imagined the introduction would be anything like this. He stopped in his tracks, concern immediately washing over him.“Mom, is he okay? You said he was sick,” Leon asked, his voice filled with worry.Anne sighed. “He is fine. He is just being stubborn. He wants me to let him go to your room. He has already checked out every other room in the house, and now he wants to go where he is not allowed.”Leon raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watched Nico who was still sobbing. He reached out, trying to comfort the child, but Nico shot him a look that made it clear he wasn’t interested in anyone’s help. “He is too scary to be Rhys’s son,” Leon muttered with a grin. “Our Rhys was a ball of sunshine.”Anne leaned in, whispering softly, “He is a copy of your dad. So grumpy.”Leon chu
“Hi,” Leon whispered as he sat next to her. He couldn’t believe his eyes. She was awake. She was finally awake. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling.“Hi,” Sia whispered back.“Welcome back,” he said, holding her gaze.Sia smiled at him.Leon continued, “I missed you. I missed you so much. I can’t even tell you how great today is. I have never been this happy in my life. Baby, you have given me new life.”Sia stared at him, touched by his words.Anne, who didn’t want to interrupt their emotional reunion, reluctantly said, “Leon, let the doctor check on Sia.”Leon wiped his tears, looking silly and confused. “Oh, yes.”“I’m here with you,” Leon mouthed as the doctor checked on Sia.Two days laterSia was feeling better than before. She was awake more than she was sleeping. Though her body felt stronger, she was still weak. Over the past two days, Leon had been by her side. Everyone had come to visit her, but they didn’t overwhelm her; they left soon after. Charlotte, Kate, Rhys, Call
Song: Whispers by Myles SmithIn the garden of the Hart House. Winter was approaching. The air was crisp and the scent of burning wood lingered as the bonfire crackled warmly. The entire family had gathered around it, wrapped in blankets and laughter.Off to the side, Callum sat with a guitar in his hands, his fingers gently strumming the strings. His voice carried through the garden, low and soulful:"Am I on your mind? 'Cause you live in mine Oh, I've realised I've been wastin' time Lookin' in your eyes, there's my whole damn life Hold me close tonight in your arms, as I whisper….”Leon sat beside Sia, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder. It had been two months since she woke up, and the shadows that once haunted her were beginning to lift. The face she had dreaded seeing in the mirror was healing with the scars fading day by day. Her hair, which had broken her heart, had grown a little longer. One night, Charlotte had let Sia cry until there were no more tears. Then, with he
The next day arrived.The whole family was having breakfast when Ellora made an announcement.“Rhys, it’s time for you to find a girlfriend.”Anne and Nicholas immediately said in unison, “I veto it.”“Thank God,” Rhys muttered under his breath.“Why?” Ellora asked. “The child needs a mother.”“Mom, we will not interfere in Rhys’s life,” Nicholas said firmly. “He is young and starting to focus on his goals. Blind dating is the last thing he needs right now.”His son was finally on track. Setting him on a blind date is akin to pushing him towards his old life. The child could not afford it. And Rhys was too young for blind dates. Also, he was certain among all his sons, this one did not lack women. “I agree with Dad,” Rhys added. “If I need a girlfriend, I will find one on my own.”“But a child needs a mother figure,” Ellora persisted. She was worried that Nico would grow up motherless. Rhys gestured toward Nico, who was happily settled in Sia’s lap. Charlotte was trying to feed him
Rowan then turned his attention to his wife. “Why aren’t you eating?” he asked as he noticed Estelle picking at her food. “Is the food not to your liking?” Ellora asked kindly, always warm toward her granddaughter-in-law. Estelle was her first granddaughter-in-law and so she had a specia place in the old woman’s heart. “Grandma, she has an eating disorder,” Rowan said, completely unfiltered, in front of the entire family. “She barely eats anything.”Estelle’s face turned crimson with embarrassment. “No, no,” she protested. “He is exaggerating. I’m fine.” Desperate to prove her point, she forced herself to eat a piece of eggplant, even though she hated its texture. “I’m just a picky eater.”Rowan shrugged casually. “Come on, it’s family. They won’t judge you.”Estelle just buried her face in the plate and not said anything. Sia leaned over to whisper in Charlotte’s ear, “His wife wasn’t comfortable sharing her secret. How is he not able to read that?”Charlotte sighed. “I like Rowan.
