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
“I can’t believe you all did this to me,” Charlotte muttered, her voice laced with both annoyance and frustration.Abella glanced up from her phone and asked, "What are you wearing for tonight?"Charlotte shot her a playful glare. “You too?” she accused, raising an eyebrow.Abella walked over and wrapped her arms around Charlotte. "No, no, elder sister. I'm all team Coco. But if you need a backup plan, you know I will help you," she said with a teasing smile.Charlotte’s eyes flicked to Estelle, who sat quietly in the corner, looking slightly out of place. She couldn’t help but wonder what Estelle was doing here again.As if sensing Charlotte’s unspoken thoughts, Estelle spoke up. "Emery sent me here, saying I should bond with you all like Leon’s girlfriend or something. I don’t know what she meant."Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with Aunt?” she asked, her tone curious.Estelle shrugged nonchalantly. "I don’t know..."Her mother-in-law was trying to be competitive here. Sh
“I have heard about your accident,” Sebastian continued, his tone softening. “It’s good to see you doing well.”She nodded, appreciating the sentiment. “Thank you.”He leaned in slightly, his voice laced with curiosity. “Miss Swift, isn’t an art gallery an unusual place to discuss a potential collaboration?”Sia’s eyes glinted with amusement as she responded, “Isn’t using contacts to fix a meeting with someone who is almost retired a bit unusual as well?”His lips curled into a charming smile, revealing dimples. “No, because you are almost retired, not fully.”She chuckled, genuinely amused. “You are quite charming, Mr. King.”He shot back playfully, “I wouldn’t dare flirt with you, Miss Swift, despite your dangerously captivating beauty.”Sia raised an eyebrow, teasing. “Ah, I wonder why?”He leaned closer, his expression growing more serious. “There is a certain someone with a more villainous reputation than you. When you had your accident, he flipped the country upside down. He didn
When Sebastian walked into the house, carrying the large painting, his father looked up, quite surprised.“What is this? What did you bring?” Carter asked, his voice filled with curiosity. He knew that his son had gone to meet Alessia Swift. He was surprised that the woman agreed to meet for a start-up. Both of his children had no interest in his business, and he could not do anything about it. “Alessia Swift gave me a painting,” Sebastian replied, his tone matter-of-fact.Seraphina, who had been sipping her coffee, immediately set her cup down. “Let me see it,” she said, her interest piqued.“Why are you so interested?” Carter raised an eyebrow.“Dad, Miss Swift never does anything without a reason,” Seraphina explained, her voice very excited. “I work for her. That’s how I know.”Carter shifted, his gaze lingering on his daughter. “When will you come back to join our company?”Seraphina shrugged nonchalantly. “I like working for her. She is cruel and unforgiving, but I’m learning t
“Coco, did you reach?” Sabrina asked over the phone. She was thrilled that her daughter was on a date. She was so grateful to Sia for making it happen. Seriously, no one else would have the guts to pull what Sia did. Charlotte glanced at the café Sia had booked. It wasn’t just any café—it was Anne’s Café. Seriously, was Sia so unoriginal? Or was she planning something?“I did, Mom,” Charlotte replied. “He is here. I will call you later.”“Have fun, sweetie,” Sabrina said. “Your daddy and I are rooting for you.”Charlotte hung up and took a deep breath. She looked over at the table and saw the charming Andrew Jackson sitting there. His curly hair was his best feature, paired with a smile that could sell anything—even to the devil himself.She walked over, took a seat, and said, “Hello, Andrew. I’m Charlotte.”Andrew looked up and gasped. “Damn, it must have hurt when you fell from heaven.”Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Too cheeky and old, but I will take it. And not heaven—a demon brough
“Mr. King, welcome,” Kate said with a professional smile. “My boss sent me over with the revised agreement. If everything looks good to you, we can proceed with signing the contract.”“Miss Swift certainly lives up to her name,” Sebastian remarked as he skimmed through the document.Kate chuckled softly. “Her last name is Swift for a reason,” she quipped.Sebastian let out a low, rich laugh, his grey eyes glinting with amusement.Kate felt her ears heat up as her heart started pounding unexpectedly. What’s happening to me? she wondered, trying to focus. She had a boyfriend—a perfectly nice one who might even propose soon. So why was she reacting like this to a man she had just met?“Miss Kate,” Sebastian said, pulling her attention back. “I have reviewed all the clauses. I’m ready to sign.”Kate blurted out in surprise, “So quick?”Sebastian leaned in slightly, his voice playful. “I’m quite swift even without the last name, Miss Kate.”Her cheeks flushed crimson as she realized he had
“So, Saturday night at Apollo’s? It’s a date,” Andrew said, taking a chance with the woman of his dreams. They were standing on the porch of the café. With Charlotte’s high-heeled boots, she stood an inch taller than him.Before she could respond, a smiling hunk with his arms crossed over his chest approached and said, “No, it’s not.”Charlotte froze at the sound of the deep, husky voice that had haunted her dreams. She didn’t dare turn around. What if it was him? What would she do? And if it wasn’t him, how would she handle the crushing disappointment?Andrew frowned at the interruption and asked, “Who are you, man?”“Why don’t you ask the lady?” the stranger replied, cocking an eyebrow.Andrew turned to Charlotte. “Do you know him?”Without even glancing at the man, Charlotte said firmly, “No.”Andrew wasn’t convinced. There was an undeniable tension between them with her avoidance and his unwavering stare. It was as if an unspoken history filled the space between them.“Well,” And
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