"Hello, Sia baby," Leon's cheerful voice echoed through the room as he entered, carrying a massive bouquet of flowers. With a wide grin, he set the bouquet on the table and began arranging it in the vase. "You won’t believe it, but the florist stopped me today for a little chat. These days, I’m practically her favorite customer. I drop by two or three times a week to pick up different bouquets."As he worked, he continued, "Today, she asked me what your favourite flowers are. I told her you don’t have a favourite."He chuckled at the memory. "She was shocked. She couldn’t believe it. “How can someone not have a favourite flower?' she asked me. And I thought, how could you? They are all so beautiful. Isn’t it boring to keep getting the same ones every time?"Humming softly to himself, he added with a smile, "But I have noticed you love me just a tiny bit more when I bring you dark roses. There is something about them as they are a little more special, don’t you think?"Leon laughed, sh
The dinner at the Hart house was lively, filled with laughter and chatter. Luke and Emery had arrived with their two kids, adding to the warmth of the evening.In the kitchen, Anne was stirring a pot of soup while Emery stood beside her, letting out a heavy sigh.“I noticed a bit of tension between you and Estelle,” Anne said gently, glancing at Emery. “Is everything okay?”Estelle, Rowan’s wife, had been the topic of many conversations since she and Rowan had eloped to Vegas and returned as a married couple.Emery frowned. “My son is making a mistake and he doesn’t even see it.”Anne smiled softly. “Now you are sounding like a typical mother-in-law.”Emery shook her head, her expression thoughtful. “It is not about disliking Estelle. I don’t have anything against her. She is a sweet girl and I have always liked her. The issue is their timing. Rowan and Estelle were on the verge of breaking up, and then, out of nowhere, they came back married. Doesn’t it feel like a rash decision to s
Dinner was proceeding smoothly at the Hart mansion when the sound of a car stopping outside drew everyone's attention. A woman who was dressed impeccably in a fine dress, stepped out. Behind her, a line of bodyguards marched in unison and their uniforms were bearing a familiar crest.Abella turned her head toward the commotion. The moment her eyes landed on the crest, she let out an excited yell. “Mommy, Bella is here!”Without hesitation, she jumped up from her seat and ran to greet her grandmother.Ellora muttered under her breath, “She is never that excited to see me.”Even after all these years, she did not like Bella. She find it even more unbearable that her grandchildren loved Bella more than her. Emery chuckled and patted her arm. “Mom, relax. Everyone knows Bella’s the kids’ favourite. They practically worship her.”As Bella entered the grand hall, Abella flung herself into her arms with the kind of enthusiasm only a child could muster. To her, Bella was like a flame and she
Ellora immediately stepped forward, her protective instincts flaring. “Are you out of your mind?” she snapped, positioning herself beside Rhys. “How dare you lay a hand on my grandson? Even his mother has never slapped him! Who do you think you are?”“Mom,” Nicholas interjected, his tone firm and laced with warning. “Step back.”He was not saying it because Bella was right and his mom was wrong but because in anger, Bella might end up hurting his mother. He did not wish for his mother to be subjected to Bella’s anger. Bella rarely showed such emotions and when she did, she would wreak havoc. And Vance was not even here to appease his wife. Ellora turned to her son in shock. “What are you saying, Nicholas? She slapped Rhys! She has crossed a line.”But Bella wasn’t listening. Her piercing eyes remained fixed on Rhys and her expression was unreadable but charged with emotion that was just anger and frustration. Whatever storm was brewing within her, it was far from over. He could tell,
A faint sound broke the heavy silence. It was a baby’s cry.A man stepped forward from Bella’s entourage, cradling a small bundle in his arms. “Madam,” he said, his voice soft but urgent, “The baby is crying.”When this baby start crying, he never stop. He would cry until he gets fed. Bella’s gaze didn’t waver as she said, her voice simmering with restrained fury, “Give him to his father.”The words struck like thunder.Rhys froze as the child was placed in his arms. He looked down at the baby, a tiny boy with wide and curious eyes that mirrored his own.Bella’s voice cut through the stunned silence. “Gracie was a black woman with no history of the blonde genes in her family tree,” she began. “She died during childbirth. Her husband, also black man, was devastated to lose him and the child he thought was his turned to be white and blond. Imagine his grief when he saw a blonde baby, proof of his wife’s betrayal. The man was broken but honourable, tracked down his dead wife’s affairs,
Coco’s voice was heard over the phone. “Leon, this time Dad is really mad. I swear, I have never seen him like this before.”Leon’s heart sank. “How is Mom?” he asked, his voice edged with worry.When he refused to attend the dinner party, he did not know that such a thing would take place tonight. Had he known he would have been there to do the damage control? “She was barely holding back her tears,” Coco whispered. There was a pause before she continued, her voice quieter. “Bella was with Mom and Dad. Can you believe it? She actually slapped Rhys.”Leon inhaled sharply. “Bella? She slapped Rhys?”This sounded completely serious. “Yes,” Coco said, disbelief still evident in her tone. “I mean, we all know how much she has spoiled him over the years. They have always been two peas in a pod, partners in crime. But this… I just can’t wrap my head around it.”“Bella can be strict when she needs to be,” Leon said thoughtfully.Coco sighed. “I’m really worried about Rhys right now. How’s
As his sister hung up, Leon decided to call his father. The screen lit up with Nicholas’s dishevelled face, his weariness was clear.“Old man, what’s up?” Leon greeted casually. Nicholas sighed, his tone exasperated. “Come to the point, Leon.”“Ouch, Dad,” Leon replied, feigning offense.Nicholas rubbed his temples. “How did you remember me today? I thought you were busy hating the world.”“I hate the world, not you, Dad. I actually quite like you,” Leon quipped with a grin.Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”“But, just so you know, I didn’t like you when we first met,” Leon said with a serious expression. Suddenly, he broke into laughter. “By the way, did you congratulate Rhys on keeping up with the Hart family legacy? You know, fathers not being informed about their kids’ births, it is practically tradition.”Despite his foul mood, Nicholas couldn’t help but chuckle. Leon had a way of lightening even the heaviest situations.“If Bella had found the baby a few years later, we
“Did you find anything about Alessia?” John asked Matthew, his voice heavy with frustration.For the past three months, Olivia had been locked in jail. No lawyer, no amount of money. Nothing was enough to bring her out. He had tried everything, yet nothing worked. To make matters worse, his wife, after miraculously surviving her fall, had lost her sanity and was now confined to a mental asylum. This was far from the life he had envisioned for his family.His family was now a joke in the entire society. First, they abandoned their daughter. When the daughter was living a normal life and was married, the family appeared out of nowhere. The younger daughter then stole the husband of her elder sister. Then, the elder sister grew richer than all of them. While the elder sister was doing well in life, they kept on ruining her reputation. Now both mother and the younger sister tried to kill her. These were the rumours that the media was portraying these days. He could not even show his face
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