Later, Charlotte and Sia were alone.Sia sat on her best friend’s bed, listening as Charlotte excitedly talked about her recent exhibition—how her paintings were now displayed in a prestigious museum and the incredible response she had been receiving.“You are not listening to me, are you?” Charlotte asked, narrowing her eyes.Sia smiled absentmindedly. “I’m a little lost in thought.”“Care to share?” Charlotte prompted, intrigued.Sia grinned. “Do you remember Andrew Jackson?”“Yeah?” Charlotte’s expression shifted, a knowing look crossing her face.Sia continued, “He is in town. He started a new startup, and I invested in it. He is brilliant.”Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “That much I know…”Sia leaned forward with a mischievous smile. “Well, this morning, he contacted me. Asked how I was doing, heard your voice in the background, and got all excited. And I also know that you knew he had a massive crush on you.”Charlotte looked at her in confusion. “Where are you headed with this, S
The two mischievous best friends were at King’s residence today as their parents were busy with work. Whenever they were alone for a long time, they would request to stay with Carter, as he was the only one who could put up with all their antics. Since his children had inherited his business, he had focused all his attention on being a good and available father and grandfather.He loved it when his grandson Silas and granddaughter Athena visited him for the whole day. He loved it even more when it was just Athena and her best friend, Aurora or the stormy Aurora, as he called her.A few months after Sebastian got married, Serafina fell in love with a man named Drake, but the two did not work out. However, Serafina got pregnant and gave birth to her son, Drew, who lived with her mother. He was not a social child at all. The only person he could talk to, aside from his mother and grandfather, was Silas and no one else.For some reason, it was Aurora’s first time meeting Drew. Actually, s
"Dr. Hart?"Callum turned back to see his lab assistant running towards him with a coffee in her hand. She was a young and pretty woman in her late twenties who had recently completed her Ph.D. and was now working as a lab assistant in his lab. With her qualifications, she could have secured a better job, but she had decided to stay for the next two months until her project ended. "Yes, Dr. Maise?" Callum said. "Umm, coffee?" she offered him with a small smile. "Actually, I am about to head for lunch," Callum said. "If you wish, you can join me." Honestly, he was just being polite. "Okay!" the woman said and began walking with Callum. As they walked towards the cafeteria, they passed several students who were seated there. Callum was a familiar face on campus, as he used to take classes on behalf of his Ph.D. supervisor. Even after joining the university as a scholar, he occasionally covered classes for his supervisor again, as the two shared a deep professional relationsh
Parenthood had changed Sia and Leon in ways they had never expected. Watching Aurora grow up every day before their eyes felt like nothing short of a miracle. She was tiny, mischievous, and so full of light. Her presence would light up the room in a way no one could quite understand. Aurora was just one and a half months old when her biggest nemesis, Silas, was born. Silas was her favorite uncle’s son—the handsome uncle with shiny hair and flawless skin. Everyone joked that Aurora was obsessed with Sebastian’s beauty, while Charlotte would playfully complain that her favorite niece only had eyes for her husband. From the time Silas and Aurora were little, they fought over everything from their grandparents’ attention to every little gift they received. Neither of them wanted to lose to the other. Their endless competition worried their parents, as their families were best friends, but their children were anything but. Charlotte’s dream of having her children and her best friend’
It was a beautiful day when Aurora Swift Hart was born. She had troubled her mother a lot while getting comfortable in her mother’s tummy, but when she finally arrived, she did so without causing much pain. Aurora’s daddy began crying even before she could, as she opened her tiny eyes to a world she wasn’t yet used to. She wondered who the real crybaby was—her daddy or her. “I told you it’s a baby girl,” Aurora heard her daddy say, his voice filled with emotion as he cried fat tears. Her mommy, on the other hand, just smiled at her. If she could smile, she would because her mommy was so brave, loving, and comforting. Oh no, her mommy was the best! Especially when the nurse showed her how to be her food. But that was a topic for another time. “You won, Leon!” Aurora’s mommy said to her crybaby daddy. “What name have you chosen for the baby girl?” the doctor asked with a smile, looking at Leon, who was struggling to contain his excitement. “I want to know too,” Aurora heard he
