The birthday party had ended and the Hart family gathered to leave. “Mr. King, we will take our leave now,” Leon said respectfully. Carter frowned slightly at the prospect of their departure. His gaze softened as it rested on Charlotte, “Why don’t you all stay the night?” he suggested, though even he realised how impractical it sounded. He wasn’t ready to let Charlotte leave just yet.Charlotte’s lips curved into a kind smile. “We will come to see you again someday,” she promised. “You better,” Carter replied. He stepped forward, pulling her into a hug that was long enough to draw a few curious glances from those nearby.Not far from the scene, Emily stood with Seraphina with her arms crossed and her expression clouded with irritation. Her brows furrowed as she watched Carter’s unusually affectionate behaviour. “Why is Carter being so affectionate with her? Even Seb seems to be revolving around her all evening. Just who is this girl?” she asked her tone filled with frustration.Se
"Aren’t you a bit too free these days?" Charlotte asked when she saw Sia at the Hart mansion again, sitting with Anne and enjoying cakes."Ma, look at Charlotte! She’s always teasing me just because I come here two or three times a week," Sia said, pretending to be offended. These days, she was too free. She had nothing much to do. So, she will find time and come to Anne and the two of them will have blast. "Coco, don’t trouble my Sia," Anne said with a gentle smile."Mommy, she has a perfect life, and she comes here every time just to flaunt it," Charlotte complained, crossing her arms.Anne laughed. "It’s not her fault that she is so beautiful, super talented, and has a man who loves her deeply. She has all of that because she worked hard for it. If you work hard too, you will have it.""Mommy, you have completely fallen for this demon," Charlotte grumbled. Although she was calling Sia demon, if someone else called Sia that, she would kill that person. Sia gave her a sweet, innoce
Sia was in a cheerful mood as she returned home from the Hart mansion. Feeling inspired, she decided to prepare a special dinner for herself and Leon. Usually, the chefs handled meals, but today, she sent them away and started cooking on her own as she was excited to surprise Leon.Leon had told her earlier in the day that he would be late, but now it was past nine, and he still wasn’t home. Unable to wait any longer, she picked up her phone and called him.“Sia, baby, where are you?” Leon answered, sounding surprised. “I just got home, and you are not here.”“I am at home,” Sia replied, glancing around her surroundings with confusion.But then, she heard Nico’s cries in the background of the call. Her heart sank a little as she pieced things together. “Wait... are you at the Hart house?” she asked hesitantly.“Yes, I’m home,” Leon said casually, not realizing what she meant.“Oh…” Sia whispered, a pang of disappointment in her voice.Leon picked up on her tone immediately. “What happ
“Did you meet Coco?” Leon asked.“I did,” Alisha said, “Abella told me that Coco may or may not have a boyfriend. What’s that supposed to mean?”Leon smirked. “It means Coco’s mysterious as always. Even I don’t know for sure.”Alisha added with a playful tone, changing the subject, “And you have got a new cutie pie at your place. He is adorable.”Leon chuckled. “Which one?”“The hot one,” Alisha teased with a grin.“Nash?” Leon guessed, laughing. “He is a good-looking kid, I will give you that.”“No,” Alisha said, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous glint. “His dad.”Leon burst into laughter. “That’s your uncle, kid!”“Hey! Who are you calling ‘kid’?” Alisha protested, lightly smacking his arm. “I’m twenty-five, Nathaniel Hart. That’s not a kid at all!”Leon smirked, clearly enjoying teasing her. “Whatever you say, little Alisha.”Before Alisha could fire back, Anne’s voice floated from the hallway. “Leon, stop irritating Alisha!”Alisha grinned triumphantly, turning to Leon. “See?
When Sia heard the doorbell ring, her heart skipped a beat. She thought Leon had arrived, but it felt too soon as they had just hung up the phone. Curiosity piqued, she opened the door. A smile lit up her face when she saw who was standing there.“Mama!” Nico called out excitedly, rushing into her arms.She bent down, showering him with kisses. “Aren’t you my favourite boy?” she cooed, her tenderness making him giggle.Nico wrapped his arms around her tightly while returning her kisses.“Hey, what about me?” Rhys asked with a grin as he stepped in behind Nico.Sia straightened up, surprised to see him. “Rhys, what are you doing here? I thought you were having dinner at home.”Rhys sighed dramatically. “I was excited about that too, but then I saw a devil and decided to escape here instead.”“A devil?” Sia asked, leading them inside.Rhys groaned. “We have the most annoying guest tonight.”Sia tilted her head curiously. “Who is it?”Before answering, Rhys took a deep breath and sniffed
That night, as Leon prepared to leave, Ellora looked at him with a smile. “Why don’t you stay the night? Callum and Abella are staying for Alisha and it would be nice to have you here too.”As a grandmother in her later age, all she wanted was her whole family to be surrounded by her. She wanted all her grandkids to stay under the same roof even if it was a wishful thinking on her part. Anne while noticing Leon’s hesitation decided to add with a laugh. “Mom, let him go. Sia is at home and he is probably miserable without her. Let’s face it, Leon needs Vitamin Sia more than he needs sunlight.”Ellora sighed, shaking her head lightly. “Ever since they moved in together, he visits so rarely. It’s like we hardly see him anymore.”Anne couldn’t resist teasing. “Mom, you are starting to sound like a bitter mother-in-law trying to blame everything on the woman! To be honest, Leon wasn’t exactly a regular visitor before either. If anything, since Sia came into his life, he visits more often b
The morning came, and Leon, who had stayed up late, woke up equally late. As he stirred awake, his eyes landed on Sia seated at the breakfast table, indulging in her morning sugar rush. Her plate held an extra-sweet coffee paired with some fruit on the side which was an attempt at balance that he found amusing but chose not to comment on. She had peculiar tastes, and if sugar was her thing, so be it. She knew her limits.He liked seeing her enjoying her life finally. Life was never smooth when it came to her. She had her fair share of struggled. Not just fair share but abundance of struggles. It was only after her life threatening accident that she began living her life to the fullest and not just working on autopilot. “Good morning, sunshine,” she greeted him with a bright smile.He groaned softly, walking over to her and wrapping her in a warm hug from behind. Resting his head on her shoulder, he complained, “You left me all alone in bed.”She chuckled lightly, patting his cheek a
Today, Charlotte and Abella went shopping with Alisha. Beatrice had specifically asked Charlotte to get Alisha involved in normal ‘girl activities,’ since Alisha often had rather quirky interests.“This is as boring as ever,” Alisha said flatly, looking unimpressed.“Come on, shopping is fun,” Abella replied enthusiastically. Of course, she was the one who had bought the most outfits so far. While Charlotte tagged along more for the outing, Abella was genuinely excited to shop. Alisha, on the other hand, had been reluctantly dragged along.“I like shopping with Sia and Estelle better,” Abella said, a little frustrated. “You two are boring!”The remark stung Alisha. “What could you possibly have in common with them?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and maybe some annoyance.Abella shrugged. “Well, we don’t have much in common, but I like them. Sia pampers me, but she also treats me like a friend, and Estelle—she is becoming my best friend these days. She is so fun to be arou
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