“Our family is finally completed, ”Anne said with a big smile. She looked at her kids who were bickering as usual on the dining table. Leon and Sia were sitting on one side and Charlotte and Sebastain on another. Sia was in her eighth month of pregnancy and extremely fragile while Charlotte was wuite healthy and even though she was pregnant, she was no fragile woman! Charlotte Hart King could still take down a man or two! “Our family was always completed,”Nicholas said with a smile. “Now it is time for our kids to have family of their own. Leon and Charlotte are already starting their family with their respective spouses. Rhys has Nico. Its just Callum that I worry about.”Anne said, “Actually, I learnt one lesson in life. We cannot control the lives of our kids forever. Although we want to keep them safe from all the harms, it is still not possible. Because they are the main characters of their lives. And main characters always have their struggles. We are nothing but supporting cha
What does forever feel like? Sia and Leon weren't quite sure. But ask them what love feels like—love that’s about trying to be there for each other, even when things are hard, and trying to love each other for as long as they’re breathing—and they’ll look at each other with tender eyes and give you a smile. It was a normal day for Leon. His girlfriend woke up and decided to flip the script. The couple sat at breakfast in their safe haven—home, the place they had built together. The meal was something Sia adored, and Leon couldn’t help but wonder if that wide smile on her face had something to do with the food—her favorite, sent over by his mother, Anne. Ever since Sia and Charlotte were pregnant, Anne had been sending meals packed with love and nutrients. It was a tradition now, one that seemed to brighten their days. Leon was sure it wasn’t just the taste of the food Sia adored, it was the love and care Anne put into it, the same kind of love and care Sia was a sucker for.
Happiness had settled into the Hart family. The two pregnant women were treated like delicate glass, cherished and fussed over by everyone. Sia was six months along but barely looked a day over her first trimester, while Charlotte, at five months, had already popped and was unmistakably pregnant. While Sia’s pregnancy was challenging due to her health issues, Charlotte was in perfect health, glowing with happiness and vitality.Today, Sebastian brought Charlotte to her favourite food spot. She had been craving different foods all day. Sia had once joked that Charlotte was gaining more “food weight” than pregnancy weight which earned her an exaggerated glare from Charlotte.“Did you ask for an extra scoop of ice cream?” Charlotte asked, her eyes glowing with anticipation.“I sure did,” Sebastian replied with a knowing smile. “I may have even ordered a special dish you might like.”Charlotte beamed, her dimples deepened. “Aren’t you the best husband in the whole wide world?”He smirked.
Sia watched as Charlotte and Sebastian cried and laughed together while holding each other in pure joy. Sebastian had arrived with a huge bouquet for his wife, and the moment he saw her, he dropped to his knees and hugged her stomach, whispering over and over how happy and blessed he was to have her.Seeing them celebrate their love and impending parenthood made Sia emotional. Her best friend had finally found the love she truly deserved. Not wanting to intrude on their perfect romantic moment, she quietly walked back home with a soft smile on her lips.As she stepped inside, Leon was already there, waiting for her.“Hi,” Leon greeted. “Is everything okay?”Sia nodded, her eyes still glistening with happiness. “I am very happy. So happy that I cannot even put it into words.”Leon studied her face as warmth spread through his chest. “That is very good to hear. But would you like to tell me what happened?”She wrapped her arms around him while hugging him tightly. “Charlotte and Sebasti
Charlotte pulled something from her pocket and handed it to Sia. As Sia saw it, her eyes widened. She immediately hugged Charlotte. “You are pregnant?”Charlotte nodded, tears welling in her eyes.“Why are you crying?” Sia asked gently. “This is such happy news! Silly girl.” She paused before looking at Charlotte. “You do not want the baby? It is okay, I will not judge you.”Charlotte shook her head through her tears. “No, I do. I already love the baby. But we just got married after only a month of dating, and now a baby. He is not ready for that.”“Did he say that?” Sia asked.Charlotte shook her head. “No, but…”Sia rolled her eyes, smiling a little. “You are being silly. You both need to talk. If you do not talk to him and keep making assumptions, you will ruin your relationship. You need to talk to him.”Charlotte hesitated. “Now?”Sia nodded. “I think it is better to talk now. Otherwise, you will just end up crying more.”With a deep breath, Charlotte took her phone, put it on sp